University of Arizona Medical School Acceptance Rate

If you're looking into the University of Arizona College of Medicine’s acceptance rate, you're likely trying to figure out if you’re really competitive. Maybe you’re unsure how your stats stack up, or you’re feeling unsure how to write your essays. Either way, knowing what you need to do to stand out at UACM can make all the difference.

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This article breaks down everything you need to know about getting into UACM: how selective it really is, average GPA and MCAT scores, admissions requirements, tuition and scholarships, and what makes this med school stand out. You’ll also get step-by-step guidance on crafting your strongest possible application for this specific school.

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And if you want to know what actually gets accepted, don’t guess. Use our free application database. It gives you access to 8 real AMCAS applications that earned acceptances to top schools like UCLA and UCSF. Learn what works, and model your own path to acceptance.

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Get your free resource here.

How Hard Is It to Get Into University of Arizona College of Medicine?

Let’s cut to the chase: getting into the University of Arizona College of Medicine, whether in Phoenix or Tucson, is highly competitive.

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At UACOM-Phoenix, over 5,500 applicants competed for just 130 seats in a recent cycle. That puts the acceptance rate at around 2.3%.

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The Tucson campus is even more selective. With over 6,400 applicants and only about 117 spots, the acceptance rate there drops to roughly 1.8%.

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But what about in-state advantage?

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Tucson strongly favors Arizona residents. In fact, about 71% of students who matriculate there are in-state. That means if you’re applying from Arizona, your odds at Tucson are better than they look at first glance. 

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Phoenix, on the other hand, draws a more nationally distributed class. While Arizona residents are still well represented, the admissions process there is slightly less weighted toward in-state applicants.

Average GPA & MCAT

UACOM doesn’t mess around. For Phoenix, the average GPA for matriculants is about 3.87, with an average MCAT of 518.

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Tucson sits slightly lower, but still strong, with an average GPA of 3.84 and an average MCAT of 511. 

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For comparison, the national average GPA for med school matriculants is around 3.77, and the average MCAT is approximately 511.7. Translation? Both campuses are pulling in students who are performing at or above the national norm.

UACOM Admissions Requirements

Both campuses expect a solid foundation in the sciences. You’ll need to complete the following coursework before you start medical school:

• General Biology, General Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, and Physics — 2 semesters each, with labs strongly recommended
• Biochemistry — 2 semesters (or 1 semester plus a genetics course)
• English or other writing-intensive courses — 2 semesters
• Statistics or Biostatistics — 1 course (Calculus is also recommended)
• Social or Behavioral Sciences — at least 1 course (think psychology, sociology, or public health)
• Upper-division sciences — 1 course each in at least two disciplines like microbiology, histology, or molecular biology
• One additional course in humanities or social sciences — ethics, philosophy, literature, etc.

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Beyond academics, there are some additional requirements you’ll need to meet.

• U.S. citizenship or permanent residency. International and DACA applicants are not eligible.
•  A bachelor’s degree, unless you’re applying through the Tucson campus’s Accelerated Pathway to Medical Education (APME).
• Your degree must come from a U.S. or Canadian accredited institution.
• Must complete a background check prior to matriculation
• Arizona Department of Safety Fingerprint Clearance Card required
• Must meet technical standards for admission and matriculation, including:
  
  • Professionalism and ethical behavior
  • Physical and cognitive ability to perform clinical tasks
  • Capacity to meet academic and patient-care responsibilities, with or without reasonable accommodations

University of Arizona College of Medicine Tuition & Scholarships

Attending the University of Arizona College of Medicine comes with different tuition costs depending on your residency status.

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For the 2024–2025 academic year, Arizona residents can expect to pay approximately $39,796 in combined tuition and mandatory fees at either campus. Out-of-state students face a higher price tag, with tuition totaling around $58,876.

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To help offset these costs, both campuses offer a range of scholarship opportunities and financial aid programs. One of the most notable is the Primary Care Physician (PCP) Scholarship, which provides full tuition coverage for students who commit to practicing in medically underserved areas in Arizona.

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Other funding options include nationally competitive programs like the National Health Service Corps (NHSC) Scholarship and the Armed Forces Health Professions Scholarship Program (HPSP), both of which offer full tuition and living stipends in exchange for post-graduation service commitments, either in underserved communities or through military service.

