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April 15, 2024
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California, renowned for its innovation, diversity, and commitment to excellence, is home to some of the most prestigious medical institutions in the world. From cutting-edge research facilities to community-focused healthcare initiatives, the medical schools in California offer you a multitude of experiences.
With such a wealth of choice, you can easily become overwhelmed. That is why it’s essential to understand the nuances of each institution. This guide is designed to be your companion, offering clarity and guidance as you navigate their offerings.
Today, we’ll give you an overview of the sixteen medical schools across the Golden State. Also, we’ll strive to answer some of the most popular questions about med schools in California, like:
Without further ado, let’s get started.
‍There are sixteen medical schools in California, which you can broadly divide by their practice between osteopathic medicine and allopathic medicine. Although the career for both an MD (allopathic) and an OD (osteopathic) is quite similar, their methods differ slightly:
For the sake of clarity, we decided to present the list of medical schools in California divided by practice. Remember that their curriculums will be similar, with the main difference being that osteopathic schools will teach osteopathic manipulative treatment.
Traditional MD medical schools, or allopathic medical schools, comprise most medical institutions in California. There are thirteen of them:
Stanford is a household name in American education. Consistently ranked among some of the greatest schools in the country, it attracts exceptional students, faculty, and researchers from around the world. As such, a spot in its medical school is one of the most coveted in California. Attending Stanford is a costly endeavor, just on annual tuition, you will be looking at a minimum expenditure of $73,628 yearly.
Getting accepted is incredibly challenging. Stanford looks for only the best students, able to command the future of the medical world. The average MCAT score for the class of 2027 was 518, while the average GPA of admitted students stood at 3.92. As for the admission rate, it came to 1.7% of applicants entering Stanford Med School.
Moreover, Stanford offers a flexible curriculum; you can opt to divide the second year, taking half of the academic credit for use in your own research. Although it’ll take you an extra year to graduate, the time spent on your project can be invaluable.
Interested in choosing Stanford? We have a Standford’s Admissions Guide that can help you out.
UC Davis is one of the best medical schools in the country, routinely ranking among the top 20. Nevertheless, it maintains a deep compromise with its community, preferring students from Northern and Central California who are willing to serve disadvantaged groups.
Getting accepted into this institution won’t be easy, with students accepted into the class of 2027 having an MCAT average of 511 and an average GPA of 3.6. UCD’s acceptance rate was a mere 1.66% A heartfelt commitment to helping your community will definitely help you and should be part of your admission letters.Â
Besides its access to excellent facilities and faculty, UC Davis presents an interesting challenge to its alumni. Medical students have the opportunity to engage directly with local medical policy efforts through involvement with the UC Davis Center for Healthcare Policy and Research. Through this hands-on involvement in health policy, students can make a tangible impact on shaping healthcare policies and practices in California.
Another focus of UC Davis is on training physician-scientists, who will pursue an academic career in their field. This is encouraged through a Ph.D. program, a summer program for first-year students, and general experience with the curriculum.
Want to learn more on UC Davis Admissions? Check our comprehensive guide.
UCLA, or the David Geffen School of Medicine, is another of the heavyweights in California. Ranked the number one public school in the state in 2023, its popularity among premeds and graduates is no wonder. Still, getting into UCLA is extremely challenging, with an acceptance rate of 1.7%, a median MCAT score of 511, and a 3.6 average GPA. Considering the excellent facilities and general quality of UCLA, it has a relatively low tuition fee of $43,843.
Its main strengths include an excellent environment for clinical training and research. UCLA Medical School offers clinical training at top-ranked teaching hospitals and healthcare facilities, including the Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center, UCLA Medical Center Santa Monica, and affiliated community clinics. The school prides itself on its compact campus, which is filled with cutting-edge research centers, like the Broad Stem Cell Research Center.Â
The David Geffen School of Medicine is also an example of the compromise that all University of California schools have with giving back to the community. Justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion are the main tenets that drive the school’s efforts. It’s not only necessary to form consummate professionals but also altruistic individuals, who are up to the task of healing the socio-cultural wounds in modern society.
UCLA is an ever-popular choice for Med School. Learn more about it in our exclusive guide.
If primary care and research are what motivate you, then you can hardly do better than UCSF. The school boasts:Â
It’s no surprise then that UCSF requires excellence from its student body, with new admissions having an MCAT average of 516 and an average GPA of 3.88. UCSF’s yearly tuition fees are $47,580.
The school has ranked number one in National Health Institute funding, with more than 700 million dollars in research funding. UCSF is a leader in translational research, focused on bridging the gap between basic science research and clinical applications. Also, the university’s location, right in Silicon Valley, facilitates collaboration with modern technical research.
But UCSF is not only about research; as we mentioned, they are highly ranked in primary care. With access to multiple medical centers, you will find ample opportunity to participate in patient care, from oncology to pediatry and even women’s health.
