Medical School Acceptance Rates by Race (2024): Does Ethnicity Play a Role?

Learn how much race matters when applying to medical schools and how diversity is achieved through admissions

A group of smiling medical school students wearing white coats

The AAMC publishes annual data regarding medical school acceptance rates by race

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Part 1: Introduction

The role of race in admissions is an incredibly hot topic these days. Talk of discrimination is seemingly everywhere, affirmative action lawsuits against universities are making headlines, and at least one student per week asks us how their ethnic background will factor into their admissions process.

The question comes mostly from students who are Asian American (e.g., Chinese American, Korean American, Indian American) or white. Because these students are considered “overrepresented in medicine” (ORM), they wonder whether their applications—despite having a GPA and MCAT score at or above the average among matriculants—will be reviewed with greater scrutiny than applicants from other ethnic or racial backgrounds.

The media, Reddit threads, and private conversations within premed circles tend to generalize how individuals from certain backgrounds perform academically. Of course, there is great variance in performance within groups. Specifically, there are high-achieving and low-achieving applicants who are Asian, White, Hispanic or Latino, Black or African American, or Native American. Moreover, it’s well documented that there are no differences in intelligence between members of different racial groups.

In this guide, our goal is to review what we know about the role of race in medical school admissions and to provide guidance on applying this understanding to your applications.

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Part 2: Medical school acceptance rates by race

AAMC offers data annually on acceptance and matriculation rates by race/ethnicity. Here is the most recent data, which reflects students who applied to begin medical school in Fall 2023 (i.e., the class of 2027):

Rates of Acceptance and Matriculation to U.S. Medical Schools by Race/Ethnicity, 2023–2024
Race/Ethnicity
Applicants
Acceptees
% Accepted
Matriculants
% Matriculated
American Indian or Alaska Native
90
41
45%
36
40%
Asian
12,600
6,091
48%
5,901
46%
Black or African American
4,672
1,921
41%
1,845
39%
Hispanic, Latino, or of Spanish Origin
3,177
1,560
49%
749
47%
Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander
57
21
36%
19
33%
White
21,131
9,993
47%
9,534
45%
Other
1,263
504
40%
48
38%
Multiple Race/Ethnicity
6,009
2,844
47%
2,726
45%
Unknown Race/Ethnicity
1,692
698
41%
657
38%
Non-U.S. Citizen and Non-Permanent Resident
1,886
341
18%
287
15%
Total
52,577
24,014
45%
22,981
43%

The percentages of applicants from the largest ethnic/racial applicant groups—Asian, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, and White—who were accepted and matriculated to medical school by race are as follows:

  • Asian:

    • Accepted: 48%

    • Matriculated: 46%

  • Black or African American:

    • Accepted: 41%

    • Matriculated: 39%

  • Hispanic or Latino:

    • Accepted: 49%

    • Matriculated: 47%

  • White:

    • Accepted: 47%

    • Matriculated: 45%

The data show that Asian, Hispanic or Latino, and White applicants tend to get into medical school at roughly the same rate, whereas African American students have a markedly lower acceptance rate.

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Part 3: GPA and MCAT scores by race/ethnicity

The controversy surrounding race and medical school admissions doesn’t stop at acceptance rates. The question isn’t simply “Which group gets in at the highest/lowest rate?,” but rather how much individuals from various groups must achieve, on paper, in order to be competitive for admissions.

To our knowledge, the best available data to answer this question is the following provided by the AAMC:

Average MCAT Score and GPAs for Applicants to U.S. Medical Schools by Race/Ethnicity, 2023–2024
American Indian or Alaska Native
Asian
Black or African American
Hispanic, Latino, or of Spanish Origin
Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander
White
Other
Multiple Race/Ethnicity
Unknown Race/Ethnicity
Non-U.S. Citizen and Non-Permanent Resident
Total
MCAT CPBS
123.6
127.4
124.0
124.8
125.1
126.6
126.2
125.9
126.8
127.1
126.4
MCAT CARS
123.8
126.2
123.8
124.2
124.7
126.4
125.2
125.6
126.
125.4
125.8
MCAT BBLS
123.9
127.4
124.3
125.2
125.2
127
126.4
126.2
127
127.4
126.6
MCAT PSBB
125
128.1
125.
125.9
126.1
127.8
127.3
127.1
127.9
127.7
127.4
Total MCAT
496.3
509.1
497.5
500.1
501.1
507.
505.1
50.9
508.2
507.6
506.3
GPA Science
3.21
3.62
3.21
3.3
3.27
3.61
3.55
3.4
3.57
3.61
3.54
GPA Non-Science
3.63
3.81
3.6
3.69
3.71
3.81
3.78
3.75
3.78
3.77
3.7
GPA Total
3.42
3.70
3.39
3.50
3.46
3.70
3.63
3.60
3.66
3.68
3.64

