Learn how California’s top colleges prepare their students for medical school plus unique aspects of each school, and admissions strategies to help you get in
The best premed schools in California offer students pre-health advising support and a wide variety of opportunities to gain research and clinical experience
What You'll Learn
Top California Pre-Med Colleges
Which California universities and liberal arts colleges offer the strongest pre-med preparation, and how they compare on selectivity and medical school outcomes.
Choosing the Best UC for Pre-Med
Why UCLA leads the UC system for most pre-meds, and how UC Santa Barbara, Berkeley, San Diego, Davis, and Irvine fit different goals.
Public, Private, and Cal State Options
How class sizes, curved grading, advising, and committee letters differ across private colleges, UC campuses, and Cal State schools.
Med School Pathways and Residency
How BS/MD programs, state residency, and on-campus medical schools shape your child's path to a California medical school.
Costs and Financial Aid
How tuition, cost of attendance, cost of living, and financial aid vary across California's public and private colleges and regions.
Getting Into a Top Pre-Med College
How your child can stand out by showing science aptitude, research and clinical exposure, fit with each school, and a strong work ethic.
Introduction to pre-med schools in California
What are the best pre-med schools in California?
The best pre-med colleges in California, ranked
Which UC is best for pre-med?
Are Cal State (CSU) schools good for pre-med?
Public vs. private: which California schools are better for pre-med?
California BS/MD, early assurance, and combined-degree programs
Does going to college in California help you get into a California medical school?
Which California universities have medical schools?
How much does a California pre-med education cost?
How to get into a top California pre-med college
How California pre-med schools compare nationally
Frequently asked questions about California pre-med schools
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Introduction to pre-med schools in California
If your child dreams of eventually attending medical school, choosing which colleges to apply to first can be particularly stressful.
In addition to searching for a school that’s a great fit with regard to academics and extracurricular activities, your future premed will already be planning for their professional future and looking to see which schools offer the best support and resources along the way. You might also be considering how much to save or spend on an undergraduate institution while putting aside enough for the expensive process of applying to medical school later on, not to mention the cost of medical school tuition.
Moreover, with medical school admissions becoming increasingly competitive, your child may feel pressure to choose an undergraduate institution that will give them the best chances of a med school acceptance down the line. If your child has their heart set on attending college in California, it can be challenging to determine which of the state’s hundreds of four-year colleges will deliver the best premed education for your child.
The goals of this guide are to give you a sense of which schools your premed child should consider and to offer some strategies for getting your child into their dream program—whether that’s in California or somewhere else.
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What are the best pre-med schools in California?
California premed schools at a glance (comparison table)
| School | Type | U.S. News Rank | Undergrad Acceptance Rate | Med School Applicants (AAMC 2025–2026) | Med School Acceptance Rate | Committee Letter |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stanford | Private | 5 (tie) | 4% | 228 | Not published | No |
| UCLA | Public (UC) | 20 (tie) | 9% | 1,272 | 51.3% (2019, most recent reported) | No |
| UC Berkeley | Public (UC) | 20 (tie) | 11% | 689 | 30.8% (Class of 2026) | No |
| USC | Private | 27 (tie) | 11% | 338 | Above the national average | No |
| Pepperdine | Private | 80 (tie) | 69% | <50 | 70–80% | Yes |
| Caltech | Private | 5 (tie) | 4% | <50 | Not published | No |
| Pomona | Private | 3 (tie) (liberal arts) | 7% | 50 | 85% (2025) | Letter packet* |
| UC Santa Barbara | Public (UC) | 44 (tie) | 38% | 258 | 52.2% (2026) | No |
| UCSD | Public (UC) | 29 (tie) | 29% | 739 | 39% (2023, most recent reported) | No |
| UC Davis | Public (UC) | 34 (tie) | 44% | 495 | Not published | No |
| UC Irvine | Public (UC) | 34 (tie) | 29% | 461 | Not published | No |
How we ranked California’s pre-med colleges
While compiling this list, we took several factors into account:
Overall U.S. News and World Report ranking: Despite well-documented issues with these rankings, high-ranked schools continue to be viewed as elite by medical school admissions committees and may increase your child’s odds of getting into a great program.
