November 26, 2025
Written By
Michael Minh Le
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The Loyola Medical School acceptance rate can feel like a gatekeeper, one number standing between you and your dream of becoming a physician. But that number only tells part of the story. Behind every acceptance is an application that rose above average. So, how do you do the same?
In this guide, we’ll go beyond the stats and show you exactly what it takes to get into Loyola’s Stritch School of Medicine. We’ll cover GPA and MCAT averages, requirements, tuition and scholarships, and what makes Loyola stand out. You’ll also get detailed insights into timelines, personal statements, secondary essays, interview strategy, and more.
And if you’re serious about standing out, don’t guess what works. Study what’s already worked. Our free Application Database gives you access to 8 real AMCAS applications that earned acceptances to top schools like UCLA and UCI. See the essays, activities, and more that actually got students in. Then reverse engineer what works.
Get your free resource here.
For the 2026 entering class, Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine received 13,289 applications. Out of all those applicants, just 175 students matriculated.
That makes the Loyola Medical School acceptance rate about 1.32%
So yes, this program is competitive. And like most private schools, Loyola doesn’t give you a geographical boost. Whether you're from Illinois or out of state, the odds are the same.
Here’s what the numbers look like for accepted students at Loyola:
Compare that to the national averages: 3.84 GPA and 513 MCAT. Translation? Loyola’s numbers are just a notch below, but still very competitive.
No minimum GPA or MCAT cutoff is published, but realistically? If you're coming in with a GPA under 3.3 or an MCAT under 505, you're going to have a hard time standing out in this pool.
To apply to Loyola, you’ll need to complete the following prerequisites:
You’ll also need to meet these general admission requirements:
Loyola University Chicago’s Stritch School of Medicine, like most private medical schools in the U.S., comes with a substantial tuition price tag. For the 2025–2026 academic year, tuition and fees total approximately $70,998, not including additional costs like housing, food, supplies, and exam prep.
Despite the high cost, Stritch offers several financial aid options. Traditional MD students can apply for need-based aid, merit scholarships, and awards tied to service, leadership, and commitment to underserved communities, all of which align with Loyola’s Jesuit mission.
The school’s MD/PhD program is especially well-supported: participants receive full tuition coverage, health and dental insurance, and an annual stipend of around $34,000, making it an attractive route for future physician-scientists looking to minimize debt while pursuing research.
Whether you’re drawn to underserved populations, academic medicine, or a holistic approach to care, Stritch offers unique advantages that set it apart from other med schools across the country.
Loyola’s Jesuit roots are central to its identity. The curriculum and community are deeply focused on social justice, service, and treating patients as whole persons. Students are encouraged to think beyond the clinic, contributing to their communities through volunteering, public health initiatives, and service-learning programs.
Loyola is well known for being one of the most inclusive medical schools in the country, and not just in words. Stritch made headlines in 2014 as one of the first med schools to accept DACA students, setting a precedent for expanding access to medical education.
This means Loyola classrooms are full of students with unique life experiences, career changers, first-gen students, and individuals who’ve overcome significant barriers.
The curriculum at Stritch blends rigorous medical science with training in ethics, communication, professionalism, and reflective practice. First-year students begin interacting with patients early on, and courses like "Patient-Centered Medicine" teach future doctors how to connect with those they serve. Students also participate in "Doctoring" groups and wellness sessions to help develop not only their clinical skills but also their emotional intelligence.
For those pursuing academic medicine or biomedical research, Stritch offers robust opportunities. Their MD/PhD program is well-funded, with full tuition coverage and a generous stipend. Even outside of dual-degree tracks, students are encouraged to participate in clinical, translational, and community-based research, with support for conference presentations and publications.
Getting into Loyola University Chicago's Stritch School of Medicine takes more than just solid stats. It takes a compelling story. Sure, you need a competitive GPA and MCAT, but what really makes you stand out is how well you’ve lived out your “why.” Stritch looks for future physicians who care deeply about service, leadership, and community, so your application needs to reflect that through real action, not just words.
The Stritch School of Medicine uses the standard central application service (AMCAS) for its MD (and MD/PhD) program.
They use a “rolling‑admissions” process. That means they begin reviewing applications as they are received, and submitting early improves your chances.
Below is an overview of the application timeline you’ll need to follow to get into Loyola Medical School:
Your personal statement for Loyola Stritch School of Medicine is your narrative, not your resume. It's your story about who you are, what you care about, and the kind of doctor you're becoming.
This is where you connect the dots. If you say you care about underserved communities, then you should show experiences in free clinics and outreach work. Your experiences are your proof.
When you submit secondaries at Loyola, your essays give the admissions committee a chance to see your values, motivations, experiences, and how you might fit with the school’s mission.
Below are the prompts for the most recent cycle and advice on how to address each in a meaningful way.
1. As you consider Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine, please tell us what resonates with you regarding our mission as a Jesuit, Catholic medical school? Consider also what you may be curious about regarding our institutional mission and identity. (500 words)
Use this prompt to show that you’ve done your homework on Loyola’s Jesuit‑Catholic foundation and reflect honestly on why that resonates with you. For example, if you have prior volunteer work, community outreach, or a service‑oriented background, highlight how those experiences align with values like compassion, service to others, social justice, or holistic care. If you come from a different background, explain why a faith‑inspired mission still feels meaningful to you and how you hope to grow within that environment.
