California has 16 accredited medical programs (13 MD and 3 DO) spread across the Bay Area, Los Angeles, San Diego, and the Central Valley. No other state combines this many nationally recognized research institutions with strong public university options at competitive in-state tuition. Choosing between them requires understanding what each campus genuinely prioritizes.
The tables and rankings below cover every accredited program with current admissions data. For a national-level view of where California's top programs rank among the country's best, our guide to the best medical schools in the US has the full comparison.
More than any state except New York and Texas!
Complete List of Medical Schools in California
All figures reflect the 2025–2026 admissions cycle. UC public programs show both in-state and out-of-state tuition; private institutions charge a single rate regardless of residency. Always confirm current numbers at aamc.org/msar before applying.
California MD Medical Schools
| Institution | City | Avg GPA | Avg MCAT | In-State Tuition | Out-of-State | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stanford University School of Medicine | Stanford | 3.92 | 519 | $107,333 | $107,333 | Private |
| UCSF School of Medicine | San Francisco | 3.88 | 516 | $80,586 | $92,831 | Public |
| UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine | Los Angeles | 3.80 | 514 | $80,637 | $92,882 | Public |
| UC San Diego School of Medicine | La Jolla | 3.87 | 516 | $74,785 | $87,030 | Public |
| Keck School of Medicine (USC) | Los Angeles | 3.81 | 517 | $106,529 | $106,529 | Private |
| UC Irvine School of Medicine | Irvine | 3.87 | 517 | $69,712 | $81,985 | Public |
| Kaiser Permanente School of Medicine | Pasadena | 3.82 | 517 | $36,177 | $36,177 | Private |
| Loma Linda University School of Medicine | Loma Linda | 3.90 | 511 | $90,093 | $90,093 | Private |
| UC Davis School of Medicine | Sacramento | 3.67 | 511 | $77,194 | $89,439 | Public |
| California Northstate University College of Medicine | Elk Grove | 3.82 | 513 | $105,791 | $105,791 | Private |
| California University of Science and Medicine | Colton | 3.73 | 514 | $99,655 | $99,655 | Private |
| UC Riverside School of Medicine | Riverside | 3.68 | 509 | $78,298 | $90,543 | Public |
| Charles R. Drew University College of Medicine | Willowbrook | 3.55 | 508 | $69,000 | $69,000 | Private |
⚠️ Data: 2025–2026 admissions cycle. Verify at aamc.org/msar before applying.
New York is the only state with more MD programs than California. If you are weighing East Coast options alongside West Coast ones, our guide to medical schools in New York covers all 17 programs in the state with the same data format.
California DO Medical Schools
California has three accredited osteopathic programs. DO graduates compete in the same NRMP residency match as MD graduates since 2020. Touro University California has the lowest tuition of any California medical program at $37,800 annually.
| Institution | City | Avg GPA | Avg MCAT | In-State Tuition | Out-of-State | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Western University of Health Sciences — COM | Pomona | 3.65 | 508 | $63,008 | $63,008 | Private DO |
| California Health Sciences University — COM | Clovis | 3.50 | 507 | $54,500 | $54,500 | Private DO |
| Touro University California — COM | Vallejo | 3.56 | 509 | $37,800 | $37,800 | Private DO |
⚠️ Data: 2025–2026 admissions cycle. Verify at aamc.org/msar before applying.
Top Medical Schools in California
These seven programs consistently rank at the top of California's landscape for research output, primary care training, clinical access, and residency match outcomes. Rankings reflect consensus across US News research and primary care lists, NIH funding, and match data. Texas has a similarly competitive landscape in the South; our guide to the best medical schools in Texas covers Baylor, UT Southwestern, and the other leading programs there.
#1 — Best for Research & Physician-Scientists
Stanford University School of Medicine
MCAT: 519
GPA: 3.92
Most selective in the state (~1.5% acceptance); top NIH funding; Silicon Valley innovation ties.