Availability of medical career advising, faculty support, and peer community: Because there is plenty of misinformation online and elsewhere about what it takes to get into medical school, having access to supportive faculty, advisors, and peers can help reduce some of the associated stress.
Availability of research opportunities, fellowships, and medical career experience: Your child will have to accumulate significant hours shadowing physicians, providing patient care, performing community service and volunteering, and conducting research. Some colleges offer a wealth of such opportunities, while others offer fewer.
Medical school acceptance rates: After years of hard work, your child will be disappointed if they don’t get into med school. This factor accounts for school prestige and institutional support.
Number of medical school applicants: Students at certain colleges and universities apply to medical school in much larger numbers than students at other schools. While overall student body size certainly plays a role in determining these numbers—a large research university will likely have many more applicants than a small liberal arts college—high numbers of applicants also point to a well-established premed program.
Key takeaways:
All the schools listed below provide students with career advising and have one or more designated pre-health or premed advisors. Some schools may also employ staff who coordinate premed experiences such as shadowing and research.
That said, large UC schools like Berkeley and UCLA, while prestigious, have more students to support and thus may not be the best fit for students seeking individualized attention. Smaller, private institutions like Pomona, Caltech, and Pepperdine boast higher faculty-to-student ratios for advising, not to mention in the classroom.
Many California colleges and universities, such as Stanford and UCLA have close associations with major medical centers and highly ranked medical schools. This is especially true of schools in the Bay Area and in or near Los Angeles. These affiliations provide excellent opportunities for premed students to gain clinical experience, an important medical school requirement.
All the colleges below provide students with opportunities to get involved with faculty research. Some schools, like UC San Diego, Pomona, and Caltech, also offer competitive summer research programs. However, keep in mind that there will be higher levels of competition for lab spots at big universities with tens of thousands of undergraduates, such as the UC schools and USC.
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The best pre-med colleges in California, ranked
Below are our picks for the best premed colleges in California.
When reviewing the data, keep the following in mind:
Of 54,699 applicants to MD-granting medical schools during the 2025-2026 cycle, 23,440 of these applicants matriculated. With 24,300 total acceptances, this means that 44.4% of applicants were accepted into at least one MD-granting medical school.
“Number of medical school applicants” refers to the number of students and alums who applied to medical school during the 2025-2026 cycle. “Medical school acceptance rate,” below, refers to the acceptance rate of students from each of the undergraduate institutions into at least one MD-granting medical school (for these rates we cite the most recent available data).
Stanford University
U.S. News and World Report Rank (National Universities): 5 (tie)
Location: Palo Alto, CA
Undergraduate acceptance rate: 4%
Number of medical school applicants: 228
Medical school acceptance rate: Not published
Shadowing/Volunteering and/or Research: The Stanford Immersion in Medicine Series (SIMS) offers students access to one-of-a-kind shadowing opportunities. This program is open to students starting in their sophomore year who are in good academic standing.
Volunteering while at Stanford comes with an array of options to suit any student’s taste. If your child is artistically inclined, Healing Strokes is a nearby charity providing art therapy for stroke patients. If the science of the brain fascinates them, the Family Caregiver Alliance will have them working with patients suffering from neurological issues.
Societies and Organizations: While joining a society looks good on a medical school application, joining a student organization that showcases your child’s interests outside of medicine is good, too. Stanford has many student organizations for almost any interest, such as Anime in the Arts and Engineering Students for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.
Location: Stanford students are surrounded by inspiration and culture with a number of artistic destinations nearby. The Rodin Sculpture Garden and the Papua New Guinea Sculpture Garden are easy to get to as well as the Anderson Collection and the Hannah Honeycomb House—an example of Frank Lloyd Wright’s brilliant architecture.
(Suggested reading: How to Get Into Stanford and How to Succeed as a Stanford Premed)
University of California–Los Angeles*
U.S. News and World Report Rank (National Universities): 20 (tie)
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Undergraduate acceptance rate: 9%
Number of medical school applicants: 1,272
Medical school acceptance rate: 51.3% in 2019 (most recent reported)
Shadowing/Volunteering and/or Research: UCLA offers an array of programs to help premed students in their efforts to gain medicine-related experience from Summer Programs for Undergraduate Research (SPUR) to Pre-Medical Undergraduate Learning through Shadowing Experience (PULSE). The Pre-Medical Enrichment Program (PREP) also offers support for students who have faced economic, social or educational disadvantages.
