Getting into Keck School of Medicine of USC
The Keck School of Medicine of USC is a private program in Los Angeles built around its Physician-Citizen-Scholar model — and, like several top schools, it deliberately publishes no entering-class GPA or MCAT. It states only a 506 MCAT floor to reach the secondary. No admission odds here, just verified facts.
Updated September 2026 · 2026–2027 cycle · figures cited to Keck (USC)'s official admissions pages
What is Keck's mission — and what does it signal?
Keck is built around what it calls the Physician-Citizen-Scholar model: training students to be outstanding physicians, engaged citizens who serve and lead, and lifelong scholars trained in scientific inquiry.3 Keck describes itself as widely recognized for innovative admissions and says it seeks students "passionate about solving our diverse society's most complex health challenges." If service and leadership are central to your story, that's the language Keck speaks.
What makes Keck distinctive?
Beyond the Physician-Citizen-Scholar framework, Keck offers a Primary Care Program focused on vulnerable communities, an MD/PhD program jointly with Caltech, and a range of dual degrees (MD/MPH, MD/MBA, MD/MHA, and engineering tracks).3 Its Los Angeles setting anchors a strong California-service identity — reflected in outcomes, where a large majority of graduates train in California.
What GPA and MCAT does Keck require?
Here's the honest answer: Keck does not publish an entering-class GPA or MCAT — no average, no median, no percentile.2 The only score it publishes is a floor: "only applicants with an MCAT score of 506 and above are invited to complete our secondary application."1 That 506 is a screen to reach the secondary, not a class average. Third-party sites list numbers, but they aren't Keck's official data, so we don't repeat them. The takeaway: clear the 506, then build the strongest whole application you can — Keck reads holistically.
How does Keck review applicants — and what does it ask for?
Keck accepts a committee letter as sufficient; without one, it accepts two or three individual letters (from professors, PIs, or work supervisors), and asks you not to send more than three individual letters.2 Review is explicitly holistic. Keck's official pages don't list a CASPer or AAMC PREview requirement — confirm the current cycle's expectations before you apply.
What is the Keck interview like?
An honest caveat: Keck does not specify its interview format (traditional vs MMI), modality, count, or length on its public admissions pages.2 Confirm the format in your invitation. Whatever the structure, plan to speak substantively about your path and your commitment to service — the heart of the Physician-Citizen-Scholar model.
How much does Keck cost?
Keck is private, so tuition is a single rate for all students: about $74,480 for 2025–26.4 Budget for fees, insurance, and Los Angeles living costs on top of tuition, and study USC's financial aid, which can meaningfully change what you actually pay.
A service-driven school that won't screen you on a posted number.
Keck's Physician-Citizen-Scholar model and its choice not to publish GPA/MCAT tell you what it values: service, leadership, and inquiry over a single statistic. Clear the 506 MCAT floor, then let a holistic reader read a coherent story — that's exactly how we think, with no odds and no fake bar. Especially strong fit if California service is your calling. A read on fit, not a prediction.
See exactly where you stand — at Keck (USC) and every school on your list
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Frequently asked
What GPA and MCAT do you need for the Keck School of Medicine of USC?
Keck does not publish an entering-class GPA or MCAT — no average, median, or percentile. It publishes only a 506 MCAT floor to be invited to the secondary. Beyond clearing that, build the strongest whole application you can; Keck reviews holistically.
What is the 506 MCAT at Keck?
It's a screening floor, not a class average: only applicants with an MCAT of 506 or above are invited to complete Keck's secondary application. It is not a guarantee or a target average.
Does Keck publish its average GPA or MCAT?
No. Keck's official pages publish neither an average nor a percentile for GPA or MCAT. Its class profile page focuses on outcomes rather than incoming stats.
How many letters of recommendation does Keck require?
A committee letter is sufficient; without one, Keck accepts two or three individual letters and asks that you not send more than three.
What is the Physician-Citizen-Scholar model?
It's Keck's curriculum framework — training students to be outstanding physicians, engaged citizens who serve and lead, and lifelong scholars trained in scientific inquiry.
How much is tuition at the Keck School of Medicine of USC?
Keck is private, so tuition is a single rate of about $74,480 for 2025–26, before fees, insurance, and Los Angeles living costs. Confirm the current cost of attendance on USC's official page.
Sources — Keck (USC) official pages
- MCAT floor (506) & admissions philosophy: keck.usc.edu — MD admissions
- Letters, holistic review & requirements ("FAQ"): keck.usc.edu — admissions FAQ
- Physician-Citizen-Scholar model, programs & California-service outcomes: keck.usc.edu — MD program
- Tuition & cost of attendance (2025–26, confirm current figure): financialaid.usc.edu — cost of medical education
Preceptorly is not affiliated with this school and does not represent it. Figures are the school's own most recently published class data and are averages, medians, or ranges as labeled — not cutoffs. No acceptance rate or admission odds are shown or implied; this page does not predict admission. Tuition is the published tuition line only, before fees, insurance, and living costs. Always confirm current requirements and figures on the school's official pages.