#2 — Best for Primary Care & Public Health
UCSF School of Medicine
MCAT: 516
GPA: 3.88
Ranked #1 or #2 nationally in primary care every year; strongest public health and community medicine mission in the state.
The school has a long legacy in HIV/AIDS research, LGBTQ+ health care, and global public health; areas where its faculty and research output have shaped national policy for decades. Students also benefit from the Bay Area's concentration of biotech, global health organizations, and public health institutions, making it one of the most resource-rich training environments for primary care and community medicine in the country.
#3 — Best All-Around Public Program
UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine
MCAT: 514
GPA: 3.80
LA's largest academic medical center; research depth with strong in-state tuition for California residents.
#4 — Best for Biomedical Research
UC San Diego School of Medicine
MCAT: 516
GPA: 3.87
Ranked among the top 10 nationally for research funding; innovative curriculum; proximity to Salk and Scripps.
#5 — Best Private Program in Southern California
Keck School of Medicine (USC)
MCAT: 517
GPA: 3.81
Strong match outcomes in competitive specialties; deep clinical network across the Los Angeles health system.
#6 — Best for Curriculum Innovation & Value
Kaiser Permanente School of Medicine
MCAT: 517
GPA: 3.82
Tuition of $36,177 — by far the lowest private MD program in the state; team-based, technology-forward curriculum launched in 2020.
Preparing exceptional physicians to care for people and communities, especially those most in need.
Kaiser Permanente School of Medicine Mission Statement — the newest accredited MD program in California, launched in 2020
#7 — Best Mission-Driven / Faith-Based Program
Loma Linda University School of Medicine
MCAT: 511
GPA: 3.90
Seventh-day Adventist affiliation; strong in global health and underserved community medicine; Inland Empire's primary academic medical center.
How to Compare Top Med Schools Objectively
Applicants often default to rankings without examining the specific factors that actually predict fit. These are the metrics that matter most; and how California's programs differ on each one.
For context on how Midwestern programs compare on the same criteria, our guide to medical schools in Illinois covers Northwestern, University of Chicago, and seven other accredited programs with the same framework.
Admissions Benchmarks
- MCAT range: 508 (Charles R. Drew) to 519 (Stanford). UC public programs cluster between 511 and 517. DO programs accept lower MCAT scores (507–509) but are still highly competitive.
- GPA range: 3.55 (Drew) to 3.92 (Stanford). Most UC programs expect a GPA above 3.7; Loma Linda notably requires a 3.90 median alongside an MCAT of 511.
- Application systems: Use AMCAS for all 13 MD programs. Use AACOMAS for all 3 DO programs. These are separate applications with separate timelines and essay prompts.
- Interview formats vary significantly. Stanford, UCSF, and UCLA use MMI (multiple mini interview) formats. Others use traditional panel interviews or hybrid approaches. Read each program's interview page carefully before preparing.
- California residents have a meaningful advantage at UC programs. UC San Diego, UCLA, UCSF, UC Davis, UC Irvine, and UC Riverside all give preference to California residents in their selection process.
Tuition and Financial Aid
- UC public programs: in-state tuition ranges from $69,712 (UC Irvine) to $80,637 (UCLA). Out-of-state adds approximately $12,000 per year at each UC campus.
- Private MD programs: most charge between $90,000 and $107,000 annually. Stanford ($107,333) and USC Keck ($106,529) are among the most expensive in the state.
- Kaiser Permanente is the outlier: at $36,177, it is the most affordable private MD program in California by a significant margin, reflecting its mission to reduce financial barriers for physicians committed to underserved care.
- DO programs are generally less expensive: Western University ($63,008), CHSU ($54,500), and Touro California ($37,800) all charge less than any UC campus's out-of-state rate.
- Financial aid varies widely. UC programs offer grants based on demonstrated need. Private programs like Stanford have strong endowments that can reduce net cost significantly for eligible students — research each program's aid data in the AAMC MSAR.
