Medical schools in Colorado at a glance
All two medical schools in Colorado 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 Colorado School of Medicine | MD | AMCAS | 1883 | 515 | 3.81 | $80,913 | $83,290 | 182 | 12 | 11.99% |
| Rocky Vista University College of Medicine | DO | AACOMAS | 2006 | 506 | 3.55 | $60,270 | $64,254 | 162 | n/a | na |
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What medical schools in Colorado look for
Median MCAT across Colorado runs from 506 at Rocky Vista University College of Medicine to 515 at University of Colorado 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 3.55 and 3.81 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 $60,270 at Rocky Vista University College of Medicine and reaches $80,913 at University of Colorado 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 one, AACOMAS for one. Applying across services means duplicating work, so check which one each school on your list takes before you start.
One of the two 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 16,341 applications a year for roughly 344 seats, near enough 48 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 Colorado School of Medicine asks for 2 required, 5 if applicable, 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
Colorado's medical schools sit between a 506 and a 515 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 Colorado School of Medicine
Competitiveness: 7.1/10
Founded in 1883, the University of Colorado School of Medicine is a public leader in research, innovation, and hands-on training at Anschutz Medical Campus. From breakthrough discoveries to global health impact, CU Med is where bold ideas shape the future of medicine.
Median GPA
3.81
Median MCAT
515
Location
Aurora
Degree
MD
In-State Tuition
$80,913
Out-of-State Tuition
$83,290
Class Size
182
US News Ranking (Research)
Unranked
US News Ranking (Primary Care)
Unranked
Total Applicants
10,896
Secondaries Required
2 required, 5 if applicable
Interview Rate
11.99%
Interview Format
Structured interviews with group and individual interviews
Address
13001 E 17th Pl, 80045
Rocky Vista University College of Medicine
Competitiveness: 1.4/10
Founded in 2006, Rocky Vista University College of Medicine (RVUCOM) is a private med school with a mission. With campuses in Colorado, Utah, and Montana, it blends innovation, hands-on training, and a focus on underserved care to shape tomorrow’s physicians.
Median GPA
3.55
Median MCAT
506
Location
Parker
Degree
DO
In-State Tuition
$60,270
Out-of-State Tuition
$64,254
Class Size
162
US News Ranking (Research)
Unranked
US News Ranking (Primary Care)
Unranked
Total Applicants
5,445
Secondaries Required
2 required, 5 if applicable
Interview Rate
na
Interview Format
Open file, two-member panel
Address
8401 S Chambers Rd, 80134
Common questions about medical schools in Colorado
How many medical schools are in Colorado?
Two medical schools. One awards 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 Colorado?
Median MCAT runs from 506 to 515, so a score at or above 515 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 Colorado?
Medians land between 3.55 and 3.81. 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 Colorado?
In-state tuition runs from $60,270 a year at Rocky Vista University College of Medicine to $80,913 at University of Colorado School of Medicine, before living costs. Tuition across the US and Canada sets those against the national range.
Which Colorado medical school is easiest to get into?
By median MCAT, Rocky Vista University College of Medicine 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 Colorado?
Schools here report roughly 16,341 applications against about 344 seats, which works out near one place for every 48 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 Colorado medical schools use?
Amcas for one, aacomas for one. The table above lists it per school, so you can group your list by service before you start writing.
Are there DO schools in Colorado?
Yes. Rocky Vista University College of 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 Colorado with a low GPA?
It happens, and the MCAT is usually what carries it. With medians between 3.55 and 3.81, 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 Colorado?
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 West with a medical school, on the same figures: Alaska, Arizona, California, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, Wyoming.
The medical school hub carries all 59, including Northeast, the South, the Midwest, 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 Colorado 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 Colorado? The medical school hub lists every state and province with a program.