March 21, 2025
Written By
You’re not just looking for any med school. You’re looking for a real shot. A place that doesn’t automatically put you behind because your driver’s license says Iowa instead of Oregon.
In this article, we’ll walk you through the most outstate-friendly medical schools in 2025. You’ll learn where the data says you’ve got a real chance, what residency reclassification and tuition reciprocity actually mean for your wallet, and how to craft a competitive OOS application.
Premed Catalyst knows how overwhelming the premed journey can be from finding clinical hours to determining which schools to apply to and how to actually stand out. That’s why we created a free, nearly 2-hour workshop that breaks down the entire med school admissions process so you understand it like an AdCom. By the end, you’ll know what truly matters, what doesn’t, and how to build an application that stands out.
Ready to stop guessing? Get the free workshop here.
Here’s the thing: not every medical school is excited to meet you, especially if you're not from their state. It seems unfair, but that’s just reality. Many state schools are publicly funded and have an unspoken (or very spoken) priority to educate future doctors who will serve their state’s population. So, if you're out of state, you’re already starting on the bench.
But not all hope is lost. There are schools that roll out the welcome mat to non-residents. Here's how you can find them:
Look for the percentage of matriculants who are from out of state. If 90% of last year’s class were in-staters, you’re playing a game where the house wins. On the flip side, if half or more are from out of state, that’s a green light.
Private schools are generally more open to out-of-state students. Why? They don’t rely on state funding, so they’re not under pressure to favor locals. Columbia, Mayo, and Stanford don’t care if you’re from Iowa or the moon—as long as your app shines.
Some secondaries basically scream, “We don’t want outsiders.” If the prompt is, “Why do you want to serve the health needs of rural North Dakota communities for the rest of your life?” and you’ve never set foot there, keep it moving.
Compare in-state vs out-of-state tuition. If there's a huge gap and no mention of eventual in-state eligibility, that’s another clue. Schools that keep the cost manageable for non-residents are signaling openness.
Read the mission. If the school emphasizes serving the entire nation or has a diverse student body from across the country, that means they’re an out-of-state friendly med school. If it's training the next generation of Vermont physicians, you know what it is.
Find them on Reddit, Student Doctor Network, Instagram. Ask: "Are there a lot of out-of-staters in your class?" They’ll tell you what the website won’t.
It’s true: many state medical schools accept out-of-state students—if not all of them. However, most of these institutions prioritize in-state applicants, granting them access to lower tuition rates, financial aid, and state-funded scholarships. Because of this, out-of-state (OOS) students often face higher costs and tougher competition. For all these reasons, it's essential to plan their applications carefully.
That being said, some schools have made a conscious effort to welcome students from other states, embracing diversity and fostering a more inclusive academic environment. A combination of admission requirements, cultural diversity, residency options, tuition policies, and financial aid opportunities is what defines an out-of-state friendly medical school.
These institutions allocate a higher percentage of seats to non-resident students, making them strong choices for those looking to pursue their medical education beyond their home state.
In the United States, four universities stand out for structuring their application and admissions processes to accommodate OOS students. The four top out-of-state friendly medical schools we’ll explore today are:
The University of Colorado School of Medicine is widely recognized as one of the most out-of-state friendly medical schools. While many public institutions admit a limited percentage of OOS students, Colorado consistently accepts a significantly higher proportion of non-residents. With its strong commitment to academic excellence and innovation, the university attracts applicants from across the country.
Here are some key factors that make CU School of Medicine a leading option for out-of-state applicants:
As we’ve seen, the University of Colorado School of Medicine stands out not only for its high out-of-state acceptance rates but also for the financial and residency flexibility it offers. Its strong academic programs, competitive scholarships, and OOS-friendly policies make it an excellent option for students seeking a well-rounded medical education.
The University of South Florida (USF) Morsani College of Medicine is another OOS-friendly medical school, highly sought after for its affordable tuition and strong academic reputation. For out-of-state students, USF offers some of the most competitive tuition rates among public medical schools, so it is easy to explain why it is such an appealing choice.
Nontheless, let’s look in detail what makes USF Morsani College of Medicine stand out as one of the most out-of-state friendly medical schools:
With its warm climate, culturally vibrant city, and diverse student body, USF offers an enriching academic environment that stands out among the most out-of-state friendly medical schools.
💡Feeling lost in your med school application? We’re here to help. Apply today and let’s book a call to get you on the right path to success!
Third on our ranking is the University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix (UArizona Phoenix), recognized as one of the most OOS-friendly medical schools, with approximately 50% of its student body coming from out of state.
