Last updated: September 2026. Written by Josh Hutcheson, OnlineCourseing editor. Every program below was checked on the school’s own website on 22 September 2026. Admissions policies change each cycle; confirm with the program before applying. See our review methodology.
By Josh Hutcheson · E-Learning Specialist
Reviewing online learning platforms since 2019. Review methodology
THE SHORT ANSWER
Bottom line: nearly every US medical school, MD and DO, requires the MCAT for standard admission. The real exceptions are a small number of early assurance and combined BS/MD or BA/MD programs that waive it for students they admit early. They are harder to get into, not easier, and several programs widely listed as “no MCAT” actually require it.
- Verified no-MCAT pathways: Icahn Mount Sinai early assurance, Rutgers RWJ BA/MD (with SAT/ACT), SUNY Upstate via SUNY Purchase, Toledo MedStart, Marshall MD Early Assurance.
- Often listed wrongly: Drexel BS/MD and George Washington BA/MD both require the MCAT.
- DO schools: use the MCAT; entering DO students averaged 502.95 in 2025 (AACOM).
- Outside the US: UK schools use the UCAT; Australian schools use UCAT ANZ or GAMSAT.
Can you get into medical school without the MCAT?
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For the standard route, no. US MD programs use the MCAT alongside grades, experience and interviews, and osteopathic (DO) programs do too: the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine reports that students entering DO schools in 2025 had a mean total MCAT of 502.95 and a mean overall GPA of 3.62 (AACOM).
The exceptions are pathways where a medical school commits to admitting a student early, before the usual application year, in return for strict conditions. These come in two main forms:
- Early assurance programs admit college students, usually in their second year, to a partner or home medical school, often waiving the MCAT.
- Combined BS/MD or BA/MD programs admit students, sometimes straight from high school, to an undergraduate degree linked to a medical school place. Some waive the MCAT; others still require a minimum score.
Because policies differ program by program and change between application cycles, the only reliable source is each program’s own admissions page. We checked every program below on the school’s own website.
Verified programs that do not require the MCAT
1. Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai: Early Assurance (FlexMed)
Mount Sinai in New York runs early assurance admissions, including FlexMed and an Institutional Partnership route, for students who apply during college. Its admissions page is explicit: students accepted to these programs are not permitted to take the MCAT (Icahn School of Medicine). FlexMed is known for welcoming humanities and social science majors, and applicants still need strong grades and a competitive profile.
2. Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School: BA/MD
Rutgers students can apply to an accelerated BA/MD pathway with Robert Wood Johnson Medical School. For students applying in 2026, the program requires a standardized test score: SAT, ACT or MCAT. If you are admitted with an SAT or ACT score on record, no MCAT is required. If you do not have SAT or ACT scores, you must complete the MCAT by 16 April 2027 (Rutgers Health Professions Office).
3. SUNY Upstate Medical University via SUNY Purchase
SUNY Purchase offers a guaranteed pathway to SUNY Upstate Medical University’s College of Medicine with no MCAT required for admission to Upstate’s MD program. Accepted students must still take an official MCAT within 12 months before starting medical school, but only for assessment: the scores are not a condition of admission (SUNY Purchase).
4. University of Toledo College of Medicine: MedStart
Toledo’s MedStart program states that it does not require the MCAT for acceptance. It encourages students to take the exam in their senior year anyway, to prepare for the medical school curriculum and because several merit-based scholarships require competitive MCAT scores (University of Toledo).
5. Marshall University: MD Early Assurance Program
Marshall’s Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine in West Virginia states that students who successfully complete the undergraduate portion of its MD Early Assurance Program will not be required to take the MCAT (Marshall University). Its standard MD admission does require the MCAT, taken within three calendar years before starting (Marshall University).
6. A note on older programs
Some programs that appear on no-MCAT lists are based on old announcements. For example, a University at Albany news release from August 2018 described a program with Albany Medical College that waived the MCAT (University at Albany). Programs like this can change or close, so treat any list, including this one, as a starting point and confirm the current policy directly.
The verified programs at a glance
| Program | When you apply | MCAT policy (checked 22 Sept 2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Icahn Mount Sinai Early Assurance (FlexMed) | During college | Not permitted to take the MCAT if accepted |
| Rutgers RWJ BA/MD | Rutgers students, by end of sophomore year | No MCAT if admitted with SAT or ACT; otherwise MCAT by 16 Apr 2027 |
| SUNY Upstate via SUNY Purchase | Purchase students | Not required for admission; taken later for assessment only |
| University of Toledo MedStart | Early admission | Not required for acceptance; encouraged for scholarships |
| Marshall MD Early Assurance | Undergraduate portion at Marshall | Not required after completing undergraduate portion |
Programs to confirm directly
These well-known combined programs appear on many no-MCAT lists, but their current public pages did not state an MCAT policy when we checked. Ask the admissions office before relying on a waiver:
- Brown University Program in Liberal Medical Education (PLME), an eight-year program admitting students from high school (Brown PLME).
