Drexel University College of Medicine: MCAT & Admissions

Can I get in?

Checking your session…

Admissions statistics

Median MCAT: 512
MCAT range (25–75): 511–514
Median GPA: 3.82
GPA range (25–75): 3.70–3.90
Science GPA: 3.82
Acceptance rate: 4.8%
Interview rate: 9.1%

Median MCAT by section (estimated)

Chem / Phys: 128
CARS: 127
Bio / Biochem: 128
Psych / Soc: 129

Section medians are projected from the total using the publicly published national section distribution (CARS runs lowest, Psych/Soc highest). Schools rarely publish their own per-section medians, so this is an estimate; real values are shown when we've sourced them.

Acceptance rate by residency Premier estimate

In-state applicants: ~11.2%
Out-of-state applicants: ~4.3%
Overall (reported): 4.8%

We split this school's overall acceptance rate into residency estimates using Premier's model of in-state vs. out-of-state selectivity and applicant mix, smoothed across schools. It reflects typical residency preference, not a guaranteed outcome — and it's an estimate, not an officially published in/out-of-state rate.

vs US MD matriculants: MCAT +0.2 (nat. 511.8), GPA +0.01 (nat. 3.81). MCAT 10/25/75/90 percentiles, median, and acceptance/interview rates are publicly sourced.

MCAT range by residency Premier estimate

My MCAT score see where you fall

Matriculants	10th	25th	75th	90th
Combined	508.7	511	514	516.8
In-state	508.9	511.9	518.1	518.8
Out-of-state	509.9	510.2	514.1	515.1

The box spans the 25th–75th percentile; the whiskers reach the 10th and 90th. We use this school's published 25–75 range as-is and model the hidden tails and the residency split, using its out-of-state share — calibrated across every US MD program and validated to within ~1.5 points of reported figures. Estimates are shown to one decimal. How this works.

Class profile

Entering class size: 240
Public / Private: Private
Setting: Not reported
% Out-of-state: 77%
Orientation: Balanced

Research vs. service orientation

Service / primary careBalancedResearch

Balanced — research & service (48/100) — U.S. News Tier 3 in BOTH Research and Primary Care; outside top-25 NIH funding; small MD/PhD, no NIH-funded MSTP; large general MD school with no defining prima

In-state vs. out-of-state class makeup

In-state

23%

Out-of-state

77%

Course exams

Core clerkship exams are NBME-standardized “shelf” subject exams — standardized nationally, so they're consistent across MD schools. Whether the preclinical years lean on in-house, NBME-based, or a mix of exams isn't something schools publish in one place — so we don't guess per school; confirm specifics with the school.

Cost & aid

In-state tuition

$73,880

Out-of-state tuition

$73,880

Cost of attendance: $110,939
Avg. graduate debt: $292,014
Secondary fee: $120
% receiving aid: 79%

Tuition & cost of attendance verified against the school's official site (official source, 2025-2026). Schools report "tuition" vs. "tuition & fees" differently and some (e.g. NYU Grossman, Kaiser early cohorts) award universal scholarships — always confirm on the official page. Debt & % receiving aid are compiled from publicly available figures.

Prerequisites & requirements

Typical for US MD programs — confirm this school's exact list.

Biology: 1 year with lab
General Chemistry: 1 year with lab
Organic Chemistry: 1 year with lab
Biochemistry: 1 semester (recommended/required)
Physics: 1 year with lab
English / writing: 1 year
Math / statistics: 1 semester–1 year (varies)
Psychology & Sociology: Recommended for the MCAT

Required tests

MCAT — required
CASPer: required
AAMC PREview: not required

Letters of recommendation

A committee letter, or 3–5 individual letters
Typically 2 science faculty + 1 non-science
A letter from research/clinical mentors strengthens the file

Application timeline (AMCAS)

AMCAS opens

Early May

Submit primary (rolling — submit early)

Late May – June

Secondary applications

June – August

Interviews

August – March

Acceptances begin (rolling)

Oct 15 onward

Most US programs admit on a rolling basis — applying early materially helps.

