April 15, 2024
Written By
So, you want to go to med school in California, but you don’t know where to start.
You’re staring at a list of sixteen schools, wondering which ones are even realistic, what they’re looking for, and how to stand out in a state that chews up thousands of premeds every year.
This guide cuts through the noise. We’re breaking down every medical school in California—what they cost, who they accept, how hard they are to get into, and what actually makes each one different.
At Premed Catalyst, we offer mentorship and application advising from mentors who know exactly what it takes. In the 2024–2025 cycle, 100% of our students who submitted on time got into med school. We can help you do the same.
Book a free strategy session and let’s talk about how to get you into a California med school.
You’re not just choosing a school—you’re choosing a future. Forget the fluff. Here's what you actually need to know about each med school in California.
California has 16 med schools, and before you start obsessing over stats, you need to know what kind of degree you’re going for. You’ve got two flavors: MD (allopathic) and DO (osteopathic).
The end result? You become a doctor either way. But the training and philosophy are a little different, and depending on your goals, MD vs. DO is an important decision to make.
For the sake of clarity, we organized the list of California medical schools by practice. Remember that their curriculums will be similar, with the main difference being that osteopathic schools will teach osteopathic manipulative treatment.
Most med schools in California hand out the MD. Thirteen of them, to be exact. These are your traditional, hospital-based, research-backed, data-driven programs:
Stanford is a household name in American education. Consistently ranked among some of the greatest schools in the country, it pulls in some of the smartest students, researchers, and physicians.
And the numbers back it up:
But what makes Stanford stand out isn’t just its prestige—it’s the flexibility. Their Discovery Curriculum gives you the option to split your second year, freeing up time for research or academic exploration.
Yes, it may take you an extra year to graduate, but the tradeoff? You walk out with a deeper portfolio, serious mentorship, and maybe even a first-author publication in a high-impact journal—something that can change the trajectory of your career.
Interested in applying to Stanford? We have a guide on How to Get Into Stanford that can help set you up for success.
UC Davis is one of the most underrated powerhouses in the country. It’s consistently ranked in the top 20 for primary care, but what really sets it apart isn’t just the stats—it’s the mission. This school exists to serve communities in Northern and Central California, especially the ones most med schools overlook.
Which means if you’re going to get in, you need to care about that mission too. Your “I want to help people” essay won’t cut it here. You need a real track record of community service and a clear plan to keep doing it.
That said, getting in is no easy task, even if you align in passion. Just look at the numbers:
What makes Davis stand out is how it lets students go beyond the clinic. Through the Center for Healthcare Policy and Research, med students can get involved in shaping actual policy that affects Californians’ lives. This isn’t hypothetical advocacy work—it’s hands-on systems change.
They’re also serious about training future academic leaders. If you’re aiming to become a physician-scientist, Davis has a solid pipeline: a summer research program for first-years, access to a Ph.D. track, and a curriculum designed to support research from the ground up.
Want to see an acceptance letter from UC Davis? Check out our comprehensive guide on how to get into UC Davis.
UCLA is the dream for thousands of premeds every year and one of the hardest to turn into reality. It’s the #1 public med school in California, sitting at the intersection of clinical excellence, elite research, and relentless competition.
Here’s what you’re up against:
So what makes Geffen so popular? Clinical training here is next-level. You’ll rotate through Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center, UCLA Santa Monica, and a network of community clinics that serve one of the most diverse patient populations in the country.
You’ll also be surrounded by cutting-edge research at places like the Broad Stem Cell Research Center—where people aren’t just studying disease, they’re rewriting the rules on how we treat it.
Justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion aren’t buzzwords here—they’re built into the DNA of the school. If you’re not ready to serve underserved communities, don’t expect your app to resonate. They’re looking for people who understand that medicine isn’t just a science—it’s a social responsibility.
Interested in applying? Learn more about how to get into UCLA.
