NYU Grossman School of Medicine is one of the hardest medical schools in the country to get into. For the 2025 entering class, it accepted just 208 of 8,271 applicants, an acceptance rate of about 2.5%. A big reason the numbers are so brutal: since 2018, NYU Grossman has been tuition-free for every MD student, which sent applications surging and pushed its admitted-student stats to among the highest anywhere. Here’s the current data, what it takes to be competitive, and how the application works.
NYU Grossman Acceptance Rate and Class Profile
NYU publishes its own admissions data. These figures are for the 2025 entering class.
| Metric | 2025 entering class |
|---|---|
| Applications | 8,271 |
| Accepted | 208 |
| Acceptance rate | ~2.5% |
| Matriculated | 106 (91 MD, 13 MD/PhD, 2 oral & maxillofacial surgery) |
| Median MCAT | 523 (range 516–527) |
| Median GPA | 3.98 (range 3.79–4.0) |
| Average age | 23 (range 20–30) |
| Gender split | 51% men, 49% women |
A median MCAT of 523 sits around the 99th percentile, and a median GPA of 3.98 leaves almost no room. These are numbers on par with Harvard and Yale. They don’t guarantee admission on their own, and they’re not a hard cutoff either, but they show the level of the applicant pool NYU draws.
Why NYU Is So Competitive: The Tuition-Free Scholarship
In August 2018, NYU Grossman became the first top-ranked US medical school to make itself tuition-free. Every student in the MD program receives a Full-Tuition Scholarship, regardless of merit or financial need, as long as they stay in good academic standing. It covers tuition only, not living costs, but for students who would otherwise take on hundreds of thousands in debt, that’s a life-changing difference. NYU also offers a separate need-based Debt-Free Scholarship that helps with housing, food, and books for those who qualify.
The scholarship is the main reason the acceptance rate is what it is. Once cost stopped being a barrier, applications climbed and the school could be even more selective. If you’re applying to NYU expecting the tuition break, know that thousands of other strong applicants are doing the same math.
NYU Grossman Admission Requirements
NYU Grossman doesn’t publish a rigid list of required prerequisite courses. It uses a competency-based approach, meaning it wants to see that you’ve mastered the science needed for medical school rather than checking specific course boxes. In practice, competitive applicants still complete the standard premed foundation: general and organic chemistry, biochemistry, biology, physics, and coursework that builds strong writing and quantitative skills, most with lab components.
You need a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution and an MCAT score. NYU accepts applications from US citizens, permanent residents, and applicants with DACA status. Beyond the numbers, the school looks for research experience, clinical exposure, and a record that fits its research-driven mission. Letters of recommendation from people who know your work well carry real weight.
How to Apply to NYU Grossman
NYU Grossman uses the AMCAS primary application like most US MD programs. The primary application deadline is October 15, and letters of recommendation are due through the AMCAS Letter Service by November 10. Because admissions are rolling, applying early in the cycle helps. After the primary application, selected applicants complete a secondary and then an interview.
NYU also offers a three-year MD pathway, launched in 2013, for students headed toward primary care or other specialties with NYU Langone residencies. Admitted three-year students get a guaranteed residency slot at NYU Langone. It’s an opt-in track through a separate application, not a different school.
About NYU Grossman School of Medicine
NYU Grossman traces its roots to 1841, making it one of the oldest medical schools in the country. It’s part of NYU Langone Health in Manhattan and is consistently ranked among the top research-focused medical schools in the United States. The school is known for pairing an accelerated, technology-heavy curriculum with strong research output, and the tuition-free model has made it a magnet for applicants who want to graduate without medical school debt.
NYU Grossman Long Island School of Medicine
Don’t confuse the Manhattan School with NYU Grossman Long Island School of Medicine, which is a separate school with its own admissions. Long Island runs an accelerated three-year MD program focused on primary care and is also tuition-free. If you’re researching NYU medical schools, check which campus a statistic refers to, because they report separately.
NYU Medical School Acceptance Rate FAQs
What is NYU Grossman’s acceptance rate?
About 2.5% for the 2025 entering class, with 208 acceptances out of 8,271 applications. It’s one of the most selective medical schools in the country.
Is NYU medical school really free?
Tuition is free for every MD student at NYU Grossman through the Full-Tuition Scholarship, awarded regardless of merit or need. It covers tuition only; living costs are separate, though a need-based Debt-Free Scholarship can help with those.
What MCAT and GPA do you need for NYU Grossman?
The 2025 entering class had a median MCAT of 523 and a median GPA of 3.98. There’s no hard cutoff, but competitive applicants generally have scores near these levels.
What are NYU Grossman’s application deadlines?
The AMCAS primary application is due October 15, and letters of recommendation are due through the AMCAS Letter Service by November 10.
Does NYU Grossman require specific prerequisite courses?
No fixed course list. NYU uses a competency-based approach, but strong applicants still complete the standard premed sciences, including chemistry, biochemistry, biology, and physics with labs.
Who can apply to NYU Grossman?
US citizens, permanent residents, and applicants with DACA status who hold a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution and have taken the MCAT.
See Also
University of Miami Medical School
How to Get Into Harvard Medical School
Harvard Post Bacc Pre Med Program
AAMC Medical School Application Process