Societies and Organizations: UCLA’s societies and student organizations offer many options for cultural and scientific enrichment. The Cicadas Chinese Calligraphy Club, for example, is a great way for students to broaden their horizons while learning a new artistic skill, while Bruin Assistance for All (BAFA) gives students a chance to showcase their humanity by helping the homeless in LA.
Location: UCLA’s location in the heart of Los Angeles, with accessibility to countless natural and cultural attractions, certainly has its advantages. Students can take in a show at the Geffen Playhouse, find inspiration at the Hammer Museum, or relieve stress with a trip to Venice Beach.
(Suggested reading: How to Get Into UCLA and How to Succeed as a UCLA Premed)
University of California–Berkeley*
U.S. News and World Report Rank (National Universities): 20 (tie)
Location: Berkeley, CA
Undergraduate acceptance rate: 11%
Number of medical school applicants: 689
Medical school acceptance rate: 30.8% for class of 2026
Shadowing/Volunteering and/or Research: No fewer than 35 Nobel prize winners are Berkeley alumni, bolstering its research credentials. UC Berkeley’s Office of Undergraduate Research and Scholarships (OURS) provides students with excellent access to experiential learning opportunities. A few of these opportunities include the Undergraduate Research Apprenticeship Program and Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowships. If your child is keen to follow a research path, such as enrolling in an MD/PhD program, UC Berkeley is a fantastic choice.
Societies and Organizations: UC Berkeley has a vast number of student organizations, some at the cutting edge of medicine. The AI in Medicine Club aims to link advancements in computing and data science with advancements in the biological sciences.
Students can even explore an exciting new hobby, such as skydiving, by joining the Air Bears Skydiving Club.
Location: Living in Berkeley will give your child the chance to try out a number of unique activities without traveling too far. Grizzly Peak is an amazing spot for views of the Bay area, and Berkeley Marina provides access to water sports.
(Suggested reading: How to Get into UC Berkeley and How to Succeed as a UC Berkeley Premed)
University of Southern California
U.S. News and World Report Rank (National Universities): 27 (tie)
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Undergraduate acceptance rate: 11%
Number of medical school applicants: 338
Medical school acceptance rate: Not given, but above the national average
Shadowing/Volunteering and/or Research: USC is particularly good for students who want to be engaged in research, as it offers a variety of avenues to get involved. SOAR is a program for academic research while SURF is a summer research program. USC also offers a pre-health shadowing program that will make it easier for your child to attain the shadowing hours necessary to apply to medical school.
Societies and Organizations: EngageSC is the one-stop shop for exploring student organizations and activities on campus. From student government to groups at the Center for Undergraduate Research at the Viterbi School of Engineering (CURVE), there are many options for padding out an extracurricular section on a med school application.
Location: Los Angeles has great weather and an endless array of cultural activities. Students can visit the Getty Center for artistic inspiration or the Griffith Observatory to explore the universe.
(Suggested reading: How to Get Into USC)
Pepperdine University
U.S. News and World Report Rank (National Universities): 80 (tie)
Location: Malibu, CA
Undergraduate acceptance rate: 69%
Number of medical school applicants: below 50 (Pepperdine notes about 20 to 30 students apply each year.)
Medical school acceptance rate: 70–80%
Shadowing/Volunteering and/or Research: Assisting disabled adults, teaching English or working as an EMT are all possible volunteer paths at Pepperdine. Pepperdine also has a cross-disciplinary/interdisciplinary undergraduate research program that allows students to collaborate in research across various fields of study.
Societies and Organizations: Pepperdine’s wide range of campus groups will allow your child many opportunities to tick off the “well-rounded” aspect on their medical school applications. From the Chemistry Club to the Pre-Medicine Club, there are many ways for your child to build a strong extracurricular resume at Pepperdine.
Location: Malibu’s relaxed vibe offers something for everyone, from the beach to the mountains. If your child enjoys hiking, there are plenty of places to explore.
California Institute of Technology (Caltech)
U.S. News and World Report Rank (National Universities): 5 (tie)
Location: Pasadena, CA
Undergraduate acceptance rate: 4%
Number of medical school applicants: below 50
Medical school acceptance rates: Not published
Shadowing/Volunteering and/or Research: Caltech is famous for its research and there is no shortage of programs for undergraduates. Caltech also has a summer research program. And if your child is thinking of becoming an engineering major, they host an exciting summer research program with mentors from NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory.
