Medical schools in North Carolina at a glance
All four medical schools in North Carolina are below, with median MCAT and GPA, tuition in and out of state, class size and the share of applicants who reach interview. Median MCAT figures come from the 2026–27 cycle.
2026–27 cycle data. Last updated 30 August 2026.
Swipe the table sideways to see every column.
| School | Degree | Apply through | Founded | Median MCAT | Median GPA | In-state tuition | Out-of-state tuition | Class size | Secondary essays | Interview rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Duke University School of Medicine | MD | AMCAS | 1930 | 519 | 3.9 | $101,487 | $101,487 | 118 | 11 | 12.6% IS, 7.3% OOS |
| University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine | MD | AMCAS | 1879 | 512 | 3.8 | $69,800 | $97,760 | 190 | 4 | 8.57% |
| Wake Forest University School of Medicine | MD | AMCAS | 1902 | 512 | 3.82 | $96,667 | $96,667 | 145 | n/a | 4.14% |
| Brody School of Medicine East Carolina | MD | AMCAS | 1977 | 506 | 3.67 | $53,900 | n/a | 86 | n/a | 33.6% IS, NA OOS |
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What medical schools in North Carolina look for
Median MCAT across North Carolina runs from 506 at Brody School of Medicine East Carolina to 519 at Duke University School of Medicine. Where your score sits in that spread shapes which of them to apply to, so application, so check it before you build a list. What counts as a good MCAT score sets out the national picture, and the percentile tables show what each scaled score means.
Between 3.67 and 3.90 is where median GPA sits. A GPA below that band is still in the conversation with a strong MCAT, and a single cycle is long enough to raise an MCAT score. If you have already tested, the retake calculator prices what another attempt would take, and the score calculator converts an AAMC practice test into a scaled score.
All one schools reporting both figures interview in-state applicants at a higher rate than out-of-state ones, averaging 12.6% against 7.3%. Residency counts for a lot here. Applying from outside North Carolina means leaning on schools that take out-of-state students in numbers.
For residents, tuition starts at $53,900 at Brody School of Medicine East Carolina and reaches $101,487 at Duke University School of Medicine. Medical school tuition across the US and Canada puts those numbers in context.
Every school here takes its application through AMCAS, so one submission reaches all four.
Secondaries are the next hurdle after the primary. The two schools here we hold prompts for ask 15 essays between them, from 4 up to 11 at Duke University School of Medicine. Our secondary prompt database carries the wording of every one for the 2026-27 cycle, so you can draft before they arrive.
Between them these programs read about 27,120 applications a year for roughly 539 seats, near enough 50 applications per place. Those totals double-count anyone applying to more than one school, so treat the ratio as a measure of how much reading each committee does rather than as your odds. It is the reason a screening score matters before anyone reads a word of your essays.
Every school here sends a secondary, and the load is uneven. Duke University School of Medicine asks for 8 required, 2 Required for PCLT Program, and the rest range from one required essay to several more once optional prompts open up. Two of them interview by MMI, which rewards different preparation from a conversational panel. Our secondary prompt database carries the current prompts for each of them, so you can draft in June instead of reacting in August.
On the US News research ranking, Duke University School of Medicine places highest at 6. Rankings shift little from year to year and matter far less than fit, funding and where you want to train, though they do shape how competitive a given cycle feels.
Free checklist
North Carolina's medical schools sit between a 506 and a 519 median MCAT. The checklist covers everything else your application is graded on.
Every phase of the application cycle, what is due when, and what to have ready before you open AMCAS.
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Duke University School of Medicine
Competitiveness: 9.1/10
Founded in 1930, Duke University School of Medicine is a private institution at the forefront of medical innovation. Located in Durham, NC, it’s a place where cutting-edge research and world-class education converge. Known for its groundbreaking work in fields like genomics and cancer, Duke offers students a unique opportunity to shape the future of medicine through hands-on experience and collaboration. It’s where passion meets purpose in the pursuit of better health.
Median GPA
3.9
Median MCAT
520
Location
Durham
Degree
MD
In-State Tuition
$101,487.00
Out-of-State Tuition
$101,487.00
Class Size
118
US News Ranking (Research)
6
US News Ranking (Primary Care)
78
Total Applicants
8,613
Secondaries Required
8 required, 2 Required for PCLT Program
Interview Rate
12.6% IS, 7.3% OOS
Interview Format
Virtual Multiple Mini interview
Address
8 Searle Center Drive, 27710
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine
Competitiveness: 7.2/10
Founded in 1879, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine is a top public institution known for its groundbreaking research and commitment to community health. Located in the heart of North Carolina, it blends innovation with a focus on diversity, preparing students to lead in both clinical care and medical advancements.
Median GPA
3.8
Median MCAT
515
Location
Chapel Hill
Degree
MD
In-State Tuition
$69,800.00
Out-of-State Tuition
$97,760.00
Class Size
190
US News Ranking (Research)
25
US News Ranking (Primary Care)
5
Total Applicants
6,289
Secondaries Required
4 required, 1 if applicable
Interview Rate
8.57%
Interview Format
virtual interview
Address
321 South Columbia Street, 27516
Wake Forest University School of Medicine
Competitiveness: 5.5/10
Founded in 1902, Wake Forest University School of Medicine is a private institution in Winston-Salem, NC, known for innovation in fields like regenerative medicine and cancer research. With a focus on hands-on experience, it’s a place where future doctors lead in science and compassionate care.
