Medical schools in South Carolina at a glance
All three medical schools in South 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Medical University of South Carolina College of Medicine | MD | AMCAS | 1824 | 511 | 3.84 | $56,646 | $76,212 | 169 | 4 | n/a |
| University of South Carolina School of Medicine Columbia | MD | AMCAS | 1977 | 510 | 3.85 | $70,836 | $88,874 | 100 | 9 | na |
| University of South Carolina School of Medicine Greenville | MD | AMCAS | 2012 | 509 | 3.82 | $70,321 | $89,080 | 108 | 19 | na |
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What medical schools in South Carolina look for
Median MCAT across South Carolina runs from 509 at University of South Carolina School of Medicine Greenville to 511 at Medical University of South Carolina 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 3.82 and 3.85 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 $56,646 at Medical University of South Carolina College of Medicine and reaches $70,836 at University of South Carolina School of Medicine Columbia. 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 three.
Secondaries are the next hurdle after the primary. The three schools here we hold prompts for ask 32 essays between them, from 4 up to 19 at University of South Carolina School of Medicine Greenville. 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 11,952 applications a year for roughly 377 seats, near enough 32 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 South Carolina School of Medicine Greenville asks for 8, and the rest range from one required essay to several more once optional prompts open up. One 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, University of South Carolina School of Medicine Columbia places highest at 2. 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
South Carolina's medical schools sit between a 509 and a 511 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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Medical University of South Carolina College of Medicine
Competitiveness: 5.0/10
Founded in 1824, the Medical University of South Carolina College of Medicine is a public institution in Charleston, blending rich tradition with innovative research and hands-on clinical experience. Here, students are prepared to lead and transform the future of healthcare.
Median GPA
3.84
Median MCAT
512
Location
Charleston
Degree
MD
In-State Tuition
$56,646
Out-of-State Tuition
$76,212
Class Size
169
US News Ranking (Research)
Tier 2
US News Ranking (Primary Care)
Tier 3
Total Applicants
3,954
Secondaries Required
Interview Rate
NA
Interview Format
one-on-one interviews
Address
96 Jonathan Lucas Street, 29425
University of South Carolina School of Medicine Columbia
Competitiveness: 3.0/10
Founded in 1977, the University of South Carolina School of Medicine Columbia is a public institution in the heart of South Carolina’s capital. Known for its focus on community health, innovative research, and hands-on clinical training, it prepares students to make a meaningful impact in healthcare.
Median GPA
3.85
Median MCAT
510
Location
Columbia
Degree
MD
In-State Tuition
$70,836
Out-of-State Tuition
$88,874
Class Size
100
US News Ranking (Research)
2
US News Ranking (Primary Care)
2
Total Applicants
3,258
Secondaries Required
Interview Rate
na
Interview Format
Two 30-minute interviews.
Address
6311 Garners Ferry Road, 29209
University of South Carolina School of Medicine Greenville
Competitiveness: 2.8/10
Founded in 2012, the University of South Carolina School of Medicine Greenville is a public institution in Greenville, SC. With a focus on hands-on training and community care, it prepares students to become compassionate leaders in medicine, backed by innovative education and access to top healthcare facilities.
Median GPA
3.82
Median MCAT
511
Location
Greenville
Degree
MD
In-State Tuition
$70,321
Out-of-State Tuition
$89,080
Class Size
108
US News Ranking (Research)
unranked
US News Ranking (Primary Care)
unranked
Total Applicants
4,740
Secondaries Required
8
Interview Rate
na
Interview Format
One traditional 50-minute interview, 40 minute mmi
Address
607 Grove Road, 29605
Common questions about medical schools in South Carolina
How many medical schools are in South Carolina?
Three 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 South Carolina?
Median MCAT runs from 509 to 511, so a score at or above 510 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 South Carolina?
Medians land between 3.82 and 3.85. 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 South Carolina?
In-state tuition runs from $56,646 a year at Medical University of South Carolina College of Medicine to $70,836 at University of South Carolina School of Medicine Columbia, before living costs. Tuition across the US and Canada sets those against the national range.
Which South Carolina medical school is easiest to get into?
By median MCAT, University of South Carolina School of Medicine Greenville admits at the lowest score of the group at 509. 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 South Carolina?
Schools here report roughly 11,952 applications against about 377 seats, which works out near one place for every 32 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 South Carolina medical schools use?
Amcas for three. The table above lists it per school, so you can group your list by service before you start writing.
What secondary essays do South Carolina medical schools ask for?
Across the three we hold prompts for, 32 in total, ranging from 4 to 19 at University of South Carolina School of Medicine Greenville. 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 South Carolina?
No. Every program in South 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 South Carolina with a low GPA?
It happens, and the MCAT is usually what carries it. With medians between 3.82 and 3.85, 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 South 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, North Carolina, Oklahoma, 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 South 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 South Carolina? The medical school hub lists every state and province with a program.