- University of Missouri-Kansas City BA/MD, a six-year combined program (UMKC).
- University of Alabama at Birmingham Early Medical School Acceptance Program (EMSAP) (UAB).
- Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute BS/MD physician-scientist program with Albany Medical College (RPI).
- Other programs previously listed on this page, including those at Case Western Reserve, CUNY, Howard, Rochester, Northwestern and the University of Florida, had moved, restricted or removed their program pages; Northwestern’s and Florida’s pages returned “not found”.
Programs often listed as no-MCAT that do require it
| Program | What the school says |
|---|---|
| Drexel University BS/MD | The MCAT is required before starting medical school, with minimum scores of 128 in named sections (Drexel) |
| George Washington University BA/MD | Students must provide an MCAT score that meets the program cutoff to move into the MD program (GWU) |
| California Northstate University College of Medicine | A standard MD program: its class of 2029 had an average MCAT of 513.3 (CNU) |
| Marshall University (regular MD) | MCAT required and must be taken within three calendar years before starting (Marshall) |
An earlier version of this page listed several of these as MCAT-free. That was wrong, and we have corrected it.
Why so many no-MCAT lists are wrong
When we checked the 26 programs this page used to list, fewer than a quarter could be confirmed as MCAT-free on the schools’ own websites, several turned out to require the MCAT, and nine program pages had moved or disappeared. The same errors appear across the web, for four reasons:
- Lists copy each other. Once a program appears on one popular list, it spreads, and corrections rarely follow.
- Waivers are conditional. “No MCAT if you have an SAT score” or “MCAT for assessment only” gets simplified to “no MCAT”.
- Programs change or close. Combined programs are small and depend on partnerships that can end, and old announcements stay online for years.
- BS/MD is not the same as no-MCAT. Many combined programs guarantee a place but still set a minimum MCAT score.
The practical rule: rely only on the program’s current admissions page or written confirmation from its admissions office, for the year you will enter.
How early assurance and BS/MD programs work
No-MCAT pathways trade the exam for commitment and conditions. Typical features include:
- Early decision on your future. You apply in high school or early in college, years before a standard applicant would.
- Conditions to keep your place. Minimum GPAs, required science courses, clinical or service experience and professional conduct.
- Limited choice. You usually commit to one medical school, which may not be the one you would have chosen later.
- Small intakes. Programs admit few students, so selection is intense.
- Sometimes the MCAT anyway. Some programs still ask you to take it later for assessment or scholarships, as SUNY Upstate and Toledo do.
When to apply: a timeline
| Stage | What you can apply to | What to prepare |
|---|---|---|
| Final year of high school | Combined BS/MD or BA/MD programs that admit from high school | Top grades, SAT or ACT scores, sustained science and service activity, essays, interviews |
| First year of college | Planning year for early assurance | Strong science GPA, clinical exposure, faculty relationships for letters |
| Second year of college | Many early assurance programs and some internal BA/MD routes, such as Rutgers’ (by the end of sophomore year) | Completed prerequisite courses, clinical and research experience, program-specific essays |
| Third year of college and later | Standard medical school admission | The MCAT, usually taken in junior year or the year before you plan to enroll |
The pattern is simple: the earlier you want certainty, the fewer programs are open to you and the higher the bar. If you are already in your third year of college, the MCAT route is almost always the right plan.
What no-MCAT programs look for
Without an MCAT score, programs lean harder on everything else. Expect them to weigh:
- Academic record. High grades overall and in science, often with minimum GPAs you must keep after admission.
- Evidence of commitment to medicine. Clinical exposure, shadowing, volunteering and, for some programs, research.
- Maturity and motivation. Essays and interviews test whether you understand the profession and have chosen it for sound reasons, since you are committing early.
- Fit with the program’s mission. Some programs prioritize service to particular communities, humanities backgrounds or physician-scientist careers.
- Standardized tests where required. Several programs still ask for SAT or ACT scores, as Rutgers does, even when they waive the MCAT.
Questions to ask before relying on an MCAT waiver
- Is the MCAT waived completely, waived only if I meet certain conditions, or required later for assessment or scholarships?
- What GPA, course and conduct requirements must I meet to keep my place, and what happens if I miss one?
- Can I apply to other medical schools while in the program, and do I lose my place if I do?
- How many students entered the program in each of the last few years, and how many completed it?
- Is the policy confirmed in writing for my entering year, not just in past years’ materials?
