Updated
How Many Medical Schools Should I Apply To? (2027)
Every premed building a school list hits the same question: how many schools is enough, and how many is a waste of money?
There is no required number. The AAMC says you can apply to as many or as few schools as you like, and its data for fall 2025 entry works out to 19.5 MD applications per applicant (1,066,896 applications from 54,699 applicants). Build a list of schools you would really attend, weighted toward your state and your MCAT and GPA fit, and budget for it: 20 AMCAS schools cost $1,092 in fees before secondaries.
How many medical schools do applicants apply to?
For the class that entered in fall 2025 (AAMC academic year 2025-2026), 54,699 people sent 1,066,896 applications to U.S. MD schools, an average of 19.5 each. That is from the AAMC's FACTS Table A-1, the latest cycle in its FACTS data. The table counts every U.S. MD school, including the Texas public schools that do not use AMCAS.
The AAMC's advice page gives a lower figure, saying “on average, students currently apply to 16 schools through the American Medical College Application Service”. That figure counts AMCAS only and carries no date. Either way, an average is not a target. It mixes applicants with very different scores, states and goals.
Whether a given number is enough depends on your odds at each school. For that, see our medical school acceptance rate guide.
What does the AAMC recommend?
The AAMC sets no minimum or maximum. Its Deciding Where to Apply page says “You can apply to as many or as few schools as you'd like” and adds that “it's a good idea to apply only to schools you would seriously consider attending.”
The 2027 AMCAS Applicant Guide says “We recommend you review the most recent edition of the MSAR website and consult with a prehealth advisor for guidance in selecting medical schools.” It asks you to weigh “the potential cost of application (including AMCAS service fees, secondary application fees, costs associated with interviewing, and acceptance deposits) before you designate any school.”
How much does it cost to apply to 10, 20 or 30 schools?
For the 2027 cycle, the AAMC lists $180 for the first school and $48 for each additional school in AMCAS fees. For DO schools, AACOMAS charges $198 for the first school and $60 for each additional one in 2026-2027.
| Schools on your list | AMCAS (MD), 2027 | AACOMAS (DO), 2026-2027 |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $180 | $198 |
| 10 | $612 | $738 |
| 15 | $852 | $1,038 |
| 20 | $1,092 | $1,338 |
| 25 | $1,332 | $1,638 |
| 30 | $1,572 | $1,938 |
- Fee Assistance Program. If you qualify, the AAMC waives AMCAS fees for one submission covering up to 20 medical school designations. Some schools also waive their secondary fee for Fee Assistance Program applicants.
- AACOMAS fee waivers. A waiver covers only the initial application fee, so each added DO school is still $60.
- Secondary fees. Most schools send a secondary application with its own fee. The AAMC says “Those fees range in cost.” Check each school's fee on its admissions site.
How do you choose which medical schools to apply to?
The AAMC's tool for this is the Medical School Admission Requirements (MSAR) website. The AAMC says “The Medical School Admission Requirements website is the best source for trusted, up-to-date information.” A residency rule can take a school off your list before anything else does: the Applicant Guide notes that “some medical schools accept applications only from applicants who reside in certain states.” These steps are our advice, not AAMC rules.
1. Start with your state schools
Some schools only accept applicants from certain states. AAMC Table A-1 shows each school's in-state share of applications and matriculants, and each school's own site states its residency rules.
2. Check eligibility before anything else
Citizenship, residency and prerequisite rules rule a school in or out before fit matters. AMCAS does not check this for you and does not refund fees for schools you were not eligible for.
3. Compare your MCAT and GPA with each school's data
MSAR shows each school's applicant and acceptance data. Spread your list across schools where your numbers sit above, near and below the school's median.
4. Look for mission fit
A school that trains rural doctors, researchers or primary care physicians wants applicants whose experiences point the same way. Read each school's mission statement and match it to your activities.
5. Decide on MD, DO or both
DO schools use AACOMAS, a separate application with its own fees. AACOM's Choose DO Explorer lists each osteopathic school's requirements and deadlines.
6. Price the whole list
Add primary fees, secondary fees, interview travel and deposits. If the total is more than you can pay, cut schools you would not attend before you cut schools you are likely to get into.
Where your MCAT sits against a school's range matters for the list. Our good MCAT score guide shows how to read it. If one school is a clear first choice, read about early decision before you build the rest of the list, since early decision means applying to that one school first.
Can you add medical schools after you submit?
Yes. The 2027 AMCAS Applicant Guide lets you add schools whose deadlines have not passed, for the additional school fee. It does not let you take any off: once you submit, “you can't remove or substitute schools on your designation list under any circumstances.” Start with the list you are sure of, and add schools later if you need to.
How many secondaries and interviews will a list bring?
Each school on your list can send a secondary, and each secondary can lead to an interview. A list of 25 schools can mean 25 sets of secondary essays and, if things go well, several interviews. Plan that time before you submit, so essays and interview practice fit around school or work.
What happens after an interview varies by school. Our interview to acceptance ratio guide covers the schools that publish both counts. Expect to be asked why you applied to each school, so the reasons behind your list become your answer. See “Why this medical school?” and our school-by-school interview guides.
“How did you choose which medical schools to apply to?”
A strong answer gives a real reason for the list, such as mission, patients or training style, then names what draws you to this school in particular.
Our example: I started with my state schools, then looked for programs that train doctors for underserved communities, because my clinic work showed me how far patients travel for care. Your school's rural track was the reason it went near the top of my list.
Sources: AAMC FACTS Table A-1, 2025-2026, AAMC Deciding Where to Apply, AAMC Cost of Applying to Medical School, 2027 AMCAS Applicant Guide, AAMC 2027 AMCAS cycle slides, AACOM application process and AACOMAS fees and fee waivers. All checked October 28, 2026.
Frequently asked questions
How many medical schools should I apply to?
There is no set number. The AAMC says you can apply to as many or as few schools as you like, and its data for fall 2025 entry works out to 19.5 MD applications per applicant. Apply only to schools you would really attend, starting with your state schools.
Is 20 medical schools too many?
Not by the numbers. Twenty is close to the average of 19.5 applications per applicant for fall 2025 entry. In the 2027 cycle, 20 AMCAS schools cost $1,092 in AMCAS fees before secondaries, and the AAMC Fee Assistance Program covers AMCAS fees for up to 20 schools.
How much does it cost to apply to medical school?
AMCAS charges $180 for the first school and $48 for each additional school in 2027. AACOMAS charges $198 for the first DO school and $60 for each additional one in 2026-2027. Secondary fees vary by school.
Can I add medical schools after I submit my AMCAS application?
Yes, as long as those schools' deadlines have not passed, and you pay the additional school fee. You cannot remove or swap schools once you submit.
Should I apply to DO schools too?
If you would attend a DO school, yes. DO schools use AACOMAS, a separate application with its own fees, so price both lists before you submit.