5 Best medical schools in California
California is renowned for having some of the top schools in the United States, particularly in the field of healthcare.
This article aims to provide you with essential information about the best medical schools in California. With a plethora of medical schools and extensive research institutions scattered throughout the state, California’s medical schools are highly competitive and offer diverse experiences to students. Let’s get started.
Here are the 5 best medical schools in California for your consideration.
Best medical schools in California
University of California San Francisco
The UCSF School of Medicine, located on the Parnassus Heights campus in San Francisco, California, is the medical school of the University of California, San Francisco. Founded in 1864 by Hugh Toland, it is among the oldest medical schools in California and the western United States.
The school is affiliated with the UCSF Medical Center, which was ranked as the 12th best hospital in the United States and the 3rd best hospital in California (behind Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and UCLA Medical Center) by the 2022-23 U.S. News & World Report. Since 1873, UCSF faculty have treated patients and trained residents at the San Francisco General Hospital, and for over 50 years at the San Francisco VA Medical Center.
David Geffen School of Medicine
The David Geffen School of Medicine, formerly known as the University of California, Los Angeles School of Medicine, is a recognized medical school situated in Los Angeles, California, in the United States. The school was renamed in 2001 to honor David Geffen, a media magnate who made a $200 million unrestricted donation. It was founded in 1951 and is the second medical school in the UC system, following the UCSF School of Medicine.
The David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA emphasizes lifelong learning for its medical students. The medical school curriculum is divided into three phases: Human Biology and Disease, Core Clinical Clerkship, and 4th Year Colleges. Additionally, medical students have the option to obtain a combined degree, such as an M.D./Ph.D. through the Medical Scientist Training Program, an M.D./M.B.A. with the UCLA Anderson School of Management, or an M.D.-Oral Surgery Residency.
Keck School of Medicine of USC
The Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California educates and prepares physicians, biomedical scientists, and other healthcare professionals, conducts medical research, and provides patient care. It was established in 1885, making it the second oldest medical school in California after the UCSF School of Medicine.
The school is located on the health sciences campus of the university in northeastern Los Angeles, adjacent to the Boyle Heights and Lincoln Heights neighborhoods. For the physician class of 2024, the average GPA was 3.8, and the average MCAT.
UC Davis School of Medicine
The University of California Davis School of Medicine is the medical school of the University of California, Davis, located in Sacramento, California, despite the parent institution’s proximity to Davis, California.
The medical curriculum at the UC Davis School of Medicine is designed to prepare students for any specialty, emphasizing the mastery of seven primary competencies, such as patient care and system-based practice. The School of Medicine features a Clinical Education and Assessment Center, which provides hands-on training with “patients” played by trained actors, and is affiliated with UC Davis Medical Center.
Furthermore, the UC Davis School of Medicine offers various dual degree programs, such as M.D./Ph.D., M.D./M.P.H. (Master of Public Health), and M.D./M.B.A. Additionally, two specialized medical programs, Rural-PRIME, for students preparing to work in California’s rural communities, and UC Merced San Joaquin Valley – PRIME, for students intending to serve underserved residents in San Joaquin Valley, are also available.
UCSF School of Medicine
The UCSF School of Medicine, located on the Parnassus Heights campus in San Francisco, California, is the medical school of the University of California and is regarded as one of the best medical schools in California. Founded in 1864 by Hugh Toland, it is one of the oldest medical schools in California and the western United States.
The school is affiliated with the UCSF Medical Center, which was ranked the 12th best hospital in the United States and the 3rd best hospital in California (after Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and UCLA Medical Center, both located in Los Angeles) by the 2022-23 U.S. News & World Report. The faculty of UCSF have provided care for patients and trained residents at the San Francisco General Hospital since 1873 and at the San Francisco VA Medical Center for over 50 years.