For those interested in applying to Arizona without being a state resident, it’s important to know that the University of Arizona College of Medicine offers:
In summary, what makes Arizona - Phoenix a friendly school for OSSs looking for affordability and exposure to unique settings? The high acceptance rate of OSSs, the residency reclassification opportunities, and the robust clinical training in diverse environments are some key factors in this regard.
Finally, in this review, we turn to the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. Known as one of the out-of-state friendly medical schools, it offers a competitive admissions process and various financial aid opportunities, maintaining its reputation as a top-tier institution for decades.
Naturally, this combination attracts applicants from across the country:
UCLA provides prestige, top-tier clinical training, and significant financial aid options, making it one of the most recognized medical schools in the country for out-of-state students.
Now that we’ve explored the most out-of-state friendly medical schools, let’s turn our attention to two medical schools that generate high interest among out-of-state applicants—despite not being the most accessible options for non-residents: SUNY and Minnesota medical schools.
🚀 If you want more tips about UCLA, you can watch our detailed video-guide or watch with evidence-based tips.
If you're considering medical schools in New York as an out-of-state applicant, you may have come across SUNY Upstate Medical University. While it’s a respected institution with strong academic programs, it’s important to understand that it strongly favors New York residents.
Historically, SUNY Upstate Medical University has maintained a student body dominated by in-state students—recent data shows that about 80% of its entering class comes from New York, leaving only a small portion of seats for non-residents.
In fact, past cycles have shown even lower acceptance rates for out-of-state students. In recent years, SUNY Upstate has admitted as few as 10% students from outside New York. This heavy in-state enrollment reflects the school’s mission to train physicians who will serve the region, which naturally limits opportunities for non-resident applicants.
That said, this doesn’t mean that SUNY Upstate Medical University is entirely closed off to out-of-state students—but the competition is steep. If you have exceptional credentials or a strong connection to New York, it may be worth applying. Otherwise, it can be a challenging school to get into as a non-resident.
For those without a compelling reason to apply, it may be worth considering other options, including private medical schools in New York, which tend to be more open to out-of-state students.
Another university that generates a lot of interest online among OOS applicants is the University of Minnesota Medical School. However, like SUNY Upstate, the University of Minnesota medical school out-of-state acceptance rate is low.
With a strong in-state admissions bias, the school prioritizes Minnesota residents, leaving limited spots for non-resident applicants. The numbers speak for themselves: recent data shows that Minnesota residents have an acceptance rate of around 28%, while out-of-state applicants face an acceptance rate as low as 3%. This means that for every non-resident applying, only a small fraction successfully secures a spot. In a recent admissions cycle, 82.6% of matriculants were in-state students, while only 17.4% came from out of state.
In short, while the school does accept some OOS students each year, competition is extremely intense. Thousands of non-residents apply, yet only a handful are admitted.
Struggling to get into med school? We provide personalized mentorship to fulfill your potential. Fill out a quick form and let’s take your first step towards med school!
There are more than just the schools above that are out-of-state friendly. If the schools above don’t interest you, there’s others that also offer higher acceptance rates and more equitable consideration for out-of-state applicants.
Below is a list of the top medical schools showing which ones are, and are not, out-of-state friendly.
Interview rates for out-of-state applicants are one of the clearest indicators of whether a school is genuinely OOS-friendly or just collecting your AMCAS fee.
If a school interviews 25% of in-state applicants and only 2% of out-of-staters, that’s not just a preference. That’s a wall. Look for schools where the interview rates are more balanced.
Most private med schools don’t differentiate between in-state and out-of-state because they don’t have a “state” to worry about. If you're hunting for high OOS interview chances, private schools should be your starting point.
Here are a few schools known for giving out-of-staters a real shot:
The most critical factor for students considering out-of-state friendly medical schools is tuition costs. Many applicants wonder how these fees are determined and what drives the price differences.
The key thing to understand is that public medical schools receive funding from state tax revenue, which allows them to subsidize tuition and offer financial aid—but usually only for in-state residents.
Obviously, out-of-state students and their families do not contribute to that state’s tax base, so they are often required to pay higher tuition fees to compensate for the lack of state funding.
Here’s how tuition differences work:
The tuition gap is significant. However, as we've mentioned, what truly makes the difference are the financial aid programs, tuition waivers, and residency options that each university offers for out-of-state students.
Since high tuition costs at public medical schools are one of the biggest concerns for out-of-state students, it’s reassuring to know that some of the most OOS-friendly medical schools allow students to establish residency after their first year, making them eligible for in-state tuition in later years.