Societies and Organizations: There are scores of clubs for students to join at Caltech. Some notable ones include Caltech NeuroSculpt, the Caltech Biotechnology Club, and the Caltech Premed Club.
Location: Stimulating activities abound in Pasadena and around Caltech. The Natural History Museum of LA County, the La Brea Tar Pits, and a variety of art museums are all worth a visit.
(Suggested reading: How to Get Into Caltech)
Pomona College
US News and World Report Rank (National Liberal Arts Colleges): 3 (tie)
Location: Claremont, CA
Undergraduate acceptance rate: 7%
Number of medical school applicants: 50
Medical school acceptance rate: 85% in 2025
Shadowing/Volunteering and/or Research: Pomona doesn’t list much in the way of shadowing on its website, but there are a number of hospitals in the area with shadowing programs for premeds. The Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center, for example, has a volunteer program for college students. Since it’s a liberal arts school, you might assume that Pomona primarily focuses their research on the humanities. This is not the case, however, as Pomona students have the opportunity to conduct significant scientific research. This is evidenced by two recent summer research projects in molecular biology and neuroscience.
Societies and Organizations: Like most schools, there are loads of interesting student organizations at Pomona. They also have organizations that are directly related to premed students, such as Pomona Prehealth Liaisons.
Location: While the city of Claremont is close to Los Angeles, it also boasts many of its own attractions. The California Botanic Garden offers students a chance to immerse themselves in the beautiful plant life of the state and the Bridges Hall of Music provides (usually) free concerts from artists spanning a range of styles.
(Note: If your child is interested in Pomona, other liberal arts colleges in California that they may want to consider include Harvey Mudd, Scripps, and Occidental.)
University of California–Santa Barbara*
U.S. News and World Report Rank (National Universities): 44 (tie)
Location: Santa Barbara, CA
Undergraduate acceptance rate: 38%
Number of medical school applicants: 258
Medical school acceptance rate: 52.2% in 2026
Shadowing/Volunteering and Research: At UC Santa Barbara, students can engage in clinical and volunteering activities while a premed. Student Scribes is a non-profit organization that helps undergraduates scribe for physicians in the Santa Barbara area. The Teddy Bear Cancer Foundation also accepts volunteers who are interested in helping with financial, educational and emotional assistance to families that have a child with cancer.
For UCSB students that are interested in getting a head start, the Summer Scholars Program at Ventura County Medical Center is an 8-week program for prospective students that involves working with faculty to produce a clinical research project.
Societies and Organizations: UC Santa Barbara has premed specific student organizations such as AMSA and the Pre-Medical Society.
Location: Around campus, students can find many cultural activities to enliven their time at UCSB. The Museum of Contemporary Art Santa Barbara is nearby, as well as the Santa Barbara Maritime Museum.
University of California–San Diego*
U.S. News and World Report Rank (National Universities): 29 (tie)
Location: San Diego, CA
Undergraduate acceptance rate: 29%
Number of medical school applicants: 739
Medical school acceptance rate: 39% in 2023 (most recent reported)
Shadowing/Volunteering and Research: UC San Diego is known for its research and, as such, has a huge undergraduate research portal. With a faculty mentor program, EMPOWER for engineering students and STARTneuro for those interested in neuroscience, the chances to do something fascinating are endless.
There are also a number of hospitals and clinics in San Diego that are willing to take on volunteers for shadowing. Here is a list provided by UCSD.
Societies and Organizations: UCSD also has a variety of student organizations that may be of interest to premeds, such as the American Medical Student Association and Engineering World Health.
Location: It’s important to occasionally take time away from your studies to relax and let your mind wander. Around San Diego your child will be surrounded by stunning natural beauty and can visit places such as the magnificent Balboa Park.