2. Considering all that you could do with your life, how have you discerned your decision to become a physician? What is particular to the practice of medicine and the vocation of a physician that draws you to apply to medical school versus another helping/caring profession? What experiences, conversations, and encounters have informed your decision to apply? (500 words)
Use this to articulate why medicine, not social work, public health, nursing, or another helping path, is the right fit for you. Focus on the unique aspects of being a physician that matter to you: responsibility for patient wellness, long-term patient relationships, clinical problem-solving, or healing. Use concrete personal experiences (shadowing, volunteering, patient contact, challenging conversations) that shaped your decision, showing both introspection and clarity of purpose.
3. Social justice, in the Jesuit tradition, justice due to each person’s inherent human dignity, is an essential dimension of education at SSOM. Describe an impactful experience working with and for under-resourced communities. Explain what you have learned about yourself through this service and/or what has hindered your efforts to serve others in these environments. (500 words)
If you’ve done meaningful work with underserved or marginalized communities, like free clinics, outreach, health fairs, tutoring, or advocacy, this is your opportunity to show it. Reflect not only on what you did, but how it changed you. Maybe you developed empathy, resilience, cultural humility, or commitment to access and equity in care. If things didn’t go well, it’s okay to discuss obstacles. It shows honest self‑awareness and growth.
4. Describe a time you received feedback about your performance and disagreed with the feedback. What did you disagree with? How did you handle it? (500 words)
This prompt tests maturity, self-reflection, and professionalism. Choose a situation where you genuinely felt the feedback was off-base or incomplete, whether in school, work, volunteering, or a team environment. Then describe how you navigated that disagreement: did you ask questions, seek clarification, reflect, respond respectfully, or adjust your behavior? Highlight learning, self-awareness, and the ability to handle critique with grace rather than defensiveness.
5. Medical education is characterized by long hours of study, a steady cadence of course exams, subjective and objective assessment of performance, licensing exams, and sometimes demanding and stressful educational contexts in the clinical environment. How has your chosen undergraduate course of study prepared you for the rigor and demands of the medical school curriculum? What additional skills have you learned as a pre‑med student to help you balance your educational and personal responsibilities, including managing your time and relieving stress? (500 words)
Use this to show you’re ready for the academic and emotional workload of med school. Describe how the structure and workload of undergrad (especially if you took challenging STEM or heavy-credit courses) taught you time‑management, resilience, ability to handle stress, and prioritization. Also mention non-academic skills, like self-care habits, support systems, hobbies, or coping strategies that will help you maintain balance and avoid burnout.
6. (Optional — if applicable) Describe how Loyola Stritch School of Medicine can help you develop into the person and physician you hope to become. (100–500 words)
Treat this as a “Why Loyola, future vision” essay. Link your career goals, values, or passions to specific aspects of the school (mission, community outreach, curriculum, dual‑degree pathways, student culture). Show that you understand what Loyola offers and see yourself growing there academically, personally, and morally.
Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine requires between 3 and 6 letters of recommendation. Most applicants submit around 3 to 4 strong letters, which tends to hit the sweet spot for showing both academic and clinical strengths without overwhelming the admissions committee.
Letters should come from people who genuinely know you and can speak to your readiness for medical training. Ideal writers include science professors who taught you in undergrad, physicians or clinical supervisors you’ve worked with, and professional mentors who can vouch for your character, discipline, and ability to work in a team.
If your school offers a premed committee letter, Loyola accepts it. You can submit either a committee letter or individual letters. It’s up to you.
If you don’t have access to a committee letter, that’s okay. Just be intentional about who writes your letters. The minimum is 3 letters, and the maximum is 6, but don’t aim for the max unless each letter adds something unique. Quality trumps quantity every time.
The interview at Loyola is traditional, one‑on‑one, not an MMI. You will be interviewed by members of the admissions committee: faculty, staff, alumni, and often current medical students.
Your session typically lasts about 30–45 minutes if it’s standard, though some report 45–60 minutes depending on whether it’s virtual or in‑person, excluding reviewers’ prep time. This gives time for a deeper, conversational interview rather than rapid-fire questions.
Expect questions that probe not only academic readiness but also your commitment to the school’s mission: community service, social justice, caring for underserved populations. Many applicants mention scenarios touching on ethical dilemmas, views on healthcare disparities, personal values and motivations, sometimes even non‑medical questions, like “favorite movie” or “if you could invite anyone to dinner.”
Because Loyola is a Jesuit, values‑based institution, interviewers often want to see alignment with their mission: compassion, service orientation, social justice, and dedication to caring for real people, not just diseases.
Schools tend to be a good fit based on what kind of doctor you want to become and what you value in your training. Here’s how to know if Loyola is the right fit for you.
Loyola is a good fit if…
Loyola May Not Be a Good Fit If…
You already know the odds. The Loyola Medical School acceptance rate is low, and at a mission-driven school like this one, average just doesn’t cut it. The problem? Most premeds don’t know what an above-average application actually looks like.
That’s why at Premed Catalyst we created an Application Database. You’ll get free access to 8 real AMCAS applications. But not just any applications. These are from students who earned acceptances to top medical schools like UCLA and UCI. Review their personal statements, most meaningfuls, and more, so you can reverse engineer what works.
Get your free resource here.
