Last Updated on January 28, 2024 by Michael Tijani
California is the most populated and third-largest state in the United States. Not only does California has friendly weather and a varied landscape, but it also has a demographically diversified population, with substantial immigrant populations from all over the world. California also has one of the world’s greatest economies and is often regarded as a global trendsetter. California has some of the best medical schools in the country and Silicon Valley, is the global engine of technological innovation. These and many more make California a go-to destination for prospective students looking to start their medical careers.
In this article, we have painstakingly compiled a list of all the medical schools in California, their average GPA, the average MCAT, and various acceptance rates to aid you in making the best decisions.
List of Medical Schools in California
Below is a detailed list of all the medical schools in California, their average GPA, the average MCAT, and their various acceptance rates to save as a guide during your application process. At the time of writing this article, There are a total of thirteen (13) Allopathic Medical Schools and three (3) Osteopathic Medical Schools in California. Kindly read through to learn more.
1. Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science
Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science is a private, nonprofit educational institution located in Willowbrook, California. In 1966, the school was birthed in response to inadequate medical access within the Watts region of Los Angeles, resulting from the Watts Riots in 1965. The university is named in honor of Charles R. Drew, who was an American surgeon and medical researcher.
The school offers over 18 programs spread across the three (3) colleges in the university.
Programs at the university are duly accredited by the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission and the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education and also by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC).
Admission is fairly competitive as Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science has an acceptance rate of 25% and an average GPA of 3.4.
2. Kaiser Permanente, Bernard J. Tyson School of Medicine
The Kaiser Permanente Bernard J. Tyson School of Medicine is one of the most competitive medical schools in California, the school is located in Pasadena, California. The school was established in 2020 and also matriculated its inaugural class of 50 students the same year.
The school has three (3) academic departments namely: biomedical science, clinical science, and health systems science.
Kaiser Permanente, Bernard J. Tyson School of Medicine has an acceptance rate of 0.05 and an MCAT score of 516, with a GPA of 3.78
Currently, the school has preliminary accreditation from the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME) to recruit and matriculate students, provisional approval from the California Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education (BPPE), and eligibility for initial accreditation from WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC) to offer degree programs.
As a new medical school, the Kaiser Permanente Bernard J. Tyson School of Medicine is in the process of obtaining initial accreditation from LCME and WSCUC, followed by full approval from California BPPE.
3. California Northstate University College of Medicine
California Northstate University College of Medicine is a private for-profit medical school located in Elk Grove, California, and is one of the four colleges of California Northstate University, granting the degree of Doctors in Medicine.
The college was established in 2015 with a total of about 380 students. The College of Medicine was approved in August 2018 and gained preliminary accreditation in June 2015 and provisional accreditation in June 2019 by the Liason Committee on Medical Education.
California Northstate University College of Medicine has an average acceptance rate of 6.9%, with an average GPA of 3.58
4. California University of Science and Medicine (CUSM)
The California University of Science and Medicine (CUSM) School of Medicine is a private medical school located in Colton, California/San Bernardino, San Bernardino County, United States. It was founded in 2015. CUSM received preliminary LCME accreditation in February 2018 and enrolled students for classes conferring an M.D. degree beginning July 2018.
The California University of Science and Medicine has an acceptance rate of 9.3% with an MCAT score of 514 and a GPA of 3.6
5. The Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California
In addition to a medical degree (MD), the school offers various combined degrees, such as MD/MPH, MD/Ph.D., and MD/MBA. The school offers separate master’s and doctoral degree programs in various biomedical fields. It also offers programs in physician assistantship and nurse anesthesia.
The Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California has an acceptance rate of 7.3% and an average GPA of 3.8, with an MCAT score of 517
6. Loma Linda University School of Medicine
Loma Linda University’s School of Medicine is a faith-based (Christian) medical school established in 1909. Since its establishment, the school has been training skilled medical professionals with a commitment to Christian service. The school has a student-to-faculty ratio of 8:1. Loma Linda University’s School of Medicine has an acceptance rate of 0.7%. For the 2021 entering class, the average BCPM GPA was 3.77, the cumulative GPA was 3.83 and the average total MCAT score was 510.
7. Stanford University School of Medicine
Stanford University School of Medicine is the medical school of Stanford University and is located in Stanford, California. The school was established in 1908.
The school offers various programs which include: neuroscience, immunology, genetics, genomics, bioinformatics, biochemistry, biophysics, structural biology, and molecular biology.
Stanford University School of Medicine has an acceptance rate of 2% with an average MCAT of 520.
8. UC Davis School of Medicine
UC Davis School of Medicine is very selective, it has an acceptance rate of 1.8%, an average GPA of 3.0, and an MCAT score of 509
9. The University of California, Irvine School of Medicine
The University of California, Irvine School of Medicine is an LCME-accredited medical school, co-located in Orange County’s cities of Irvine on the University of California, Irvine campus and Orange at the UC Irvine Medical Center.
10. David Geffen School of Medicine
David Geffen School of Medicine is the medical school of the University of California, Los Angeles. The school was established in 1951. The David Geffen School of Medicine is an internationally recognized leader in research, medical education, and patient care.
The school was first established as The University of California, Los Angeles School of Medicine before being renamed in 2001 in honor of media mogul David Geffen who donated a whopping $200 million in unrestricted funds. David Geffen School of Medicine has an acceptance rate of 3.9%, with an average MCAT score of 517.
