Medical schools in Kentucky at a glance
All three medical schools in Kentucky 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Kentucky College of Medicine | MD | AMCAS | 1960 | 508 | 3.83 | $68,052 | $102,114 | 201 | 7 | 13.5% |
| University of Louisville School of Medicine | MD | AMCAS | 1837 | 507 | 3.78 | $72,320 | $94,950 | 161 | 7 | na |
| University of Pikeville Kentucky College of Osteopathic Medicine | MD | AACOMAS | 1997 | 501 | 3.5 | $51,500 | $51,500 | 132 | n/a | 12.5% |
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What medical schools in Kentucky look for
Median MCAT across Kentucky runs from 501 at University of Pikeville Kentucky College of Osteopathic Medicine to 508 at University of Kentucky College 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 3.50 and 3.83 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.
For residents, tuition starts at $51,500 at University of Pikeville Kentucky College of Osteopathic Medicine and reaches $72,320 at University of Louisville School of Medicine. Medical school tuition across the US and Canada puts those numbers in context.
They do not all use the same application. It is AMCAS for two, AACOMAS for one. Applying across services means duplicating work, so check which one each school on your list takes before you start.
Secondaries are the next hurdle after the primary. The two schools here we hold prompts for ask 14 essays between them, from 7 up to 7 at University of Kentucky College of Medicine. Our secondary prompt database carries the wording of every one for the 2026-27 cycle, so you can draft before they arrive.
One of the three awards a DO alongside the MD programs. Both lead to licensure and residency, and DO programs generally admit at lower median scores, which is why they belong on most lists. The medical schools that admit at the lowest medians covers that ground nationally.
Between them these programs read about 12,783 applications a year for roughly 494 seats, near enough 26 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. University of Kentucky College of Medicine asks for 8, and the rest range from one required essay to several more once optional prompts open up. Our secondary prompt database carries the current prompts for each of them, so you can draft in June instead of reacting in August.
Free checklist
Kentucky's medical schools sit between a 501 and a 508 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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University of Kentucky College of Medicine
Competitiveness: 3.8/10
Founded in 1960, the University of Kentucky College of Medicine is a public institution focused on innovation and community health. With hands-on experience and a supportive environment, UK Med prepares students to make a difference in healthcare, all while serving the needs of Kentucky and beyond.
Median GPA
3.83
Median MCAT
506
Location
Lexington
Degree
MD
In-State Tuition
$68,052
Out-of-State Tuition
$102,114
Class Size
201
US News Ranking (Research)
unranked
US News Ranking (Primary Care)
unranked
Total Applicants
3,907
Secondaries Required
8
Interview Rate
13.5%
Interview Format
Two individual interviews
Address
800 Rose Street MN 150 , 40506
University of Louisville School of Medicine
Competitiveness: 2.8/10
Founded in 1837, the University of Louisville School of Medicine is a public institution focused on education, research, and community care. Located in Kentucky, UofL Med offers innovative programs and hands-on learning, preparing students to make a real difference in healthcare.
Median GPA
3.78
Median MCAT
508
Location
Louisville
Degree
MD
In-State Tuition
$72,320
Out-of-State Tuition
$94,950
Class Size
161
US News Ranking (Research)
unranked
US News Ranking (Primary Care)
unranked
Total Applicants
4,979
Secondaries Required
6
Interview Rate
na
Interview Format
blind interviews
Address
500 S Preston Street, 40202
University of Pikeville Kentucky College of Osteopathic Medicine
Competitiveness: 1/10
Founded in 1997, the University of Pikeville Kentucky College of Osteopathic Medicine (KYCOM) is a private school focused on training compassionate physicians. Located in Appalachia, KYCOM specializes in primary care and rural health, preparing students to serve underserved communities through hands-on learning and osteopathic principles.
Median GPA
3.5
Median MCAT
508
Location
Pikeville
Degree
MD
In-State Tuition
$51,500
Out-of-State Tuition
$51,500
Class Size
132
US News Ranking (Research)
unranked
US News Ranking (Primary Care)
unranked
Total Applicants
3,897
Secondaries Required
2
Interview Rate
12.5%
Interview Format
Open file, 30 minutes.
Address
147 Sycamore Street, 41501
Common questions about medical schools in Kentucky
How many medical schools are in Kentucky?
Three medical schools. Two award an MD and one awards a DO. 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 Kentucky?
Median MCAT runs from 501 to 508, so a score at or above 507 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 Kentucky?
Medians land between 3.50 and 3.83. 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.
How much does medical school cost in Kentucky?
In-state tuition runs from $51,500 a year at University of Pikeville Kentucky College of Osteopathic Medicine to $72,320 at University of Louisville School of Medicine, before living costs. Tuition across the US and Canada sets those against the national range.
Which Kentucky medical school is easiest to get into?
By median MCAT, University of Pikeville Kentucky College of Osteopathic Medicine admits at the lowest score of the group at 501. 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 Kentucky?
Schools here report roughly 12,783 applications against about 494 seats, which works out near one place for every 26 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 Kentucky medical schools use?
Amcas for two, aacomas for one. The table above lists it per school, so you can group your list by service before you start writing.
What secondary essays do Kentucky medical schools ask for?
Across the two we hold prompts for, 14 in total, ranging from 7 to 7 at University of Kentucky College 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 Kentucky?
Yes. University of Pikeville Kentucky College of Osteopathic Medicine awards a DO rather than an MD. Osteopathic programs lead to the same licensure and compete for the same residencies, and they generally admit at lower median MCAT and GPA, so leaving them off a list narrows your options for no good reason. The table above shows their numbers beside the MD programs.
Can you get into a medical school in Kentucky with a low GPA?
It happens, and the MCAT is usually what carries it. With medians between 3.50 and 3.83, 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 Kentucky?
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, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, 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 Kentucky 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 Kentucky? The medical school hub lists every state and province with a program.