A Guide to Postbaccalaureate Programs

Postbaccalaureate—or postbacc—programs are designed for students who have earned their bachelor’s degree and are interested in applying to medical school or another type of health care-related professional degree program. Given how competitive those programs can be, students typically use the postbacc to become stronger applicants.  

While the postbaccalaureate builds on a bachelor’s education, it’s not a substitute for a graduate or professional degree, such as a master’s, doctorate (PhD), or medical degree (MD). Instead, it’s meant to be transitional, helping students prepare for the next phase of their education.  

Who is a postbaccalaureate for? 

Professional degree students

Postbaccalaureate programs are often associated with medical school, but students interested in becoming dentists, veterinarians, pharmacists, optometrists, and other health care professionals might also find them useful.  

Research degree students

Students who are interested in attending a doctoral program in biological, biomedical, or behavioral sciences research typically use a postbaccalaureate research education program (PREP) before applying.    

Reasons for attending a postbaccalaureate program

1. To change health careers

In some instances, students may not have earned enough science credits during their undergraduate studies to apply to an advanced health care program. Perhaps they: 

• Became interested in medical school near the end of their undergraduate degree

• Decided to shift their focus from one health profession to another 

• Discovered they wanted to pursue a professional degree long after graduating 

Whatever the reason, these career changers need to take additional core science classes to qualify for a professional degree program. 

2. To become a stronger applicant 

Medical schools tend to be competitive. For the 2023-2024 school year, 52,577 students applied to medical school in the US, but only 22,981 were admitted [1]. 

Both a student’s GPA and their entrance exam score—Medical College Admission Test (MCAT), Dental Admission Test (DAT), or Graduate Record Exam (GRE)—are important factors in a medical school application. Enrolling in a postbaccalaureate program can help record enhancers improve their undergraduate GPA, access helpful entrance exam resources, and stand out as applicants. 

3. To use a gap year proactively 

Given that medical school takes an average of four years to complete, many students choose to take a gap year between earning their bachelor’s degree and applying to a professional degree program. 

Students who don’t plan on applying right away can attend a postbacc to stay competitive.   

What are the benefits of a postbaccalaureate program? 

Although the postbacc is not a requirement before applying to medical school or any other type of professional degree program, it does offer many benefits. 

• Hone your foundational scientific training: You’ll take classes and labs in biology, chemistry, and physics, among other core science competencies, helping prepare you for the advanced science classes you’ll take in your professional degree program.

• Enhance your GPA: If your undergraduate GPA isn’t as strong as you’d like it to be, taking additional science classes as part of the postbaccalaureate can enhance it (depending on how well you do), which can help strengthen your application.  

• Access entrance exam resources: Whether you need to take the MCAT for the first time or are interested in retaking it, you can access an array of training resources or discounted practice tests through a postbacc program, which can help you achieve a higher score for your application.  

• Take advantage of flexible scheduling: If you need to work or are interested in completing a postbacc at a more leisurely pace, you can take advantage of the two-year option, which allows you to complete the postbacc part-time. 

• Apply for a composite letter of recommendation: You can request a composite letter of recommendation, which is usually available for students who meet their program’s GPA requirements and can be used as one of your letters of recommendation when applying to your professional degree program. 

Postbaccalaureate programs: Costs and requirements 

Costs 

The cost of a postbacc program varies by institution. Annual costs in the US can range between $35,000 and $48,000 for tuition alone and do not factor in additional fees such as books, housing, and travel expenses [2,3].  

Universities may offer financial aid for postbacc students, and US citizens and certain eligible non-citizens may be able to apply for federal financial aid. In that case, make sure to take note of any borrowing limits, though. You may be eligible for less if you’ve already taken out loans for your undergraduate degree. 

If you’re interested in applying to a postbaccalaureate program, make sure to speak with each institution's financial advisor to review and understand your options. 

Time to completion 

Generally, students who attend full-time can complete a postbacc in one year, while those who attend part-time can complete it in two years. 

Prerequisites for admittance 

Typically, students must hold a bachelor’s degree and meet the program’s minimum GPA requirement. They may also need to supply letters of recommendation and a resume. Make sure you review each program’s application requirements so you can gather the necessary materials. 

Which postbaccalaureate program is best for me? 

Focus of the program

Postbacc programs typically enroll students who are career changers or record enhancers. The difference is important. 

• Career changers tend to take core science classes like biology and organic chemistry. 

• Since record enhancers have most likely fulfilled their core science requirements during their undergraduate studies, they can take advanced science classes.  

Review each postbacc program’s description and make sure it fits your needs. For example, if a postbacc problem is only geared toward career changers, then record enhancers likely won’t gain what they need from it.  

In-person vs. online classes

While some postbacc programs offer a portion of the curriculum online, which can provide greater flexibility for working students, there are sometimes in-person lab requirements associated with science classes.  

Tip: Not sure where to start looking for postbacc programs? The American Association of Medical Colleges (AAMC) offers a robust list of postbaccalaureate premedical programs based in the US.

Postbaccalaureate programs vs. special master’s programs

A special master’s program (SMP) also prepares students for a professional degree program, but it features graduate-level work designed for pre-medical students. Here’s how else it differs from the postbacc. 

• GPA: Whereas a postbaccalaureate can help a student raise their undergraduate GPA, a special master’s program counts as an additional, or graduate-level, GPA. It does not replace an undergraduate GPA but can supplement it, especially if you do well.  

• Curriculum: SMPs tend to go beyond the postbacc’s required science classes and expose students to rigorous medical coursework—often completed alongside current medical students.  

• Graduate-level degree: A postbacc is not a degree but a preparatory program, while a special master’s program confers a master’s degree.   

Postbacc or SMP: Which is right for me?

If you need to improve your undergraduate GPA and raise your entrance exam score, the postbacc may be the best choice to ready your professional degree program application.

If you have a strong undergraduate GPA and you're looking to advance your knowledge of medicine, then an SMP may be the best choice for you.

Explore post-baccalaureate programs on Coursera

If you'd like to explore your options before deciding whether you want to attend a postbacc program or begin applying directly to professional degree programs, there are numerous foundational medical courses on Coursera. Consider the Patient Safety Specialization from Johns Hopkins University, where you’ll have the chance to learn how to describe the attributes of systems and processes that support a strong patient safety culture and a culture of continuous learning.

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