6.49% Acceptance Rate
The acceptance rate at Sanford School of Medicine of the University of South Dakota is 6.49% for the 2026 admission. Here, the acceptance rate is the percentage of matriculated applicants. 1,079 people applied and 70 enrolled to the school.
The interview invitation rate of USD School of Medicine is 24.54%. Interview rate is the percentage of applicants who are invited to an admissions interview. (read more about acceptance and interview rates.)
Compared to all medical schools' rate, USD School of Medicine's acceptance rate is much higher than the average rate of 4.02%. The interview invitation rate is much higher than the average rate of 13.66%.
| Acceptance Rate | Interview Invitation Rate | Applicants | Matriculated | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sanford School of Medicine of the University of South Dakota | 6.49% | 24.54% | 1,079 | 70 |
| All Medical Schools | 4.02% | 13.66% | 945,685 | 22,839 |
| Public | 5.04% | 16.03% | 477,511 | 14,170 |
| Private | 2.45% | 9.97% | 468,174 | 8,669 |
Applicants and Matriculants by Gender and Residency
At USD School of Medicine, the men to women applicants ratio is 47 to 52 for the academic year 2024-2025. The in-state to out-of-state applicants ratio is 12 to 88.
For the matriculants, the men to wemen to ratio is 44 to 56 and the in-state to out-of-state ratio is 81 to 19 for 2026 admission.
| Year | Total | By Gender | By Residency | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Men | Women | South Dakota Residents | Out-of-State Residents | ||
| Applicants | 1,079 | 510 | 564 | 132 (12.2%) | 947 (87.8%) |
| Matriculants | 70 | 31 | 39 | 57 (81.4%) | 13 (18.6%) |
| Acceptance Rate | 6.49% | 6.08% | 6.91% | 43.29% | 1.37% |
MCAT Scores and GPA
For the 2026 admission, average MCAT Score at Sanford School of Medicine of the University of South Dakota is 509 and the average GPA is 3.85 over 70 enrolled students. Compared to medical schools in U.S., USD School of Medicine' MCAT Score is similar to the average score of 513.
USD School of Medicine requires a minimum of 3.0 GPA and a minimum MCAT score of 496. Public medical schools generally require higher MCAT scores for out-of-state students (non-residents), so check the school's admissions page if you are not a South Dakota resident
| MCAT Scores | GPA | |
|---|---|---|
| Sanford School of Medicine of the University of South Dakota | 509 | 3.85 |
| All Medical Schools | 513 | 3.84 |
| Public | 512 | 3.84 |
| Private | 514 | 3.84 |
MAT score and GPA Trends
The following table shows the changes of GPA and MCAT scores at USD School of Medicine.
| MCAT Score | GPA Overall | BCPM (Science) GPA | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 509 | 3.81 | - |
| 2023 | 0 | 0.00 | - |
| 2024 | 508 | 3.82 | - |
| 2025 | 509 | 3.85 | 3.81 |
Application Timeline & Requirements
The primary application deadline for fall 2027 admission is November 1, 2025. To apply to Sanford School of Medicine of the University of South Dakota, applicants are required to complete an application on AMCAS (American Medical College Application Service.
Although there are set application deadlines, most medical schools prefer early applicants regardless of their rolling admissions policies. Therefore, applying early rather than waiting for the deadline can be a good way to get accepted.
The secondary application fee for full-time M.D. program is $35 at USD School of Medicine.
The items in following table are the required items to Sanford School of Medicine of the University of South Dakota applicants. Double-check the requirements by contacting admission office or check the application requirement page.
Timeline & requirements
| Regular (AMCAS) | 2025-11-01 |
|---|---|
| Secondary Application Fee | $35 |
| Minimum GPA of 3.10, MCAT score of 496 required | |
Prerequisites
| Subject | Specifications |
|---|---|
| Biology |
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| Chemistry |
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| Organic Chemistry |
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| Biochemistry |
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| Physics |
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| Mathematics |
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| Statistics |
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Data Source: https://www.usd.edu/Admissions-and-Aid/Medical-School-Admissions/How-to-Apply