This option—offered by several schools we’ve discussed—is highly popular among students, as it can save tens of thousands of dollars over the course of medical school.
That said, not all states allow residency reclassification. Each medical school has specific residency requirements, which often include:
Some students plan ahead by moving to a state a year before applying to medical school to establish residency early and qualify for lower tuition rates.
On the other hand, many states prohibit residency reclassification if the primary reason for living there was education. Some medical schools explicitly warn that “you cannot establish residency simply by enrolling in school.” This is why it’s essential to research residency policies carefully before applying.
Beyond tuition costs, students should also look into Tuition Reciprocity Agreements, an often-overlooked factor that can significantly lower expenses for OOS students.
What does this mean? Some states participate in regional tuition exchange programs, allowing out-of-state students to access reduced tuition rates at participating schools. These programs are designed to expand educational opportunities in fields that may not be available in a student’s home state.
Some of the most notable tuition reciprocity programs include:
These agreements help make certain out-of-state friendly medical schools more affordable and reduce financial barriers for non-resident students. Some of the medical schools with the highest out-of-state acceptance rates participate in these programs.
For universities that do not explicitly mention that coming from out of state makes no difference even at out-of-state friendly medical schools, there is usually some level of preference for in-state students, whether through tuition benefits, reserved seats, or admission policies.
That’s why, to maximize your chances, your application needs to stand out in every possible way. Here are the key strategies to help you make a compelling case:
It may seem obvious, but it’s worth emphasizing: having a high GPA and MCAT score alone won’t be enough. Medical schools with high out-of-state acceptance rates receive a large number of OOS applications, so excelling in every part of your application is essential to stay competitive.
How can you stand out?
Pro Tip: OOS-friendly medical schools often explicitly advise against copying and pasting essays from Google Docs or Word. Why? Because your evaluators look at formatting errors. If you're submitting secondary essays, you can opt for Notepad or TextEdit to strip formatting before pasting your responses. It may sound like a tiny detail, but clean formatting ensures your application is legible and professional.
💡Need an expert to guide your application? Reserve your spot now! Our Application Cycle Advising gives you full-service support to help you succeed in this cycle.
Public OOS-friendly medical schools prefer applicants who are likely to stay and practice in the region after graduation. If you have connections to the state, make sure to highlight them in your application.
Examples of meaningful ties:
No direct ties? No problem. Some state medical schools that accept out-of-state applicants will still consider your application if you show a genuine commitment to serving their population. For instance, if a school focuses on rural healthcare, discussing your interest in working with underserved communities can strengthen your case.
This step is similar to demonstrating regional ties, but it focuses more on your fit with the institution itself. One of the best ways to overcome the out-of-state disadvantage is to prove your alignment with a school’s mission.
How can you do this effectively?
The stronger your case, the more likely admissions committees will view you as an ideal candidate—even if you are applying from out of state.
Even the most competitive applicants need a smart strategy when applying to out-of-state friendly medical schools.
Key strategic moves include:
A well-planned out-of-state application strategy not only maximizes your chances of acceptance but also ensures a good fit with your chosen schools.
We've said it time and time again: choosing between an in-state or out-of-state medical school is one of the biggest decisions pre-med students face. And it’s not just about academics—moving away means leaving behind familiar routines, personal support systems, and everything that shapes your daily life.
While staying close to home can offer financial stability and emotional comfort, attending an out-of-state friendly medical school can open the door to new academic and professional opportunities, broaden your clinical experience, and even improve your positioning for residency programs.
But is it the right choice for you? Let’s break down the advantages and challenges of choosing a medical school with high out-of-state acceptance rates, so you can make an informed decision.
Some of the top pros of applying to out-of-state med school are:
You must also consider some of the cons of moving for your education:
The right choice depends on your personal and professional priorities. If an OOS medical school offers unique opportunities that align with your goals, it may be worth the investment. If affordability and proximity to home matter more, an in-state option might be the better fit.
No matter your choice, understanding the trade-offs will help you make an informed decision about where to pursue your medical education.
The truth is, most premeds spend months, sometimes years, pouring their hearts into an application that was never aimed at the right targets. They apply blind, hoping that effort alone will carry them. It won’t.
At Premed Catalyst, we work with a small group of applicants every month not just to help them build a smart school list but to make them competitive for top schools, even ones out of state. And it works. 100% of our on-time applicants from the 2024-2025 cycle got accepted.
Book a free strategy session now, and finally, know where you stand and what to do next.