How to Use the MSAR to Build Your Medical School List

The Medical School Admission Requirements (MSAR) is the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) database of admissions data for MD programs in the U.S. and Canada.

A subscription costs $33 for one year or $41 for two years, although some basic school information is available for free with an AAMC account. The MSAR covers MD programs only, so applicants applying to DO programs will need to use AACOM’s Choose DO Explorer.

If you’re using the MSAR to build your medical school list, the database can help you compare schools based on academic data, prerequisites, admissions policies, cost, and other factors. This guide explains in detail what the MSAR includes and how to use it to research medical schools and build your school list in four steps. Jump to the steps.

Once you have a starting list, you can use Med School Explorer to compare programs and explore additional school information at no charge. You can also watch our video on how to build a medical school list if you’re not sure where to start.

What Is the MSAR?

The MSAR provides medical school applicants with a centralized resource to research and compare MD programs in the U.S. and Canada. Rather than visiting individual medical school websites to piece together requirements, applicants can use school profiles to review things like academic data, prerequisites, and tuition and fees.

The AAMC publishes a new edition each spring, typically in April, but medical schools can update their profiles throughout the year as information changes.

The MSAR can help you:

Compare your GPA and MCAT scores with school-specific data.
Check prerequisite coursework before adding a school to your list.
Review application requirements, deadlines, and admissions policies.
Compare tuition, fees, financial aid, and other costs.
Research curriculum, research opportunities, and combined-degree programs.
Review class demographics and other information about the student body.
Compare schools side by side as you narrow your list.
Save, rank, and organize your MSAR medical school list.

MSAR Cost and Free Features

The MSAR costs $33 for a one-year subscription or $41 for a two-year subscription through the AAMC Store. The current 2026 edition includes profiles for MD-granting, LCME-accredited medical schools in the U.S. and Canada. You can create an AAMC account and access basic medical school profiles for free, but detailed admissions data and other tools require a paid subscription.

Free MSAR Features	Paid MSAR Features
A few basic stats (i.e., application deadlines)	MCAT & GPA ranges for accepted students to compare your statistics to the average matriculant
Admissions contact details	Tuition and financial aid information
Mission statements	Prerequisite course requirements
General info about US/Canada medical schools	Detailed admissions statistics (i.e., in-state vs. out-of-state, interview rates, how many matriculants were in special programs like MD/PhD tracks, etc.)
	Class profiles (i.e., demographics, backgrounds of accepted students, etc.)
	Specific interview formats used during the application process (e.g., traditional vs. MMI)

The AAMC provides complimentary MSAR access to students who qualify for the AAMC Fee Assistance Program. Complimentary MSAR subscriptions remain valid through the end of the following year.

To use the MSAR, create or sign in to an AAMC account and purchase access through the AAMC Store. After purchasing, you can log in or access the MSAR using the account associated with the subscription. If you’re not ready to purchase a subscription, Med School Explorer is a free alternative for researching medical schools and comparing programs.

Does the MSAR Include DO Schools?

No, the MSAR does not include DO schools. It only covers accredited MD-granting medical schools in the U.S. and Canada.

For osteopathic medical schools, use AACOM’s Choose DO Explorer, a searchable database of DO programs with school information submitted by each school. The two databases serve similar purposes, but they’re not interchangeable. If you’re applying to both MD and DO programs, you will need to research schools through both resources.

What the MSAR Shows for Each School

The MSAR provides information about a wide range of topics related to medical schools, including:

GPA and MCAT scores: The MSAR offers school-specific median GPA and median MCAT scores for accepted applicants, along with data that can help you compare your academic profile with a school's accepted applicants.
Prerequisite coursework: The MSAR lists required and recommended premed coursework for each school, along with each school's additional explanations of which courses meet its requirements.
Application process: School profiles include application dates and deadlines, admissions requirements, waitlist information, interview formats, and other school-specific application policies.
Curriculum and programs: The MSAR provides information about research opportunities, combined-degree programs, and other degree pathways. The current edition also includes detailed information about three-year MD pathways.
Tuition and financial aid: School profiles include tuition, financial aid information, and other financial details to help applicants compare the cost of attending different programs.
Acceptance data: MSAR stats include school-specific acceptance rates and admissions data. This information can help you understand the size and competitiveness of a school's applicant pool.
Demographics: Profiles include a demographic snapshot of each school's first-year class, with multiple years of data available to help applicants see trends over time.
Campus life: The MSAR includes information about housing, campus culture, student activities, support services, wellness and mental health services, and transportation recommendations or requirements.
School comparisons: Applicants can filter and compare schools based on factors such as location, class size, GPA, MCAT scores, campus setting, financial aid, degrees offered, and interview information. Subscribers can also save and rank favorite schools.

How to Build Your Medical School List in the MSAR

The MSAR can help you research schools, compare your academic profile with school-specific data, and organize the programs you’re thinking about. Use these four steps to turn that information into a balanced medical school list.