(Suggested reading: How to Get Into UCSD and How to Succeed as a UCSD Premed)
University of California–Davis*
U.S. News and World Report Rank (National Universities): 34 (tie)
Location: Davis, CA
Undergraduate acceptance rate: 44%
Number of medical school applicants: 495
Medical school acceptance rate: Not published
Shadowing/Volunteering and Research: UC Davis is a particularly good fit for students who want hands-on clinical experience as undergraduates. The UC Davis School of Medicine supports a network of student-run clinics serving underserved communities in the Sacramento area, and many accept undergraduate volunteers who work alongside medical students. Pre-meds can also find volunteer and shadowing opportunities at UC Davis Medical Center in nearby Sacramento.
For students interested in research, the Undergraduate Research Center connects undergraduates with faculty mentors across the sciences, and its programs give students a chance to present their work. Given UC Davis’s strength in the biological, agricultural, and veterinary sciences, your child can explore research areas that few other premed schools offer.
Societies and Organizations: UC Davis is home to the UC Davis Pre-Health Conference, one of the largest student-run pre-health conferences in the country. It brings together thousands of students, admissions officers, and health professionals each year. Beyond premed-specific groups, students can join hundreds of organizations, from cultural clubs to the volunteers who help run Picnic Day, the university’s beloved annual open house.
Location: Davis is a classic college town known for its bike-friendly streets, and students can easily get around campus and town without a car. The UC Davis Arboretum and Public Garden offers a peaceful escape from studying. Sacramento, about 20 minutes away, provides big-city amenities along with additional clinical opportunities.
University of California–Irvine*
U.S. News and World Report Rank (National Universities): 34 (tie)
Location: Irvine, CA
Undergraduate acceptance rate: 29%
Number of medical school applicants: 461
Medical school acceptance rate: Not published
Shadowing/Volunteering and Research: UC Irvine offers premeds strong access to clinical experience through UCI Health, the university’s academic health system, and its medical center in nearby Orange. Students can also volunteer at other hospitals across Orange County, including Children’s Hospital of Orange County (CHOC).
UCI’s Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP) helps students find faculty mentors, apply for research funding, and present their work at an annual research symposium. Students who want an immersive experience can apply to the Summer Undergraduate Research Program (SURP).
Societies and Organizations: UCI has a wide range of health-focused student organizations, from chapters of national groups like AMSA to service organizations that run free clinics and health outreach events. Students can also round out their med school applications by joining any of UCI’s hundreds of other clubs, whether their interests lie in the arts, athletics, or community service.
Location: UC Irvine’s campus is centered around Aldrich Park, a large green space that’s ideal for a study break. Just a short drive away, the beaches of Newport and Laguna offer surfing and sunshine, and Crystal Cove State Park has miles of coastal hiking trails.
Note: * Denotes public universities.
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Which UC is best for pre-med?
UCLA is the best UC school for most pre-med students. It sends more applicants to medical school than any other UC (1,272 in the 2025–2026 cycle) and reported a 51.3% medical school acceptance rate, above the 44.4% national average. UC Santa Barbara is a strong, more accessible alternative, with a 52.2% acceptance rate in 2026.
UCLA’s advantage is scale. A large pre-med community, an on-campus medical school, and structured programs like PULSE (shadowing) and SPUR (summer research) make it easier to build a competitive application without leaving campus. The caveat is that its acceptance rate dates to 2019, the most recent year UCLA reported.
UC Santa Barbara has the highest recently published medical school acceptance rate among the UCs, and at 38% it is far easier to get into than UCLA (9%) or UC Berkeley (11%). For students who want UC-level preparation without single-digit admissions odds, UCSB is one of the best values in the system. Keep in mind that UCSB has no affiliated medical school, so students rely more on off-campus programs for clinical experience.
UC Berkeley is the best fit for research-focused students, especially those considering MD/PhD programs, but its pre-med path is demanding. Berkeley’s 30.8% acceptance rate for the Class of 2026 falls below the national average, which reflects curved science courses and intense peer competition more than a lack of opportunity.
UC San Diego, UC Davis, and UC Irvine each pair a large research university with an affiliated medical school, which gives students natural routes to research and clinical experience. UCSD sends the second-most medical school applicants of any UC (739, behind only UCLA), and its 39% acceptance rate (2023) sits below the national average. UC Davis (44% admit rate) and UC Irvine (29%) are less selective than the top-ranked UCs while still sending hundreds of applicants to medical school each year: 495 and 461, respectively.