Average MCAT Score and GPAs for Matriculants to U.S. Medical Schools by Race/Ethnicity, 2023–2024
American Indian or Alaska Native
Asian
Black or African American
Hispanic, Latino, or of Spanish Origin
Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander
White
Other
Multiple Race/Ethnicity
Unknown Race/Ethnicity
Non-U.S. Citizen and Non-Permanent Resident
Total
MCAT CPBS
124.9
128.7
126.1
126.4
126.8
127.9
128.1
127.4
128.3
128.4
127.8
MCAT CARS
125
127.3
125.5
125.4
125.8
127.4
126.5
126.8
127.7
126.6
127.0
MCAT BBLS
125.5
128.8
126.5
126.9
126.9
128.2
128.3
127.8
128.5
128.6
128.1
MCAT PSBB
12.36/span>
129.5
127.6
127.6
127.7
129.0
129.0
128.6
129.1
129.1
128.9
Total MCAT
502.2
514.3
505.7
506.4
507.3
512.4
511.9
510.6
513.6
512.7
511.
GPA Science
3.4
3.7
3.46
3.57
3.56
3.75
3.74
3.65
3.74
3.74
3.71
GPA Non-Science
3.79
3.89
3.74
3.79
3.79
3.8
3.88
3.83
3.86
3.83
3.85
GPA Total
3.64
3.83
3.59
3.66
3.65
3.80
3.80
3.73
3.80
3.77
3.77

The average stats among matriculants from the largest ethnic/racial groups are as follows:

  • Asian:

    • Total MCAT: 514.3

    • Total GPA: 3.83

  • Black or African American:

    • Total MCAT: 505.7

    • Total GPA: 3.59

  • Hispanic or Latino:

    • Total MCAT: 506.4

    • Total GPA: 3.66

  • White:

    • Total MCAT: 512.4

    • Total GPA: 3.80

Clearly, Asian and White applicants are applying to medical schools with higher GPAs and MCAT scores relative to their Black or African American and Hispanic or Latino peers. The same trend holds true for matriculants.

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Part 4: Will race impact my admissions odds?

The answer to this question may seem to be a clear “yes”; however, it’s complicated.

We’re not aware of any data describing the average GPA and MCAT scores among applicants from specific racial backgrounds at specific schools. Without this data, we can’t know whether students from group X get into school Y with lower stats relative to peers from other groups.

Keep in mind that some schools admit a far larger number of students from backgrounds that are underrepresented in medicine (URM) than others, whether that’s due to various race-based initiatives (e.g., historically black college or university; diversity initiatives), geography (i.e., certain states have relatively few individuals from URM backgrounds and prefer in-state students), or some other reason.

There is one other major source of complication. It’s well documented that race is strongly associated with socioeconomic status (i.e., educational attainment, income) and academic opportunity in the United States. Specifically, individuals from URM backgrounds tend to also have lower socioeconomic status and fewer academic opportunities.

Unfortunately, we’re also unaware of any data demonstrating the percentage of students accepted to medical schools by race, over and above socioeconomic status. Perhaps students who get in with lower stats—whether from URM or ORM backgrounds—tend to also have lower socioeconomic status. Having access to this information would give us a more definitive answer.

The role of diversity in medical school admissions

Medical schools widely publicize their goal of admitting a diverse applicant pool and their practice of holistic admissions; that is, they consider all factors—stats, experiences, personal background, etc.—when making admissions decisions.

You may have heard about the Supreme Court's decision on affirmative action in 2023 that bars universities from explicitly considering race in their admissions process. Medical schools are also bound by this decision and while they won’t be able to directly take race into account while making decisions, they will still seek to foster a diverse student body that represents a cross-section of American society.

Regardless of where you stand on this issue, schools will continue to see it as in their interest to expose their students to as many different types of people as possible to create the most well-rounded and effective doctors possible.

A diverse physician population can better serve the diverse patient population we have in the United States. Of course, race/ethnicity is an integral aspect of diversity. Therefore, it’s understandable why admissions committees aim to recruit students from various backgrounds and walks of life.