Step One: Enter Coursework and Scores

On the “My Coursework & Scores” page, you can enter your GPA, MCAT score, coursework, and other academic information. When reviewing a school, you can use your information alongside the school's admissions data to see how your academic profile compares with other applicants.

You can also save information about your completed coursework and experiences to help you evaluate schools' prerequisite and admissions requirements.

Step Two: Compare and Categorize Schools

The MSAR's Compare feature lets you view up to 10 schools side by side. Compare things like GPA and MCAT data, prerequisite coursework, admissions requirements, tuition, location, and other school-specific information as you narrow down your options.

Rather than relying on your GPA or MCAT score alone, consider how your overall academic profile, experiences, preferences, and requirements align with each school's admissions criteria.

Step Three: Choose Which Schools to Apply To

As you research schools, categorize them based on how your academic profile compares with their admissions data, as well as factors like location, cost, and mission.

You may want to include a mix of schools where your academic profile is above, within, or below the school's typical range. Our guide to the easiest medical schools to get into can help you identify schools where admission may be less competitive.

There is no single number of medical schools that every applicant should apply to. Consider your individual circumstances, competitiveness, geographic preferences, and how well each school fits your goals when deciding which programs to include. Once you've done your research, you can Favorite the schools you want to consider and view them from your My Favorites page.

Applying to medical school can get expensive, so cost is another factor to consider when building your list. For the 2027 application cycle, AMCAS fees are $180 for the first school and $48 for each additional school. Secondary applications and other application-related fees may also apply.

The Medical School Chance Predictor uses an algorithm to analyze factors, including your GPA, MCAT score, and state of residence, to estimate your chances of admission at individual medical schools.

Use Our Free Medical School Chance Predictor

Step Four: Export Your List

Once you've created your prospective school list in MSAR, you can export it to help manage your application research and track important tasks and deadlines. Keeping your list organized can make it easier to monitor your progress throughout the application cycle.

Is the MSAR Worth It?

The MSAR is worth considering once you’re actively building your medical school list and comparing specific programs. Its school-specific admissions data, prerequisite information, and other details can make it easier to evaluate schools side by side and narrow down your list. Compared to the cost of the rest of the application process, MSAR is a fairly inexpensive (and very helpful) option.

If you’re still early in the premed process, the subscription may be harder to justify. Free resources, including the AAMC's free MSAR school profiles and Med School Explorer, can provide basic information while you explore your options.

You may also want to skip the MSAR if you are applying only to DO programs, since the MSAR covers MD programs. You’ll use AACOM's Choose DO Explorer to research osteopathic medical schools instead.

Need help building your med school list? Our admissions advisors can help you create a strategic, balanced school list based on your academic profile, goals, and individual circumstances.

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MSAR Alternatives

The MSAR is one option for researching medical schools, but several free or lower-cost resources can help you find and compare programs. Each of the below options has different strengths compared with the MSAR:

AAMC’s Official Guide to Medical School Admissions: This guide costs less than an MSAR subscription and provides broad information about med school admissions, including requirements and financial aid. It’s less useful for school-by-school comparisons.
AAMC’s Medical School Search: This free tool lets you search for medical schools by criteria such as location and program type, but it provides less detailed admissions data than the MSAR.
AACOM’s Choose DO Explorer: This free resource is the primary database for researching DO programs, which are not included in the MSAR database.
Med School Explorer: This free resource lets you research and compare medical schools with bonus insights from physician advisors offering perspectives and guidance that you won't find in the MSAR.
Medical School Chance Predictor: This free tool uses factors such as GPA, MCAT score, and state of residence to estimate your admission chances at individual medical schools, giving you an admissions-focused assessment that the MSAR does not provide.

Before You Apply: Check Prerequisites

Before you begin the medical school application process, make sure you understand each school’s prerequisites and admissions requirements. These vary from school to school, but common requirements and AMCAS application components include:

A bachelor’s degree
Specific prerequisite coursework

Clinical experience

A competitive GPA and, when applicable, MCAT score
Letters of recommendation
School-specific application requirements, which will include secondary essays and may request other materials

If your GPA is below your target schools’ typical range, a post-baccalaureate program may be one option to strengthen your academic record and earn an interview invitation.

BS/MD and BA/MD Programs in the MSAR

In addition to conventional MD programs, the MSAR includes information on BS/MD and BA/MD programs. These “combined” or “direct” medical programs allow students to complete their undergraduate and medical school education in an accelerated timeline.

To find information about BS/MD or BA/MD programs in the MSAR, search for “combined” or “direct” programs. This will display a list of medical schools that offer these programs, along with information on program requirements and the application process.

Note: Combined undergraduate/medical programs are highly competitive, and admission is limited to a small number of students.

Increase Your Chances of Getting Into Medical School

Need a hand finding the right DO or MD program? Our admissions advisors have tons of experience helping pre-med students just like you create a strategic and balanced school list to boost their chances of acceptance.

We also offer complete application advising services, including writing support for your personal statement, interview prep, and everything you need to be a strong medical school applicant.

Need personalized advice? Let us help with your medical school application, all the way through the admissions process.

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