Ultimately, the best UC for pre-med is the one where your child can earn a high GPA and stand out. Medical schools weigh GPA, MCAT scores, and experiences far more heavily than which UC appears on a transcript.
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Are Cal State (CSU) schools good for pre-med?
Yes, a Cal State school can be a strong choice for pre-med, especially for students who want lower tuition and smaller science classes. Medical schools care far more about GPA, MCAT scores, and clinical and research experience than about whether an applicant attended a CSU or a UC, and many CSU graduates go on to earn MD and DO degrees.
The CSU system’s biggest advantages for pre-meds are cost and access. In-state tuition is substantially lower than at the UCs, which leaves more room in the budget for the expensive medical school application process. Introductory science courses are often smaller and taught by faculty rather than graduate students, and less competitive grading environments can make it easier to earn the high GPA medical schools expect.
The tradeoff is research. CSUs are primarily teaching-focused institutions, so research labs and funded summer programs are less plentiful than at a UC, and students need to seek them out early. Pre-health advising also varies widely across the 22 campuses: some offer dedicated advisors and committee letters, while others provide more limited support. Your child should ask each campus about advising, committee letters, and research access before deciding.
Among the CSUs, San Diego State, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, Cal State Long Beach, and Cal State Fullerton are popular with pre-meds. They combine large science departments and active pre-health communities with access to hospitals and clinics for shadowing and volunteering. As with the UCs, the best CSU for pre-med is the one where your child can excel academically and build meaningful experiences in medicine.
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Public vs. private: which California schools are better for pre-med?
Neither is better across the board. Private colleges generally offer more individualized support, while public universities offer scale and value. California’s smaller private schools tend to report the highest medical school acceptance rates on our list: 85% at Pomona and 70–80% at Pepperdine. They also offer smaller classes, closer advising, and, in Pepperdine’s case, a full committee letter. The UC schools, by contrast, send far more students to medical school, offer extensive research and clinical opportunities, and cost much less for in-state students. They do, however, curve many science courses and leave students to navigate a large pre-med population with less hands-on guidance. One caveat to keep in mind is that private schools’ high acceptance rates partly reflect their small applicant pools (Pomona had 50 applicants; Pepperdine has about 20–30 per year). The right choice depends on whether your child will thrive with more structure and attention or with more opportunity and independence.
Do UC schools “weed out” pre-med students?
Yes, many schools (like those in the UC system) grade their science classes on a curve, while others (like Pepperdine) don’t. Moreover, schools vary with regard to class sizes, which may impact the level of attention and support your child receives.
While the highest-achieving students at each school will enjoy the greatest odds of getting into med school, it’s important to consider how competitive each school is. Keep in mind a high GPA at a higher-ranked school will look more impressive than the same GPA at a lower-ranked school.
For instance, it’s well known that Caltech is one of the toughest schools in the country, grading-wise. For some premeds, this can present challenges when applying to med school. On the flip side, an excellent GPA from Caltech will be viewed very favorably by medical school admissions committees.
Which California pre-med schools offer committee letters?
When choosing among the best premed schools in California, many students look for strong advising and the availability of a committee letter. This letter, written by a school’s prehealth committee, is their endorsement of your readiness for medical school. Typically, public schools don’t provide them (leaving out the UCs), but not all private universities in California offer them either, and the details can vary quite a bit.
With all of its many resources, you may think Stanford University would provide a committee letter for its med school-bound students. Instead, students submit individual recommendation letters directly through application services like AMCAS. Even without a formal committee process, Stanford’s academic rigor, world-class research programs, and strong pre-health advising should give you a solid foundation to stand out among applicants from schools with good premed programs.
At Pomona College, students have long benefited from the school’s close-knit academic environment and personalized advising. In the past, Pomona offered a traditional committee letter, but starting in the 2025-2026 academic year, it provides a letter packet instead. This means Pomona College pre-health advising compiles your individual recommendation letters and sends them to medical schools on your behalf, but it no longer includes a written evaluation from the committee. While it’s not quite the same as a committee letter, Pomona’s emphasis on mentorship still makes it one of the best premed colleges in California for students who want individual attention throughout the application process.
Pepperdine University remains one of the few private schools in California that still offers a full committee letter. To receive one, students must request it by April 15 and meet a few key requirements. By that time, they need to have completed at least 75% of their prerequisite science courses and have achieved a strong GPA. For MD applicants, that means a minimum 3.65 science GPA and a 3.4 overall GPA. DO applicants need at least a 3.25 science GPA.