Curriculum and Teaching Philosophy
| Factor | MD Programs | DO Programs |
|---|---|---|
| MCAT median range | 508–519 | 507–509 |
| Average GPA range | 3.55–3.92 | 3.50–3.65 |
| Tuition range (annual) | $36,177–$107,333 | $37,800–$63,008 |
| Application system | AMCAS | AACOMAS |
| Degree awarded | MD | DO |
| Residency match | NRMP (same as all MDs) | NRMP (same pool since 2020) |
| Additional training | Standard medical curriculum | Osteopathic manipulative medicine (OMM) |
| Interview formats | MMI, traditional, or hybrid | MMI, traditional, or hybrid |
Stanford: two-pathway system — Pathways (case-based) or HST (MIT co-run, physician-scientist focus). Early research integration from year one.
UCSF: Bridges curriculum — integrates basic sciences with clinical application earlier than most programs. Strong emphasis on team-based care.
Kaiser Permanente: the most technology-forward curriculum in the state. Students train within the Kaiser system, which uses the largest integrated EHR in the country.
Loma Linda: community-oriented curriculum with an emphasis on whole-person care; unique global health programs tied to Adventist Health systems worldwide.
Charles R. Drew: mission-driven curriculum specifically designed to train physicians for medically underserved communities in the Los Angeles area.
How to Choose the Best Med School for You
With 16 options in a single state, California applicants face a choice that applicants in smaller states do not: you can potentially stay close to home, train in the region where you want to practice, and still access world-class training at multiple tiers of selectivity and cost.
Bay Area (Stanford, UCSF, Touro Vallejo): the most research-intensive cluster in the state. Access to biotech, UCSF Medical Center, and the Bay Area's health equity community.
Los Angeles (UCLA, USC Keck, Kaiser, Drew, Western University): the largest and most diverse clinical environment in the state. Exposure to trauma, underserved communities, and a massive private health system.
San Diego (UC San Diego): the only accredited program in San Diego. Exceptional research access via proximity to Scripps, Salk, and UCSD Health.
Inland / Central Valley (Loma Linda, CalNorthstate, CUSM, UC Riverside, CHSU, UC Davis): lower cost of living, strong rural and underserved medicine opportunities, and less competition for clinical placements.
Research and academic medicine: Stanford, UCSF, UC San Diego, UCLA. All four are in the top 20 nationally for NIH funding.
Primary care and community health: UCSF (ranked #1 nationally in primary care), UC Davis, Charles R. Drew, Kaiser Permanente.
Southern California practice: USC Keck, UCLA, Kaiser. Residency programs in LA recruit heavily from these three institutions.
Cost-consciousness: Kaiser Permanente ($36k private), Touro California ($37k DO), UC Irvine ($69k in-state), or UC San Diego ($74k in-state) are the most affordable options relative to program quality.
Faith-based values: Loma Linda University has the most distinctive mission in the state for applicants whose professional values align with Adventist principles of service and whole-person care.
If you are considering programs outside California, our guide to medical schools in Georgia covers Emory and the other Southeast programs: a useful comparison for applicants weighing the Southeast's growing academic medical centers against the West Coast.
References
- "Medical School Admissions Requirements (MSAR)." Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC), 2025, www.aamc.org/msar.
- "Best Medical Schools." U.S. News & World Report, 2026, www.usnews.com/best-graduate-schools/top-medical-schools.
- "NYU Grossman School of Medicine." NYU Langone Health, 2025, med.nyu.edu.
- "Medical Schools in California." MedSchoolCoach, 2025, www.medschoolcoach.com/resource/medical-schools-in-california.
- "Stanford University School of Medicine." Stanford Medicine, 2025, med.stanford.edu.
- "UCSF School of Medicine." University of California San Francisco, 2025, medschool.ucsf.edu.
- "Kaiser Permanente School of Medicine." Kaiser Permanente, 2025, medschool.kp.org.
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