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Students can also access the University of Arizona’s ScholarshipUniverse portal, which matches them with internal and external scholarships based on their background, interests, and financial need. This system includes access to university-wide awards, identity-based scholarships, and donor-funded opportunities exclusive to the College of Medicine.

What Sets University of Arizona College of Medicine Apart

At the University of Arizona College of Medicine, whether you're in Tucson or Phoenix, the mission shows up every day: in the clinics, in the labs, in its connection to the communities they serve. This isn’t just another med school tucked inside a university. It’s a dual-campus institution built around impact, equity, and a very clear sense of purpose.

Two Campuses, One Mission

Tucson is the OG, founded in 1967. It has deep roots, a big reputation, and a campus that knows what it means to serve a region where healthcare deserts are real. Phoenix came later, got its independence in 2012, and has been blazing its own path ever since. 

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More urban. More modern. More built around flexibility and innovation. What’s rare is that these two campuses don’t compete. They complement each other. Both feed off the same mission: train doctors who don’t just memorize biochem, but who know how to walk into a room, meet someone where they are, and change their life.

Curriculum That Doesn't Waste Your Time

In Tucson, students move through a structured, three-phase curriculum—foundational science, integrated clinical learning, and then electives tailored to their passions. There’s early patient exposure, real hands-on time, and a Pass/Fail pre-clerkship phase to keep the toxic competition in check. 

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In Phoenix, it’s all about customization. The Phoenix curriculum is built around PAL—Personalized Active Learning. From Year 1, you’re working on a longitudinal scholarly project, building a four-year story arc in research, service, or innovation. 

Clinical Partners That Actually Teach

Both campuses partner with serious hospitals. In Tucson, that includes Banner University Medical Center, the Southern Arizona VA, and more than 50 residency and fellowship programs. Translation? Built-in mentors. 

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In Phoenix, you’re learning in a network that includes Mayo Clinic Arizona, Barrow Neurological Institute, Phoenix Children’s, and a Level I trauma center in Banner – University Medical Center Phoenix. This isn’t shadow-and-smile training. It’s real, gritty, high-volume clinical work in places where what you do matters.

Research That’s Not Just for the CV

Let’s be honest, every med school talks about research. But here, it’s not about checking a box. In Tucson, research funding has doubled in the past five years, with major centers focused on cancer, cardiology, neurology, and respiratory disease. 

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In Phoenix, research is baked into the curriculum from Day 1, and the location in the Phoenix Bioscience Core makes collaboration with industry and academic leaders practically unavoidable. If you want to build something new and have it actually mean something, this is the place.

How to Get Into the University of Arizona College of Medicine

Getting into the University of Arizona College of Medicine means proving you’re more than just a 3.8 GPA and a solid MCAT score. Numbers might get your foot in the door, but they won’t carry you across the finish line. You need a story, one that reflects the kind of doctor you’re becoming, built on action, not just passion.

Application Timeline

The University of Arizona College of Medicine, both the Tucson and Phoenix campuses, uses the AMCAS system for applications and follows a rolling admissions process. This means that applications are reviewed as they are received, and interview invitations and acceptance offers are extended throughout the cycle.

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Below is an overview of the application timeline you need to follow to stay competitive:

Personal Statement

This is not where you just list your achievements. 

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Your personal statement is your chance to tell your story. Who are you? What do you care about? What kind of doctor are you becoming?

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But it’s not enough to just tell the AdCom what you’re passionate about. It only matters if you’re already living it. If you say you care about underserved communities, then you should show experiences in clinics, outreach programs, or advocacy work. 

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Why? Because your experiences are your proof.

Secondary Essays

Secondary essays are your chance to demonstrate to the Admissions Committee how your personal story, values, and goals align with the school’s mission and culture. Below are the exact prompts from the most recent 2025–2026 cycle, followed by advice on how to craft each answer:

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1. Have you previously applied to any medical school? (Yes/No). If yes, in what ways have you grown personally, academically, and professionally, and how do these changes make you a stronger applicant this cycle? (optional, 1,000 characters)
   Frame this as growth, not just explanation. Highlight concrete improvements in skills, experiences, professionalism, and resilience since your last cycle. Keep it humble, honest, and forward‑looking.