Pepperdine also expects students to engage with the advising office by attending workshops, meeting with advisors, or taking a pre-health course. Even alumni can request a committee letter, as long as they graduated within the last five years. It’s one of the best premed schools in California for those who want a committee letter for med school along with strong application support.
Keep in mind that applying to med school without a committee letter isn’t necessarily a detriment to your admission chances. However, if your school offers one, you should certainly obtain one, since you may have to explain to med schools why you chose not to submit it with your application.
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California BS/MD, early assurance, and combined-degree programs
California has very few BS/MD or early assurance programs, so most California pre-meds follow the traditional path of applying to medical school during or after college. Students who want guaranteed admission to medical school straight out of high school will usually need to look at BS/MD programs in other states.
The main in-state exception is UC Riverside’s Thomas Haider Program, which reserves seats at the UC Riverside School of Medicine for qualifying UCR undergraduates who meet GPA, MCAT, and experience requirements. It’s especially well suited to students committed to practicing medicine in Inland Southern California.
Other California pathways come later in a student’s training. The UC Berkeley–UCSF Joint Medical Program lets medical students earn a master’s degree at Berkeley before completing their MD at UCSF. Several UC medical schools offer PRIME programs, which are specialized MD tracks focused on underserved communities. Schools such as Stanford, UCLA, UCSF, and UC San Diego offer MD/PhD programs for students pursuing physician-scientist careers. Students apply to all of these through the regular medical school application process rather than as high school seniors, so the right undergraduate preparation still matters.
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Does going to college in California help you get into a California medical school?
Not directly. Public medical schools in California give preference based on state residency, not on where an applicant went to college. A California resident who attends college out of state receives the same residency consideration as one who stays in-state. An out-of-state student who attends a California college generally doesn’t become a California resident for medical school admissions just by studying here.
That said, attending college in California can help indirectly. Shadowing, volunteering, and research at California hospitals and clinics can lead to strong letters of recommendation from local physicians. These experiences can also demonstrate a commitment to serving California communities, which many of the state’s medical schools value, especially programs focused on underserved populations.
Even with residency on their side, California applicants face steep competition. The state produces far more medical school applicants than its medical schools can admit, so many California residents ultimately attend medical school elsewhere. When your child applies, they should target a mix of California and out-of-state medical schools to maximize their chances of admission.
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Which California universities have medical schools?
Six of the schools on our list have their own medical schools: Stanford, UCLA, UC San Diego, USC, UC Davis, and UC Irvine. UC Berkeley doesn’t have a traditional medical school, though it partners with UCSF on the Berkeley–UCSF Joint Medical Program. UC Santa Barbara, Pepperdine, Caltech, and Pomona have no medical schools.
Attending a university with a medical school can make it easier to find nearby research and clinical opportunities. It doesn’t give undergraduates an admissions advantage at that medical school, though, so your child should choose a college based on fit, not on its medical school.
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How much does a California pre-med education cost?
These days, attending university—to say nothing of medical school—is increasingly expensive. For the best premed schools in California, you’ll want to get the best education possible for the lowest cost.
However, there are many factors to consider aside from just tuition. The schools we’ve mentioned here are located in different cities with different costs of living. Options for transportation and accommodation vary and these can have a significant impact on your overall budget after tuition is fully paid.
In-state vs. out-of-state tuition and cost of attendance
Tuition at California’s best premed schools varies widely depending on whether a school is public or private and, for public schools, whether your child is a California resident.
At the UC schools, in-state students will pay an estimated $18,178 in tuition and fees in the 2027–2028 academic year. Out-of-state students pay an additional nonresident supplemental tuition that brings their estimated total to $59,200. Once housing, food, books, and other expenses are included, the total cost of attendance is estimated to be $49,078 per year for California residents and $90,100 for out-of-state students. The CSUs are even more affordable, with in-state tuition of $6,838 per year for the 2026–2027 academic year.