Median GPA
3.82
Median MCAT
512
Location
Winston-Salem
Degree
MD
In-State Tuition
$96,667.00
Out-of-State Tuition
$96,667.00
Class Size
145
US News Ranking (Research)
47
US News Ranking (Primary Care)
68
Total Applicants
11,062
Secondaries Required
7
Interview Rate
4.14%
Interview Format
Multiple Mini Interviews (MMI)
Address
475 Vine Street, 27101
Brody School of Medicine East Carolina
Competitiveness: 1.9/10
Founded in 1977, the Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University is a public institution focused on training doctors who make an impact. Located in Greenville, NC, Brody emphasizes rural health and hands-on experience, with research strengths in addiction and chronic disease. With a supportive environment and a commitment to serving underserved areas, Brody students are prepared to lead in both care and innovation.
Median GPA
3.67
Median MCAT
508
Location
Greenville
Degree
MD
In-State Tuition
$53,900.00
Out-of-State Tuition
NA
Class Size
86
US News Ranking (Research)
95-124
US News Ranking (Primary Care)
26
Total Applicants
1,156
Secondaries Required
4
Interview Rate
33.6% IS, NA OOS
Interview Format
Two blind interviews by committee
Address
600 Moye Blvd, 27858
Campbell University School of Osteopathic Medicine
Competitiveness: 1.3/10
Founded in 2013, Campbell University School of Osteopathic Medicine is a private institution in Buies Creek, NC, dedicated to training well-rounded physicians. With a focus on rural healthcare and a holistic approach to patient care, Campbell fosters a close-knit community committed to making a real impact on health and healthcare delivery.
Median GPA
3.6
Median MCAT
505
Location
Lillington
Degree
DO
In-State Tuition
$55,150.00
Out-of-State Tuition
$55,150.00
Class Size
162
US News Ranking (Research)
Unranked
US News Ranking (Primary Care)
Unranked
Total Applicants
Secondaries Required
3
Interview Rate
NA
Interview Format
2 1-on-1 Interview
Address
4350 US-421 South, 27546
Common questions about medical schools in North Carolina
How many medical schools are in North Carolina?
Four medical schools. Every one is listed in the table above with its median MCAT, median GPA and tuition.
What MCAT score do you need for medical school in North Carolina?
Median MCAT runs from 506 to 519, so a score at or above 512 puts you in range at about half of them. A median is the midpoint rather than a cut-off, and roughly half of each admitted class scored below it. What counts as a good MCAT score goes through how to read those numbers, and our guide to raising a score covers how to raise one.
What GPA do you need for medical school in North Carolina?
Medians land between 3.67 and 3.90. A GPA under that band is workable when the MCAT is strong, which is the part of the application still open to change once your transcript is fixed.
Is it easier to get into medical school in North Carolina as a resident?
On the interview data above, yes. Across the one schools reporting both, in-state applicants reach interview at 12.6% against 7.3% for out-of-state. Applying from elsewhere means weighting your list toward programs that take out-of-state students in numbers.
How much does medical school cost in North Carolina?
In-state tuition runs from $53,900 a year at Brody School of Medicine East Carolina to $101,487 at Duke University School of Medicine, before living costs. Tuition across the US and Canada sets those against the national range.
Which North Carolina medical school is easiest to get into?
By median MCAT, Brody School of Medicine East Carolina admits at the lowest score of the group at 506. That makes it the most forgiving on numbers, though secondaries, interviews and mission fit still decide the outcome. Our secondary prompt database carries the essays each school asks for.
What is the acceptance rate at medical schools in North Carolina?
Schools here report roughly 27,120 applications against about 539 seats, which works out near one place for every 50 applications. That is not a per-applicant acceptance rate, because most people apply to fifteen or twenty schools and get counted at each one. Read it as a measure of how crowded each committee's desk is, and as the reason a screening MCAT and GPA come first. Individual schools publish their own rates, and the in-state and out-of-state figures usually differ sharply.
Which application service do North Carolina medical schools use?
Amcas for four. The table above lists it per school, so you can group your list by service before you start writing.
What secondary essays do North Carolina medical schools ask for?
Across the two we hold prompts for, 15 in total, ranging from 4 to 11 at Duke University School of Medicine. Secondaries arrive within days of a verified application and the turnaround runs to about two weeks, so prewriting is the difference between a considered essay and a rushed one. Our secondary prompt database carries the wording of every one for the 2026-27 cycle.
Are there DO schools in North Carolina?
No. Every program in North Carolina awards an MD. Osteopathic programs elsewhere generally admit at lower median scores, so add them to a list built around this state.
Can you get into a medical school in North Carolina with a low GPA?
It happens, and the MCAT is usually what carries it. With medians between 3.67 and 3.90, a GPA a few tenths under still gets read when the test score sits at or above the median and the rest of the application is strong. An upward trend across your transcript reads better than a flat average, and a post-bacc or a master's is the standard route when the gap is wider than that. Raising an MCAT score is the faster of the two levers.
When should you apply to medical school in North Carolina?
AMCAS opens in May and submitting in the first weeks of June is the strongest position, because most schools review on a rolling basis. Work back from that to pick a test date on the AAMC calendar, leaving room for a retake if the first score comes in short.
Medical schools in other states
Every state in the South with a medical school, on the same figures: Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, West Virginia.
The medical school hub carries all 59, including Northeast, the Midwest, the West, Canada.
Where to go next
- Studying for the MCAT now? The live MCAT course runs one cohort at a time with 515+ scorers teaching it.
- Want one-on-one help? MCAT tutors in North Carolina are matched on the section costing you points, and our tutoring packages list what each one includes.
- Building an application rather than a score? Medical school admissions coaching covers the list, the essays and the interviews.
- Deciding whether to sit it again? The retake calculator gives you a verdict and a date.
- Just browsing? The free MCAT resources are a good place to start, and our reviews and student score stories show what the jumps look like.
- Looking beyond the medical schools in North Carolina? The medical school hub lists every state and province with a program.