What this school weighs

GPA & MCAT (academic readiness)
Clinical experience & shadowing
Research experience
Community service & volunteering
Letters of recommendation
Personal statement & secondary essays
Interview performance & mission fit
State residency (especially at public schools)

Mission focus: Drexel University College of Medicine delivers innovative biomedical education in an environment that embraces inquiry and collaboration, founded on excellence in patient care, and based on a culture of, and respect for diversity. These principles are built upon the College's legacy of a firm commitment to meeting the healthcare needs of the communities in which we live and work.

Secondary essay prompts (2024-2025)

⚠ Crowdsourced & anecdotal — secondary prompts change every cycle and may be incomplete. Always confirm on the school's own secondary application.

Please discuss all of your current and recent activities and engagements that have prepared you for medical school. Please be sure to include any traditional and/or non-traditional clinical exposures and volunteering experiences that you have done that are not already included in your application. (2000 characters)
Why are you interested in Drexel? Please also explain how you meet various elements of our mission - compassionate care, diversity, spirited inquiry, collaboration, and opportunity. (1500 characters)
Please describe any extenuating circumstances that may have affected your medical or non-medical service experiences, including any circumstances that impacted your engagement in activities, academics, and MCAT that would have helped to prepare you for medical school. (1500 characters)

Interview

⚠ Anecdotal — based on applicant-reported experiences (e.g. SDN). Format and questions vary year to year; treat as a guide, not a script.

Format: MMI

Virtual interviews, historically traditional one-on-one and conversational (averaging ~36 minutes, often a faculty and a student interviewer), with an MMI component delivered via the Kira platform with live faculty (about 8-10 stations, 6-8 minutes each, assessing ethics, teamwork, and cultural humility); applicants generally report low stress.

Questions applicants report

Why medicine? Why Drexel?
What do you do for fun?
What's your favorite movie and book?
What kinds of ethical problems do you think you will face as a doctor, and how will you handle them?
Ethical role-play: you have long-standing evening plans but a patient's hour-long diagnostic test for a serious condition is pending - do you stay for the results or leave them to the on-call team?
What questions do you have for me (student interviewer)?

Key facts

Degree: MD
Type: Private
Location: Pennsylvania
Region: Northeast
Interview format: MMI
Preclinical grading: Not reported
Licensing exam: USMLE
Oldest MCAT accepted: January 2024
International applicants: Not considered
DACA applicants: Not considered
Early Decision: Offered
Deferral: Allowed

Stats from the school's published class profile and publicly available national data. Tuition, debt, secondary fee, oldest-MCAT, PREview, interview format, and mission are compiled from publicly available figures. Prerequisite, timeline, and letter guidance is typical for US MD programs and may differ at this school. Some figures are being verified. Not affiliated with or endorsed by the AAMC.

Frequently Asked Questions

What MCAT score do I need for Drexel?

Drexel University College of Medicine has a median MCAT of 512 (typical accepted range about 511–514). At or above the median is most competitive; below the 25th percentile (511) is a reach without other strengths.

What GPA does Drexel require?

The median accepted GPA is about 3.82 (roughly 3.70–3.90). There's no hard cutoff, but below the median you'll want to be strong elsewhere.

What are the prerequisites for Drexel?

Like most US MD programs, expect a year each of biology, general chemistry, organic chemistry, and physics (all with labs), biochemistry, and English, plus math/statistics. Psychology and sociology are recommended for the MCAT. Always confirm the school's exact list.

Is Drexel hard to get into?

Its acceptance rate is approximately 4.8% — moderately competitive for US MD programs.

Aiming for Drexel?

Our 520+ scoring tutors help you close the gap to a competitive MCAT. Start with a free consultation.

Explore Tutoring