11. UC Riverside School of Medicine
The University of California, Riverside (UCR), School of Medicine is one of six University of California medical schools in the state of California, associated with UC Riverside. It was established in 2008.
The UC Riverside School of Medicine is made up of the Division of Biomedical Sciences and the Division of Clinical Sciences. In addition to undergraduate medical education,
The UC Riverside School of Medicine has an average GPA of 3.64 and an average MCAT of 511.
12. UC San Diego School of Medicine
The University of California San Diego School of Medicine is the graduate medical school of the University of California, San Diego. It was established in 1968. It is the only medical school in the San Diego metropolitan area. The school is closely affiliated with the medical centers that are part of UC San Diego Health.
The most popular residency and specialty programs are internal medicine, anesthesiology, dermatology, obstetrics & gynecology, orthopedic surgery, otolaryngology, pediatrics, psychiatry, radiology (diagnostic), and surgery.
The University of California San Diego School of Medicine has an average undergraduate GPA of 3.73 an average MCAT composite score of 34.2 out of 45 and a 3.4% acceptance rate.
Tuition: $35,000 (in-state); $48,000 (out-of-state)
13. UCSF School of Medicine
The University of San Francisco School of Medicine is the public research medical school of the University of California, San Francisco, it is located at the base of Mount Sutro on the Parnassus Height campus in San Francisco, California.
UCSF School of Medicine was founded in 1864 by Hugh Toland and it is the oldest medical school in California and Western United States.
The University is dedicated entirely to health science and its major centers on medical and biological research and teaching. The school currently boasts of a student body of about 1,428 students with 152 doctoral students.
University of San Francisco School of Medicine has an acceptance rate of 14%, with an average GPA of 3.85 and an MCAT score of 517
14. California Health Sciences University College of Osteopathic Medicine
California Health Sciences University College of Osteopathic Medicine is a private Osteopathic medical school at California Health Sciences University.
The school’s mission is “To graduate exceptional Doctors of Osteopathic Medicine by:
Inspiring a diverse student body to commit to careers that serve our region, with a focus on recruiting students from the Central Valley;
Developing compassionate, highly trained, intellectually curious, adaptive leaders capable of meeting the healthcare needs of the future through a performance-based education;
Empowering people to teach, serve, research, innovate, and practice collaboratively in areas of skill and expertise in disciplines related to osteopathic medicine.”
The school is duly accredited by The American Osteopathic Association’s Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation (COCA) and also by WASC Senior College and university commission (WSCUC)
MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS
- Baccalaureate degree (or equivalent) from an accredited institution.
- Demonstrate an overall cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale.
- If a student has retaken a course multiple times, all grades received for that course will be accounted for in calculating the cumulative GPA.
- MCAT score of 498 or higher, with no subsection below the 15th percentile.
- Scores from January 1, 2019, or later will be accepted
- Provide 3 Letters of Recommendation.
- Satisfactorily complete the prerequisite courses listed below prior to matriculation.
- U.S. Citizenship, U.S. Permanent Resident, or DACA Recipient
15. Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine
Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine is the Osteopathic medical school of Touro University. The school’s primary focus is on health professions. It is located on Mare Island in Vallejo, California.
The Touro University confers degrees in graduate studies in various disciplines including education, osteopathic medicine, pharmacy, physician assistant studies, nursing, and public health.
Faculty members of Touro University California’s Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine and Pharmacy specialize in a wide range of basic and applied research in fields including aging, anatomy and clinical imaging, cognitive aging, diabetes, immunology, infectious diseases, ion channels, longevity, neuroscience, metabolism/nutrition, and vaccine research.
The school’s College of Osteopathic Medicine currently has a student body of about 1,000 students and 105 full-time, and 41 part-time academic staff.
The Mission of Touro University Osteopathic Medicine Program is to prepare students to become outstanding osteopathic physicians who uphold the values, philosophy, and practice of osteopathic medicine and who are committed to primary care and the holistic approach to the patient. The program advances the profession and serves its students and society through innovative pre-doctoral and post-doctoral education, research, community service, and multidisciplinary and osteopathic clinical services.
Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine has an acceptance rate of 8.9% with an average GPA of 3.51
16. College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific
The College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific (COMP) is a 4-year private, non-profit medical school for osteopathic medicine located in downtown Pomona, in the U.S. state of California. The college opened in 1977 as the only osteopathic medical school west of the Rocky Mountains.
The school is saddled with the mission “To prepare students to become technically competent, culturally sensitive, professional and compassionate physicians who are prepared for graduate medical education, who are lifelong learners, and who will serve society by providing comprehensive, patient-centered healthcare with the distinctive osteopathic philosophy. This is accomplished through excellence in curriculum, translational research, service, osteopathic clinical practice, and the enhancement of osteopathic graduate medical education.”
COMP is accredited by the American Osteopathic Association’s Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation.
College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific has an acceptance rate of 20% and an MCAT score of 508 with an average GPA between 3.62 and 3.67
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Conclusion
Getting admitted to study in any Medical school is very competitive, and deciding on the one to go for can be very confusing.
In this article, we provided a detailed guide to all the 16 medical schools in California to help you make the best decision in pursuit of your medical career.
Furthermore, we have put in all our best in making sure that we provided the most accurate information, but do note that admission statistics and data are dynamic. Therefore, we always encourage you to verify these details from the official school admissions office.
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