Ohio State College of Medicine: What the Numbers Really Say

If you’re a New York or New Jersey premed, Ohio State probably isn’t on your radar yet. It might deserve a spot. This week in our Med School Series, we’re looking at The Ohio State University College of Medicine, a large public school in the Midwest with a class profile that is more instructive than it first appears. 

The Numbers

Here is the entering class profile for 2026, pulled directly from Ohio State’s own admissions page:
  • Applications to Ohio State: 10,116 (out of 54,884 national AMCAS applicants)
  • Interviews offered: 675 
  • Acceptances: 406 
  • Matriculants: 214 
  • Average GPA: 3.86 overall, 3.81 science 
  • Average MCAT: 513 
  • Ohio residents: 56% of the class 
  • Took at least two growth years: 35% 

What stands out

The funnel is the story. Of 10,116 applicants, 675 were interviewed, and 406 received acceptances, but only 214 enrolled. That means roughly half of the students Ohio State accepted went somewhere else. For you, that is good news about the process: a school that accepts nearly twice as many students as it needs is telling you that an interview here is a real shot, not a long shot. About 4.0% of applicants were accepted (406 of 10,116), and about 2.1% ended up enrolling (214 of 10,116). Those are different numbers, and it is worth knowing which one a source is quoting. 

Then there is the in-state picture. 56% of the class is from Ohio, which means 44% is not. For a public school, that is a meaningful out-of-state presence, and it is a reminder that you should not assume a state school is closed to you without looking at the data. 

Two more details we liked: 100% of the class reported research experience, and 35% took at least two growth years before matriculating. If you are worried that taking time between college and medical school will hurt you, this is a useful data point. A third of this class did exactly that. Also, 17% are first-generation college students and 20% have a physician parent, so the class is more varied than the stats alone suggest. 

What this means for your application

A 3.86 GPA and a 513 MCAT are the averages, so about half of matriculants sit below those numbers on either metric. That does not mean you can ignore them. It means your numbers get you into the conversation, and your research, clinical experience, and story decide the rest. Ohio State also runs several tracks, including a Community Medicine Track (15 students), an MD/PhD program (11 students), a Three-Year Primary Care Track (4 students), and MedPath (9 students), so it helps to know which one fits you before you write your secondaries.

Want help building your school list?

If you’d like help figuring out where your GPA, MCAT, and experiences fit best, reach out to us, and we’d be happy to help!

Daniella 
MCAT KING

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