Medical schools in Arkansas at a glance
All three medical schools in Arkansas are below, with median MCAT and GPA, tuition in and out of state, class size and the share of applicants who reach interview. Each figure is the most recent one the school has published.
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 Arkansas for Medical Sciences College of Medicine | MD | AMCAS | 1879 | 512 | 3.87 | $39,898 | $72,068 | 166 | 1 | n/a |
| New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine at Arkansas State University | DO | AACOMAS | 2016 | 506 | 3.62 | $65,859 | $65,859 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Arkansas College of Osteopathic Medicine | DO | AACOMAS | 2014 | 500 | 3.5 | $55,775 | $55,775 | 159 | 7 | n/a |
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What medical schools in Arkansas look for
Median MCAT across Arkansas runs from 500 at Arkansas College of Osteopathic Medicine to 512 at University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences 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 3.87 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 $39,898 at University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences College of Medicine and reaches $65,859 at New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine at Arkansas State University. Medical school tuition across the US and Canada puts those numbers in context.
They do not all use the same application. It is AACOMAS for two, AMCAS 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 8 essays between them, from 1 up to 7 at Arkansas College of Osteopathic Medicine. Our secondary prompt database carries the wording of every one for the 2026-27 cycle, so you can draft before they arrive.
Two of the three award 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 4,723 applications a year for roughly 325 seats, near enough 15 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 Arkansas for Medical Sciences College of Medicine asks for 1, 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.
On the US News research ranking, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences College of Medicine places highest at 76. 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
Arkansas's medical schools sit between a 500 and a 512 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 Arkansas for Medical Sciences College of Medicine
Competitiveness: 3.9/10
Founded in 1879, the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) College of Medicine is a public school in Little Rock. Known for hands-on learning, innovative research, and unique programs like the Rural Health Scholars, UAMS prepares students to make a real impact in healthcare.
Median GPA
3.87
Median MCAT
508
Location
Little Rock
Degree
MD
In-State Tuition
$39,898
Out-of-State Tuition
$72,068
Class Size
166
US News Ranking (Research)
76
US News Ranking (Primary Care)
17
Total Applicants
2,723
Secondaries Required
1
Interview Rate
NA
Interview Format
Blind team interviews
Address
4301 W Markham St #550, 72205
Arkansas College of Osteopathic Medicine
Competitiveness: 0.1/10
Founded in 2014, the Arkansas College of Osteopathic Medicine (ARCOM) is a private school in Fort Smith, Arkansas. ARCOM focuses on training compassionate doctors using osteopathic principles, hands-on learning, and a strong emphasis on rural healthcare. It’s a place where students can make a real difference in underserved communities while shaping the future of medicine.
Median GPA
3.5
Median MCAT
500
Location
Fort Smith
Degree
DO
In-State Tuition
$55,775
Out-of-State Tuition
$55,775
Class Size
159
US News Ranking (Research)
Unranked
US News Ranking (Primary Care)
Unranked
Total Applicants
2,000
Secondaries Required
11
Interview Rate
NA
Interview Format
closed-file, One-on-one and group interviews
Address
7000 ChadColley Blvd, 72916
New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine at Arkansas State University
Competitiveness: 0.1/10
Founded in 2016, the New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine at Arkansas State University (NYITCOM at A-State) is a private school in Jonesboro. It focuses on osteopathic medicine, hands-on learning, and serving rural communities, training students to become compassionate, skilled doctors.
Median GPA
3.62
Median MCAT
506
Location
Jonesboro
Degree
DO
In-State Tuition
$65,859
Out-of-State Tuition
$65,859
Class Size
US News Ranking (Research)
unranked
US News Ranking (Primary Care)
unranked
Total Applicants
Secondaries Required
Interview Rate
NA
Interview Format
Address
2405 Aggie Rd, 72401
Common questions about medical schools in Arkansas
How many medical schools are in Arkansas?
Three medical schools. One awards an MD and two award 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 Arkansas?
Median MCAT runs from 500 to 512, so a score at or above 506 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 Arkansas?
Medians land between 3.50 and 3.87. 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 Arkansas?
In-state tuition runs from $39,898 a year at University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences College of Medicine to $65,859 at New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine at Arkansas State University, before living costs. Tuition across the US and Canada sets those against the national range.
Which Arkansas medical school is easiest to get into?
By median MCAT, Arkansas College of Osteopathic Medicine admits at the lowest score of the group at 500. 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 Arkansas?
Schools here report roughly 4,723 applications against about 325 seats, which works out near one place for every 15 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 Arkansas medical schools use?
Aacomas for two, amcas 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 Arkansas medical schools ask for?
Across the two we hold prompts for, 8 in total, ranging from 1 to 7 at Arkansas College of Osteopathic 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 Arkansas?
Yes. Arkansas College of Osteopathic Medicine, New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine at Arkansas State University award 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 Arkansas with a low GPA?
It happens, and the MCAT is usually what carries it. With medians between 3.50 and 3.87, 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 Arkansas?
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, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, 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 Arkansas 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 Arkansas? The medical school hub lists every state and province with a program.