If you’re serious about research or primary care—and we mean really serious—UCSF should be on your list. This place isn’t just elite. It’s a mission-driven research juggernaut with multiple Nobel laureates.
Here’s what you’re up against:
UCSF pulls in over $700 million in NIH funding—more than any other med school in the country. Translation? If you want to build the future of medicine, they have the labs, the grants, and the mentors to help you do it. This is the epicenter of translational research, where science moves fast, and the goal is to get results into clinics, not just journals.
And yet, UCSF isn’t all research and white coats in labs. It’s also a primary care powerhouse. Students get access to multiple clinical sites across the Bay Area, treating diverse patient populations in everything from oncology to women’s health to pediatrics.
Learn everything you need to know about how to get into UCSF med school.
UC Riverside is young, hungry, and laser-focused on one thing: serving the Inland Empire. Founded in 2013, it’s not chasing prestige—it’s building pipelines. And if you’re not from the region or committed to giving back to underserved communities, your odds of getting in are pretty low.
Here’s the rundown:
UCR is unapologetically community-first. From day one, you’ll be part of the LACE program, shadowing physicians and caring for patients in Spanish-speaking and rural areas. You won’t be sitting in a lecture hall waiting for third year to matter—you’re in it from the start.
And if you’re into public health, UCR just launched an MPH program built for students interested in epidemiology, crisis response, and systems change. It’s a perfect add-on for anyone who wants to fight health disparities not just in the clinic, but at scale.
Sound like a right fit for you? Our guide covers everything you need to know to get into UC Riverside.
UC Irvine doesn’t just teach medicine—it builds the future of it. If you’re obsessed with innovation, tech, and being ahead of the curve, UCI is your playground. Located in Orange County, this school was the first fully digital learning environment in the country, and they haven’t stopped pushing boundaries since.
Here’s the academic breakdown:
UCI boasts Nobel Prize winners and major breakthroughs in neuroscience and cancer research. If you’re the kind of student who wants to code, question, and cure all at once, you’ll thrive here.
Interested in being a med student here? Learn how to get into UC Irvine.
UCSD isn’t just a med school—it’s a science engine with billion-dollar horsepower. If you want to be surrounded by people who live and breathe research, welcome to San Diego.
Let’s talk numbers:
Genomics, cancer biology, neuroscience, infectious disease—this is where breakthroughs happen. And you won’t just hear about them in lectures. You’ll be part of them.
Ready to take a shot? Learn how to get into UC San Diego with insight from medical students who know what it takes.
CNU might be new (founded in 2015), but don’t let that fool you. It’s not an easy backdoor into med school. The stats are real, and the competition is legit.
That’s right—CNU is a for-profit med school, which means no federal loans, no FAFSA safety net. If you’re planning to lean on financial aid, this probably isn’t a good fit. That said, research funding is solid, and if you can foot the bill, you’ll still get access to the same kind of training and rigor you’d expect from more established schools.
CUSM is one of the newest med schools in California and it knows exactly who it’s here to serve. If you’re from the Inland Empire, serious about community health, and ready to build something instead of coasting on legacy, this school might be for you.
Here are the numbers:
Like UC Riverside, CUSM heavily favors local applicants and has no interest in being a backup for coastal climbers. It’s young, but not unproven. Its early match rates are strong. Its mission is tight. And it’s already investing hard in research opportunities and underserved care.
Charles Drew isn’t like any other med school in California and that’s the point. With just 24 seats per year, this program is one of the smallest and most mission-driven in the country. Its focus? Training physicians to serve Black and underserved communities, especially in South Los Angeles.
Here’s what you can expect:
Once you're in, you get access to the same curriculum and clinical training as UCLA, thanks to the school’s partnership.
This is a school built for students who want to be more than doctors—they want to be advocates, leaders, and repairers of broken systems. Expect to be active in volunteer initiatives, especially those tied to Black health equity. If that’s not a mission you align with, this isn’t the school for you.