2. What about yourself are you most proud of? How will this shape the way you care for others and contribute to the well-being of the communities you serve? (1,000 characters)
   Choose one defining accomplishment that reveals character and values. Then tie it to how it informs your approach to patient care and community health. Be practical, not abstract.
   
   
3. Describe an experience that challenged the way you see the world. How did it influence your ability to understand others and meet them where they are? (1,000 characters)
   Pick a moment where your assumptions were proven wrong, ideally in a clinical, volunteer, or community setting. Be honest about the mindset you had going in, what you witnessed or learned, and how it forced you to think differently. Then focus on the after: how that shift has changed the way you communicate, how you approach patients from different backgrounds, or how you interpret people’s needs without judgment. The best answers show humility, real emotional processing, and a clear takeaway that’s changed how you’ll practice medicine.
   
   
4. Servant Leadership is a core value … Share an example where you took initiative to support others while putting their needs ahead of your own. What personal values guided your actions, and how will those values shape the way you care for patients? (1,000 characters)
   Choose a moment where stepping up meant sacrifice, whether that was time, comfort, or recognition. Focus on how you saw a need and acted without waiting to be asked. Maybe you led a team quietly behind the scenes, mentored someone struggling, or prioritized patient comfort over personal efficiency. Then make the bridge: how those same values will define your bedside manner, your collaboration with healthcare teams, and your commitment to patient‑first care.
   
   
5. As you consider your future in medicine, what aspects of the UA College of Medicine–Phoenix mission, values, and community culture resonate most with you? How do you see these elements contributing to your development as a physician, and in what ways do you hope to add to and strengthen this community? (1,000 characters)
   Pick 1–2 core parts of their mission (like serving Arizona’s underserved, commitment to innovation, or interprofessional training) and connect them to your past experiences and future goals. Explain why those values matter to you personally and how they’ll shape the kind of doctor you’re becoming. Then flip it. What do you bring to the table? Maybe it's your experience with immigrant health, leadership in student-run clinics, or passion for teaching.
   
   
6. [Optional] One of the core missions … to train physicians who will serve the people and communities of Arizona. Please share your connection to the state—or, if you do not have one, what draws you to care for patients here. How do you envision contributing to the health and well‑being of Arizona’s communities as a future physician? (1,000 characters)
   Even if you aren’t from Arizona, talk about what draws you there—rural health disparities, underserved populations, or unique community health needs. Connect to tangible actions you hope to take.
   
   
7. [Optional] We understand that an application may not fully capture everything that makes a candidate unique … share something not already addressed in your application. This may include gaps, achievements, or challenges. (1,000 characters)
   Use this to add dimension: a non‑academic passion, an adversity overcome, or a meaningful project. Map it forward to who you are becoming. But remember this one is optional. Don’t replicate what’s elsewhere. Only spend time on this if it adds something new and valuable.
   
   
8. [Optional] As part of our commitment to evaluating outreach efforts … ask applicants to share involvement in formal pipeline or preparatory programs hosted by UA College of Medicine–Phoenix.
   List any relevant programs (e.g. Summer Scrubs, InstaMed, Pre‑Med Academy), your role, and what you learned. Focus on leadership and outreach impact. Talk about what you experienced, what surprised you, and how it confirmed or deepened your interest in medicine. Reflect on how it prepared you to engage with underserved communities or think critically about healthcare access in Arizona.

Letters of Recommendation

At the University of Arizona College of Medicine, you need a minimum of three letters of recommendation, and they’ll review up to seven.

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One of these must be from someone who has directly observed you in a clinical setting. Think an MD, NP, RN, or volunteer coordinator who can speak to how you interact with patients or function on a healthcare team. Without this clinical letter, your application won’t even be considered for an interview. 

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The other letters of recommendation should come from people who know you well professionally or academically. Think professors, research supervisors, employers, or service leaders who can vouch for your maturity, leadership, reliability, and critical thinking.

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The school does not prefer or require a committee letter, so you’re better off submitting strong individual letters through AMCAS (or AMP, if you're in the Phoenix Pathway Scholars Program).