Does race matter when applying to medical school?

While the impact of race when considering admissions statistics tilts us toward answering “yes,” it is ultimately inconclusive. The fact that schools are so transparent about their diversity initiatives gives us confidence that this is indeed the case.

This isn’t very surprising. The question is how this information impacts your application. Should you do anything differently when applying to medical school?

Yes and no.

If you’re part of an ORM group, don’t throw your hands up in defeat before you apply. Just because Asian or white applicants apply with higher stats on average doesn’t mean that you won’t get in. If you don’t believe you’ll get in due to your background or some other reason, you simply won’t try as hard, increasing the odds of a self-fulfilling prophecy.

Instead of asking, “Are admissions committees going to be tougher on my application because of my background?,” ask yourself:

Last we checked, there were many students from ORM backgrounds in medical schools. Consider how you can join them.

Likewise, if you’re a URM medical school applicant, consider how you can contribute to each school’s diversity, how your personal and professional insights will make you a good doctor, and so on.

In other words, your medical school admissions strategy should not change based on your personal background. “Lean into” what makes you a compelling candidate so that medical schools can clearly distinguish you from the rest of the applicant pool.

Dr. Shirag Shemmassian headshot

About the Author

Dr. Shirag Shemmassian is the Founder of Shemmassian Academic Consulting and one of the world's foremost experts on medical school admissions. For nearly 20 years, he and his team have helped thousands of students get into medical school using his exclusive approach.

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Appendix: Previous medical school acceptance rates by rate

Medical school acceptance rates by race: 2022–2023

Rates of Acceptance and Matriculation to U.S. Medical Schools by Race/Ethnicity, 2022–2023
Race/Ethnicity
Applicants
Acceptees
% Accepted
Matriculants
% Matriculated
American Indian or Alaska Native
94
49
52%
37
39%
Asian
12,737
5,802
45%
5,603
44%
Black or African American
4,924
1,924
39%
1,856
37%
Hispanic, Latino, or of Spanish Origin
3,257
1,517
46%
1,444
44%
Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander
52
23
44%
22
22%
White
22,917
10,077
44%
9,599
41%
Other
1,386
516
37%
496
35%
Multiple Race/Ethnicity
6,086
2,841
46%
2,698
44%
Unknown Race/Ethnicity
1,777
679
38%
641
36%
Non-U.S. Citizen and Non-Permanent Resident
1,959
382
19%
314
16%
Total
55,189
23,810
43%
22,710
41%

Medical school acceptance rates by race: 2021-2022

Rates of Acceptance and Matriculation to U.S. Medical Schools by Race/Ethnicity, 2021–2022
Race/Ethnicity
Applicants
Acceptees
% Accepted
Matriculants
% Matriculated
American Indian or Alaska Native
105
46
44%
40
38%
Asian
13,424
5,352
40%
5,153
38%
Black or African American
6,169
2,200
36%
2,124
34%
Hispanic, Latino, or of Spanish Origin
4,037
1,646
41%
1,575
39%
Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander
41
14
34%
13
32%
White
25,662
10,029
39%
9,572
37%
Other
1,567
500
32%
480
31%
Multiple Race/Ethnicity
6,678
2,702
40%
2,575
39%
Unknown Race/Ethnicity
2,440
838
34%
798
33%
Non-U.S. Citizen and Non-Permanent Resident
2,309
385
17%
328
14%
Total
62,432
23,712
38%
22,665
36%

Medical school acceptance rates by rate: 2020–2021

Rates of Acceptance and Matriculation to U.S. Medical Schools by Race/Ethnicity, 2020–2021
Race/Ethnicity
Applicants
Acceptees
% Accepted
Matriculants
% Matriculated
American Indian or Alaska Native
73
37
52%
36
49%
Asian
11,240
4,954
44%
4,803
43%
Black or African American
4,363
1,806
41%
1,767
40%
Hispanic, Latino, or of Spanish Origin
3,332
1,570
47%
1,524
46%
Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander
41
14
34%
14
34%
White
22,891
10,367
45%
9,944
43%
Other
1,288
479
37%
470
36%
Multiple Race/Ethnicity
5,314
2,402
45%
2,311
43%
Unknown Race/Ethnicity
2,644
1,131
43%
1,094
41%
Non-U.S. Citizen and Non-Permanent Resident
1,844
345
19%
276
15%
Total
53,030
23,105
44%
22,239
42%