Kaiser, launched in 2019 with a full-tuition waiver for its first five classes, immediately became one of the most competitive new schools in the country. With only 50 spots per year, here’s what you can expect:
But the tuition break isn’t just a marketing ploy. It’s tied to Kaiser’s real mission: training future physicians to tackle chronic illness and deliver patient-centered care. You’ll be working inside one of the country’s most integrated health systems—learning medicine the way it’s actually delivered across hospitals, clinics, and communities.
Keck is one of California’s most established, most respected, and most popular med schools. That means tons of applicants, tough stats, and no shortcuts.
Here’s what you’re up against:
Keck’s biggest flex? Clinical training. Students work directly with LA County Hospital—one of the busiest and most diverse public hospitals in the country. This means you’re not just learning medicine, you’re delivering it to the people who need it most.
The first two years are pass/fail, which helps take the edge off academic competition and creates a more collaborative, sane learning environment (yes, that still exists).
Is Keck the right fit for you? Our guide covers everything you need to know on how to get into Keck School of Medicine.
Loma Linda is the only Seventh-day Adventist medical school in California, and its mission is grounded in faith, service, and a whole-person approach to healing. If that resonates with you, this could be a powerful fit..
Here are the numbers:
Yes, it’s LCME-accredited. Yes, the training is legit. But this isn’t just about academics. You’ll be expected to live the mission—that means volunteering in underserved hospitals, taking religious coursework, and following a campus moral code shaped by Christ-centered values.
The upside? Strong mentorship, close-knit community, and a campus culture that emphasizes compassion over cutthroat. But if you’re not aligned with the faith-based structure, you should keep looking.
There are only three DO schools in California, and while they’re outnumbered by MD programs, don’t mistake that for second-tier. These schools train licensed physicians, match into competitive residencies, and require just as much grit, focus, and academic strength as their allopathic counterparts.
If you’re drawn to a more hands-on, holistic approach to medicine—or you’re open to a slightly different path to the same white coat—a DO program might be the smartest move you make.
Here are your three options:
If you’re into preventive care, hands-on training, and global service, TUCOM might be your best shot. Founded in 1997 by a Jewish collective with a deep emphasis on education and social good, the school lives out those values through its mission—but it's not a religious institution, and students from all backgrounds are welcome.
Let’s look at the numbers:
TUCOM blends traditional osteopathic training with real-world impact. You’ll get solid research opportunities, learn osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT), and even have the chance to spend a month abroad serving underserved populations, something that goes way beyond textbook learning.
If community outreach, collaborative learning, and cross-country clinical experience are your thing, WesternU COMP should be on your radar. Based in Pomona, this DO school is unapologetically mission-driven and expects you to show up for more than just lectures.
Here are the numbers:
WesternU lets you learn alongside MD students through its case-based curriculum, something most DO schools don’t offer. And if you’re serious about exploring healthcare systems across the U.S., they’ve got you covered with clinical rotations in multiple states.
CHSU-COM is the new kid in the Central Valley, and it’s here with a mission: train doctors who will stay and serve California’s most underserved communities. Founded in 2020, it’s one of the most accessible DO programs in the state, but don’t confuse that with easy.
Here are the numbers:
From state-of-the-art simulation labs to an innovative curriculum that includes culinary medicine and nutrition—yes, real training in food-as-medicine—CHSU is tackling gaps most med schools ignore.
If your numbers aren’t perfect but your mission is clear, this could be your open door. Just know: they expect you to give back. This is not the place for applicants trying to “just get in” and bounce. They want students who will stay, serve, and uplift the region that gave them their shot.
California isn’t your only shot—and for a lot of applicants, it’s not your best one either. We’ve built state-by-state guides that cut through the confusion and give you the stats, strategy, and no-BS insight you need to actually get in.
This state breeds competitors. And the only way to survive the admissions chaos is to stop thinking like a typical premed and start acting like an applicant who gets in. Here's how.
Adcoms don’t care if you “did research” or “volunteered abroad.” They care what you learned, how you grew, and whether you can prove it.