Learn everything you need to know about UCSF med school admissions in our guide. We have an article for those interested in getting into UCSF Med School
Founded in 2013, UC Riverside is a young school with a fresh perspective on medical teaching. This is one of the more community-focused medical schools in California. Its compromise with the population of the Inland Empire makes it difficult for out-of-state students to get in. Still, if you are trying for it, know that the median MCAT score of new students is 510 with a 3.72 GPA. Riverside can be more affordable than some of the other schools in this list, with its $44,924 annual tuition fee.
Riverside places a strong emphasis on primary care, particularly through its LACE program, where students engage in patient care from an early stage by shadowing practicing physicians. You will also find yourself working in Spanish-speaking underserved communities and rural areas.Â
For those interested in public health, epidemiology, and crisis management, UCR has recently created a Masters in Public Health program that will begin in 2024.
Located in Orange County, UC Irvine has been pioneering mechanical integration and medicine for years. If what you expect from medical school is always to be ahead of the curve, then UCI is for you. It won't be easy to get admitted; an average MCAT of 517 and a GPA of 3.83 are the latest published averages. Its annual tuition fee amounts to $46,714 annually.
UCI’s main draw is its technical UCI is recognized for its adherence to technical innovation. They take pride in being the first fully digital learning environment, integrating modern technological advances with their curriculum. If you are interested in doing research, their program is also excellent. UCI boasts multiple Nobel Prizes and advances in neuroscience and cancer research.
The major academic center in San Diego, UC San Diego is a science powerhouse, with more than a billion dollars in research grants. Its medical school is as excellent as it is hard to get into. According to the latest admissions report, the entering class had an average MCAT of 517 and a GPA of 3.85. UC San Diego has one of the lowest tuition fees in the list, with just $47,662 for in-state alumni.
San Diego has emerged as a biotechnology hub, and UCSD has significantly benefited from its close proximity to numerous research centers in the area. The school's research efforts have led to numerous discoveries and innovations in fields such as genomics, neuroscience, cancer biology, and infectious diseases.
Another of the newer medical schools in the state, CNU, was founded in 2015. If you think its relatively new status will make it have low admission scores, then you’ll be proved wrong. With an average MCAT of 512 and a GPA of 3.69, getting to CNU is as challenging as any other California med-school.
Unfortunately, CNU is considered a for-profit association, meaning it doesn’t qualify for federal student help. Grants for research are really high, so if you are interested in it, you can get the funds. Keep in mind that it has tuition fees of $75,091 and if you think you’ll depend on federal help, then CNU is probably not the place for you.
You will find great similarities between UC Riverside and the California University of Science and Medicine. Both are relatively new schools, located in the Golden State, with a marked preference for nearby alumni. Its last published average admission scores were 513 for the MCAT and 3.69 for the GPA. For yearly tuitions, the 2024-2025 period has a cost of $66,000.
Perhaps the most exciting aspect of CUSM is its freshness. It’s a young school, generous with research grants. If you are hungry and willing to help the underserved communities in California, you’ll find no better place.
Charles Drew University is a special case. It accepts only 24 students a year and is mainly focused on the African-American community. While their average MCAT score of 504 and GPA of 3.4 are far from the highest, the small classes make it quite hard to get in.
Nevertheless, once you’re accepted, you’ll enjoy the same curriculum and resources that UCLA offers. As for annual tuition fees, they amount to $69,000.Â
This allows students from traditionally disadvantaged communities to reach a level of elite education that would have been challenging to access. Of course, when a college is so focused on social justice and equity, you will be expected to participate in volunteer programs directed at the black community.
Despite its recent establishment in 2019, Kaiser Permanente's decision to waive tuition fees for the initial five years of operation instantly positioned it as a promising opportunity. A reduced class size (only 50 students are accepted per year) and the tuition waiver have allowed Kaiser Permanente to be quite strict when it comes to admissions. The average MCAT is 515, and the GPA is 3.85.
The school's primary focus is chronic diseases and primary care. As Kaiser is a hospital with almost a hundred years of existence, students are provided with excellent patient care opportunities.Â
Another school located in Los Angeles, the Keck School of Medicine, is a renowned institution with a rich history of excellence in medical education, research, and clinical care. As one of the most popular schools in the state, its requirements can be hard to meet, and it also has a high tuition fee of $75,245. An average MCAT of 517 and an average GPA of 3.81 were its last reported scores.
The school’s main focus is on clinical training. Extensive collaboration with the LA County hospital provides students with ample firsthand experience, allowing them to serve at-risk communities effectively. A notable feature of its curriculum is that the first two years are pass/fail, which avoids direct competition between students and keeps a healthy atmosphere.
The final allopathic school on our list is the Loma Linda School of Medicine. This institution has the particularity of being Christian. This is an LCME-certified school, so the competition for entry can be hard. The average MCAT score for new students was 505, while the GPA averaged 3.8. Also, it has a cost of $59,820 in yearly tuition fees.
