Medical schools in Iowa at a glance
All two medical schools in Iowa 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 Iowa Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine | MD | AMCAS | 1870 | 514 | 3.88 | $63,254 | $84,029 | 152 | n/a | na |
| Des Moines University College of Osteopathic Medicine | Do | AACOMAS | 1898 | 508 | 3.57 | $58,384 | $58,384 | 220 | n/a | na |
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What medical schools in Iowa look for
Median MCAT across Iowa runs from 508 at Des Moines University College of Osteopathic Medicine to 514 at University of Iowa Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver 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 3.57 and 3.88 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 $58,384 at Des Moines University College of Osteopathic Medicine and reaches $63,254 at University of Iowa Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College 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 7,135 applications a year for roughly 372 seats, near enough 19 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.
Free checklist
Iowa's medical schools sit between a 508 and a 514 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 Iowa Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine
Competitiveness: 7.0/10
Founded in 1870, Carver College of Medicine is a public leader in innovation, research, and patient care. Here, students don’t just learn medicine—they advance it.
Median GPA
3.88
Median MCAT
516
Location
Iowa City
Degree
MD
In-State Tuition
$63,254
Out-of-State Tuition
$84,029
Class Size
152
US News Ranking (Research)
Tier 2
US News Ranking (Primary Care)
Tier 2
Total Applicants
3,785
Secondaries Required
Interview Rate
na
Interview Format
Both virtual and in person interview
Address
375 Newton Road, 52242
Des Moines University College of Osteopathic Medicine
Competitiveness: 2.1/10
Founded in 1898, DMUCOM is a private pioneer in osteopathic medicine. With hands-on training and whole-person care, it prepares DOs to lead and innovate in healthcare.
Median GPA
3.57
Median MCAT
509
Location
Des Moines
Degree
Do
In-State Tuition
$58,384
Out-of-State Tuition
$58,384
Class Size
220
US News Ranking (Research)
unranked
US News Ranking (Primary Care)
unranked
Total Applicants
3,350
Secondaries Required
Interview Rate
na
Interview Format
Traditional interview
Address
3200 Grand Avenue, 50312
Common questions about medical schools in Iowa
How many medical schools are in Iowa?
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 Iowa?
Median MCAT runs from 508 to 514, so a score at or above 514 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 Iowa?
Medians land between 3.57 and 3.88. 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 Iowa?
In-state tuition runs from $58,384 a year at Des Moines University College of Osteopathic Medicine to $63,254 at University of Iowa Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine, before living costs. Tuition across the US and Canada sets those against the national range.
Which Iowa medical school is easiest to get into?
By median MCAT, Des Moines University College of Osteopathic Medicine admits at the lowest score of the group at 508. 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 Iowa?
Schools here report roughly 7,135 applications against about 372 seats, which works out near one place for every 19 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 Iowa 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 Iowa?
Yes. Des Moines University 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 Iowa with a low GPA?
It happens, and the MCAT is usually what carries it. With medians between 3.57 and 3.88, 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 Iowa?
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 Midwest with a medical school, on the same figures: Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, Wisconsin.
The medical school hub carries all 59, including Northeast, the South, 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 Iowa 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 Iowa? The medical school hub lists every state and province with a program.