The Interview

The University of Arizona College of Medicine uses the Multiple Mini Interview (MMI) format at both its Tucson and Phoenix campuses.

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Applicants rotate through a series of short, timed interview stations, each designed to assess key attributes like communication, ethical reasoning, empathy, and critical thinking. You’ll typically get two minutes to read the prompt outside the room and about seven minutes inside with an interviewer. Expect around five to six stations total, taking roughly an hour.

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While the structure is similar, the tone and emphasis of the stations can differ slightly between campuses. Tucson tends to highlight regional healthcare challenges more explicitly—rural access, tribal health, immigrant care, and Arizona’s Medicaid program (AHCCCS). Phoenix leans into system-based thinking, teamwork, and leadership, with scenarios that sometimes reflect its urban setting and growing research initiatives.

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The interview is part of a larger visit day. Beyond the stations themselves, you’ll have opportunities to meet current students, attend presentations, and get a feel for campus culture. These interactions also contribute to how the AdCom assesses your fit.

Is UACM Medical School Right For You?

Every med school has its own flavor. And the University of Arizona has two campuses. Figuring out if either one is a good fit depends on which kind of future doctor you want to become.

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University of Arizona College of Medicine – Tucson is a good fit if…

• You want to see real patients early, not just practice OSCEs on actors. Tucson gets you in the hospital fast at Banner University Medical Center, a Level 1 trauma center.
• You care about research, but the kind that actually helps patients. Think cancer, heart, brain, and underserved population studies. Not just pipetting for a line on your CV.
• If you’re drawn to serving communities that are often overlooked, the C.U.P. Clinic gives you that chance. This school is serious about community medicine.
• You’re the kind of student who sees integrative medicine not as fluff, but as another tool in your doctor bag. They’ve got one of the best centers for it.
• You want a big public school feel with the freedom to build your own path through MD/MPH or MD/PhD options, if you’re willing to put in the work.

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Tucson may not be a good fit if…

• You’re looking for big-city life or name-brand hospitals. Tucson is solid, but not flashy.
• You want hardcore surgical exposure or an international health track. This isn’t where this school shines.
• You’re chasing letter grades to push your class rank. The first two years are Pass/Fail. No flexing your 98% biochem final here.
• You care more about research prestige than boots-on-the-ground community impact.

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University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix is a good fit if…

• You want to train in a legit urban clinical environment with rotations at Mayo Clinic, Phoenix Children’s, VA, and Banner.
• You’re about early clinical exposure and staying with the same patients over time. Phoenix gets you there fast with cohort-based learning and patient continuity.
• You’re building your identity as a servant-leader, not just a stat-maximizing premed. That’s their whole brand.
• You want to build your own thing, whether it’s rural health, primary care, sports med, or research that fits your “why medicine” story.
• You like structure and innovation. Phoenix has both with room for you to carve your path.

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Phoenix may not be a good fit if…

• You want an old, name-recognized school. This campus is newer and still growing its rep.
• You’re banking on a pure research powerhouse. It’s more clinically focused.
• You want numbers and rankings and class stratification, but like Tucson, the first two years are Pass/Fail.
• You prefer a small class size or boutique med school feel. This place is expanding fast.

Other Medical Schools in Arizona

If you're looking at the University of Arizona College of Medicine, but you're not 100% sure it’s the right fit, good. That means you’re thinking strategically. Maybe you're unsure about the curriculum style, the location, or the culture. That’s normal. The key is not putting all your hope into one school. Arizona actually has other great options that might align better with your goals, your values, or even your learning style.

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Browse guides we made on other medical schools in Arizona to help you determine your best fit.

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Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine

Don’t Apply Blind. See Real AMCAS That Earned Acceptances.

You already know how much rides on your med school application. But you’re likely still wondering: Am I actually competitive? The truth is, stats alone won’t give you the full picture. The personal statement, your activities section, the way your story comes together—it all matters. And it’s exactly where most premeds go wrong.

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But you don’t have to guess.

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We put together a free resource that gives you access to 8 real AMCAS applications that earned acceptances to top medical schools like UCLA and UCSF. These aren’t cherry-picked unicorn apps. They’re real, successful submissions from students who made it through the same process you’re facing now.

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Use them to reverse-engineer your application strategy.

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