Its Christian values are reflected in its service outlook. It is expected of students to demonstrate their vocation of service by volunteering at several public hospitals. Students also have to take religious courses and adhere to a Christian moral code.
So, though the school offers excellent advisors and a wealth of resources, you might want to look into other options if the culture is not a good fit for you.Â
Although they are clearly a minority, osteopathic schools have found their place in California. Their programs are of the same quality as allopathic ones, and admission into one is still a difficult task that will require good grades and preparation.
There are only three:
Let’s check each one out.
If you are interested in osteopathic medicine with a focus on preventive care, then TUCOM is for you. Established by a Jewish collective, this college boasts an excellent location in Vallejo, contributing to its popularity. It reports an average MCAT of 510 and a GPA of 3.68 for its latest admissions. Its tuition fees amount to $58,800 a year.
Alongside its traditional curriculum and focus on osteopathic manipulative treatment, you’ll have the chance to do research and even spend one month abroad to practice medicine in underserved countries.
Situated in Pomona and placing special emphasis on community outreach, WesternU COMP is another option for those seeking a DO degree. For admissions, the average MCAT is 510, while the GPA rests at 3.68. When it comes to tuition fees, they have a yearly cost of $59,600, making it the most expensive of the osteopathic schools.
WesternU COMP has an interesting curriculum as it enables their DO students to analyze cases in conjunction with MD students. As with most other California schools, they value community service, even giving extra credit for it. WesternU is also great if you want to visit multiple states in the country. They offer a rotational program, where you’ll provide services in hospitals all over the US.
The California Health Sciences University of Osteopathic Medicine (CHSU-COM) is a new medical school in the Central Valley, established in 2020. It’s a fresh new alternative to osteopathic medicine in California, with an emphasis on the study of nutrition. It may be one of the most forgiving schools on the list when it comes to admission scores, and it has a yearly tuition fee of $54,500. The MCAT average is 505, and the GPA is 3.4.Â
Its main goal is to train doctors dedicated to serving underserved communities in the region. With new facilities specifically designed for medical education, CHSU offers modern amenities, including interactive simulations and state-of-the-art anatomy labs. Notably, CHSU stands out for its focus on culinary medicine and comprehensive nutrition education, addressing a gap often overlooked by other medical schools.
Competence for a residency in America’s top medical schools can be extremely tough. Thousands of applicants try for admission each year, and the number that go through it is in the hundreds. This can be especially true for international medical graduates, or IMGs, as not every state is friendly towards them.
Fortunately, for those who wish to do their residency in the state of California, the chances of getting accepted are quite decent. Almost 12% of residents in California are considered IMGs. To be eligible, you’ll need:
In terms of college outreach and social justice, California is unquestionably at the forefront of the nation, and medical schools are a perfect example of this situation. Their vision of a complete medical professional is someone who’s not only an expert in their field, but also someone in contact with their community.Â
No matter your medical school, you will find community outreach projects. Some, like UCLA, make it an integral part of their educational experience. You’ll find projects like:
And this is all just from one of the sixteen medical schools in California. You should not only expect to participate in community outreach. Yet, if you’re not keen on it, you should reconsider California as a state to study medicine.
Going to medical school is not easy; it can be both academically challenging and expensive. It makes sense that many people cannot afford it when the least expensive medical school, in terms of annual tuition and fees, costs more than $40,000.
Thankfully, underprivileged students aiming for a medical education in California can find support through various programs and initiatives.Â
One such program is the UC PRIME Pre-Health Pathways program at the University of California, Irvine (UCI). Supported by a substantial grant from the California Department of Health Care Access and Information, this program aims to enhance the accessibility of careers in medicine for underrepresented students. It offers resources, foundational training, and advice to equip students with the necessary preparation for medical school.Â
Additionally, programs like the Summer Health Professions Education Program (SHPEP) provide valuable opportunities for underprivileged students to gain exposure to the medical field. SHPEP offers MCAT preparation, clinical shadowing, mentorship, and leadership seminars. These resources aim to strengthen students' medical school applications and readiness for a career in medicine. SHPEP is specifically designed for students from economically or educationally disadvantaged backgrounds or who are interested in serving underserved populations.
If you are worried about the prospect of paying through medical school, we have a dedicated article that can help you out.
Looking through your options is the first step to medical school. However, getting admitted can be quite challenging and has a blurry pathway. Whether you are a Californian looking to get accepted into one of the excellent institutions in the Golden State or anywhere else in the country, we can help you out. At Premed Catalyst, we provide customized mentorship programs that will give you the best odds at entering a top medical school.
We adjust to your exact needs and situation and put you on track to medical school. The only thing you need to do is fill out a quick form, and we’ll take it from there.