If your research taught you to love uncertainty, say that. If your volunteer work revealed health gaps in immigrant care, show what you did about it. No buzzwords. No vague platitudes. Receipts only.
The moment you lead with “I got a 514 and a 3.8 GPA,” you’re already rejected. No one gets in for stats alone—not in California.
Here’s what to focus on instead:
California med schools aren’t interchangeable. UCR wants doctors for the Inland Empire. UCSF trains physician-scientists. Loma Linda asks you to take a religion course.
If you’re sending the same personal statement to Davis and Stanford, you’re wasting your time.
Show them why you belong there, of all other schools in California and across the country. Not just why you want to go to med school. Not just why you like their program. Why them?
These days, it feels like everyone has an opinion on how to get into med school—your roommate’s cousin who “got in once,” that Reddit user, a chatbot that’s never seen an Adcom’s inbox. None of them are on the line if your application flops. You are.
Advice from the wrong people doesn’t just waste your time—it actively lowers your chances. You get vague tips, recycled cliches, and edits that sound like they were written by a resume generator from 2009.
At Premed Catalyst, we know what works because we’ve done it ourselves. Our mentors are current medical students who were once in your shoes, and got in. Now, they use their insider expertise to help students like you.
Let’s not sugarcoat it—breaking into residency in the U.S. as an IMG is hard. You’re competing against thousands of U.S. med students, many of them backed by name-brand schools and rock-solid letters from domestic hospitals. And California? It’s one of the most competitive states in the country.
But here’s the surprise: California isn’t closed to you. In fact, nearly 12% of residents in the state are IMGs. So, if you’re good, focused, and strategic, you’ve got a shot.
To be eligible, you’ll need:
If you're serious about matching in California, you better bring clinical experience, sharp USMLE scores, and a narrative that proves you belong. Because when you show up as the real deal, California will notice.
If you’re applying to med school in California, community outreach isn’t a bonus—it’s the job. This state leads the country in turning medicine into a tool for justice, and its schools are looking for future doctors who don’t just want to diagnose but also show up for the people who get left behind.
Every program—from UCSF to UC Riverside—has outreach baked into its DNA. And at places like UCLA, it’s the core curriculum. Just look at this one school alone:
And again, that’s just UCLA. Every school in this state expects you to get your hands dirty in real communities, solving real problems. So, if you’re not interested in health equity, public service, or rolling up your sleeves, here’s the truth: California probably isn’t for you.
California med schools are hyper-competitive, so if you’re even a day late on anything, someone else just took your seat.
Here’s how to actually time this thing right:
Now – February
March – April
May 1 – May 31
June 1 – June 10
June – August
August – December
October – April
Let’s be real—medical school is expensive. In California, even the “cheap” schools start at $40K a year, and that’s before you touch rent, food, or the 10 different software subscriptions they’ll expect you to use. If you’re worried about how to pay for medical school, you’re not alone.
But here’s the good news: you’re not shut out. California actually leads the charge in building programs that help under-resourced students get into med school and through it.
One example? The UC PRIME Pre-Health Pathways program at UC Irvine. Backed by serious state funding, it gives underrepresented students access to advising, foundational training, and a clear map from undergrad to MD.
Another game-changer is SHPEP (Summer Health Professions Education Program). It’s built for students from economically or educationally disadvantaged backgrounds, and it delivers MCAT prep, shadowing, mentorship, and leadership development—for free.
Scrolling through med school options is a good first step. But let’s be honest—getting in is a maze, and most premeds are walking it blind.
That’s where Premed Catalyst comes in. We offer personalized mentorship and application advising from mentors who actually know what it takes—because they’ve earned acceptance letters. We don’t hand you a recycled checklist. We build a strategy around you—your background, your story, your goals.
And it works: In the 2024–2025 cycle, 100% of our students who submitted on time got into medical school.
Ready to become a competitive applicant? Book a free strategy call today.