Pros and cons of a no-MCAT pathway
| Advantages | Disadvantages |
|---|---|
| No MCAT preparation, fee or retake risk | Very competitive to get in |
| Early certainty of a medical school place | Commitment to one school years in advance |
| More freedom to take non-science courses | GPA and conduct conditions throughout college |
| Some programs shorten total training time | Less chance to compare offers from several schools |
| Reduced application costs later | If you leave the program, you may need the MCAT anyway |
Studying medicine outside the US
- United Kingdom. Most UK medical schools use the UCAT, an admissions test used by a consortium of UK and partner universities for medicine and dentistry (UCAT Consortium).
- Australia and New Zealand. Undergraduate-entry programs typically use the UCAT ANZ, while many graduate-entry programs use the GAMSAT, which is a prerequisite for the courses that require it (ACER).
- Caribbean medical schools. Many admit North American students and report on the MCAT; St. George’s University, for example, publishes its MCAT reporting details in its catalog. Check each school’s current requirements.
Studying abroad also affects where you can later train and practise, so check licensing and residency rules for the country where you want to work.
If you will take the MCAT: what to know
For most future doctors the MCAT is unavoidable, and preparing well matters more than finding a way around it. Key facts from the Association of American Medical Colleges: the standard registration fee is $355, or $145 with Fee Assistance; the exam has 230 questions across four sections and takes about 6 hours 15 minutes of testing time; and there are limits of three attempts in one testing year, four over two consecutive years and seven in a lifetime (AAMC). You do not need a finished degree to sit it; most applicants take it during college.
Our guides cover the details: how many times you can take the MCAT, when to start studying, how hard the MCAT is, MCAT percentiles and the best MCAT resources.
For structured preparation, compare the options in our ranking of the best MCAT prep courses and our Kaplan vs Princeton Review comparison. Kaplan’s MCAT On Demand course is a self-paced option with a higher-score guarantee subject to conditions; the AAMC’s own official practice materials are essential whichever course you choose.
How to decide which path fits you
- If you are in high school and certain about medicine, research combined BS/MD programs now; many admit only from high school.
- If you are in your first or second year of college, look at early assurance programs at your own university and partner medical schools.
- If you are further along, plan for the MCAT: it keeps every US medical school open to you.
- Whichever route, keep your grades high and build clinical and service experience, because every pathway requires them.
- Confirm every policy with the program in writing before you rely on an MCAT waiver.
Frequently asked questions
Are there medical schools that don’t require the MCAT?
Almost every US MD and DO program requires the MCAT for standard admission. The exceptions are specific pathways, mainly early assurance and combined BS/MD or BA/MD programs, such as the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai’s early assurance programs, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson BA/MD, SUNY Upstate’s program with SUNY Purchase, the University of Toledo’s MedStart and Marshall’s MD Early Assurance Program.
Do DO schools require the MCAT?
Yes, in practice. Osteopathic (DO) schools use the MCAT in admissions; the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine reports that students entering DO schools in 2025 had a mean total MCAT score of 502.95.
Do BS/MD programs require the MCAT?
It depends on the program. Some waive it entirely, some waive it only if you meet other conditions such as an SAT or ACT score, and some still require a minimum MCAT score before you start medical school. Drexel’s BS/MD, for example, requires the MCAT with minimum section scores, and George Washington’s BA/MD requires a score that meets the program’s cutoffs.
Can you become a doctor without taking the MCAT?
In the US, only through a no-MCAT pathway such as an early assurance or combined degree program. In the UK and Australia, medical schools use other tests: the UCAT, and in Australia the UCAT ANZ or GAMSAT, depending on the course.
Can you take the MCAT without a degree?
Yes. You do not need a completed degree to sit the MCAT; most applicants take it during college, often in their junior year or the year before they plan to enroll. What matters is having covered the underlying biology, chemistry, physics, psychology and sociology.
What is FlexMed?
FlexMed is the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai’s early assurance program. College students apply before the usual medical school application year and, if accepted, are guaranteed a place at Mount Sinai’s medical school. Mount Sinai states that students accepted to its early assurance programs are not permitted to take the MCAT.
What is the lowest MCAT score accepted by medical schools?
There is no single minimum; each school sets its own expectations, and a low score can be offset by other strengths or ruled out entirely. For context, the average total MCAT of students entering DO schools in 2025 was 502.95 (AACOM), and a score of 500 sits around the 48th percentile under the AAMC’s current percentile tables.
How much does the MCAT cost?
The AAMC’s standard registration fee is $355, reduced to $145 for applicants approved for its Fee Assistance Program, with extra charges for testing outside the US and Canada or for rescheduling.
Is it easier to get into medical school without the MCAT?
No. No-MCAT pathways are usually more competitive to enter, because they admit a small number of students early, often in high school or the second year of college, and require them to keep a high GPA and meet other conditions to keep their place.
The verdict
There is no general shortcut around the MCAT: nearly every US medical school requires it, and the programs that waive it are selective early-commitment pathways with conditions of their own. If one of the verified programs above fits your situation, it can save you the exam. For everyone else, the practical route is a solid MCAT preparation plan and an application that keeps every school on the table.