University of South Dakota, Sanford School of Medicine: what it looks for, GPA and MCAT
University of South Dakota, Sanford School of Medicine is a public medical school in SD (Vermillion).
What University of South Dakota, Sanford School of Medicine says it looks for
Experiences
Rural healthcare and community clinical experiences highlighted as program features.
Qualities
Empathy is an educational theme.
These are themes from the school's mission, not a stated preference in admissions. Summarized from the school's admissions page, checked October 2026. Not a ranking, a rubric or a prediction of admission.
Admissions statistics
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Median GPA of admitted students | 3.86 |
| Median MCAT of admitted students | 509 |
| Interview invite rate | 18.6% |
| School type | Public |
| State | SD |
| Applications (AAMC FACTS Table A-1, 2025-2026) | 1,076 |
| Matriculants | 71 |
| In-state share of entering class | 78.9% |
Sources: GPA, MCAT and interview rate: 2026 school dataset (dataset updated 2026-08-04). Applications and entering class: AAMC FACTS Table A-1, 2025-2026. Not a ranking or a prediction of admission. AesculaMD is not affiliated with University of South Dakota, Sanford School of Medicine, the AAMC or AACOM.
Common questions
What does University of South Dakota, Sanford School of Medicine look for in applicants?
From University of South Dakota, Sanford School of Medicine's own admissions pages (checked October 2026): Experiences: Rural healthcare and community clinical experiences highlighted as program features. Qualities: Empathy is an educational theme. These are themes from the school's mission, not a stated preference in admissions.
What GPA and MCAT do students admitted to University of South Dakota, Sanford School of Medicine have?
The median GPA is 3.86 and the median MCAT is 509 (2026 school dataset). A median is the middle of the admitted class, not a minimum: half were admitted below it.
Related: Why strong applicants are still rejected · How many schools to apply to · Where applications fall short