Private universities like Stanford, USC, Caltech, Pomona, and Pepperdine charge the same tuition regardless of residency. Their total cost of attendance often exceeds $90,000 per year. However, sticker price rarely tells the whole story. Many private colleges offer generous need-based aid, and some meet 100% of demonstrated financial need, which can make them cheaper than a UC for some families. California residents from lower- and middle-income families may also qualify for Cal Grants or the UC Blue and Gold Opportunity Plan, which covers systemwide tuition and fees for eligible students.
Because the medical school application process and medical school tuition will add significant costs later, it’s worth running each school’s net price calculator to compare what your family would actually pay.
Cost of living in the Los Angeles area
Within greater Los Angeles, you’ll find several of the best premed schools in the state, including UCLA, USC, Caltech in Pasadena, Pepperdine University in Malibu, and Pomona College in Claremont. Being a major city, the cost of living in LA is expected to be higher than in other places. If your child rents an apartment off campus after their first year, that could run around $2500 per month for a one bedroom, but this will vary by the location. Each of the areas where these schools are located has a similar overall cost of living, but your child may be able to lower the cost of rent by living with roommates.
Furthermore, LA is known as a driving city, so the farther they live from campus, the more likely they are to need a car, which means adding the car, insurance, taxes, and parking to the cost of an education. However, several schools with good premed programs in LA are well-connected by the LA Metro lines and buses, and some campuses even offer discounted student transit passes. Checking out each school’s transportation options can help reduce costs and simplify daily life.
Cost of living in the Bay Area
Northern California is another major hub for aspiring doctors, featuring Stanford University and UC Berkeley, two of the best medical schools in California and among the most prestigious premed colleges overall. San Francisco and its surrounding cities are known for high rents, so your child will probably have to pay a pretty penny to live off-campus near the university here. In fact, rents here tend to be higher than in LA.
However, the areas around Stanford and UC Berkeley are more walkable than in LA, and with the BART system, you could save on costs by taking public transportation. There are low-cost transportation options for students here similar to the ones you’ll find in LA. Bicycles are also a popular option, not to mention good for your health!
Other costs such as food, entertainment, and utilities tend to be relatively similar in both cities but if you’re from outside of California, this could present an initial shock. If you can, it’s a good idea to visit the campus and get a feel for the area before attending. That way, you’ll avoid any enormous surprises along the way. With so much to pay for, the California premed school you ultimately choose, may come down to the one that offers the best financial aid package.
Cost of living in San Diego, Santa Barbara, and Davis
Outside of Los Angeles and the Bay Area, several more of California’s best premed schools are located in smaller cities with their own cost considerations.
San Diego, home to UC San Diego, has a cost of living similar to Los Angeles. A one-bedroom apartment near campus in La Jolla can run roughly $2,500 to $3,000 per month, though rents drop in neighborhoods farther from the coast. Fortunately, UCSD students don’t necessarily need a car. The UC San Diego Blue Line trolley connects campus to much of the city, and the university offers students discounted transit access.
Santa Barbara is one of the most expensive housing markets in the state for its size. Most UC Santa Barbara students live in Isla Vista, the college neighborhood next to campus, where housing is in high demand and shared apartments are the norm. Your child should expect rents comparable to San Diego or higher. On the plus side, Isla Vista is compact and bike-friendly, and local buses make it easy to get around without a car.
Davis is the most affordable of the three. Rents are noticeably lower than in coastal cities, with one-bedroom apartments typically running roughly $2,000 per month. However, the rental market is tight, so it’s a good idea to start searching early. Davis is one of the most bike-friendly cities in the country, and Unitrans, the city’s student-run bus system, makes a car unnecessary for most students.
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How to get into a top California pre-med college
In this section, we’ll focus on a few strategies for increasing your child’s chances of admission. These strategies, of course, hold true for premeds applying to college anywhere, not just in California.
Strategy 1: Demonstrate an interest in and aptitude for math and science, in and out of the classroom
As a premed student, one of your child’s primary focuses will be on math and science courses. Though it’s not required, many premed students choose a science major. Even if your child doesn’t major in the sciences, they’ll likely be doing research or volunteer work to prepare for a medical career. To get ready for science-heavy learning in college, it’s a good idea to demonstrate ability in the sciences in high school. Your child should take science AP classes offered by their school and participate in extracurricular activities like science Olympiad, robotics teams, competing in the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair, or pursuing other clubs, teams or competitions at school.
Strategy 2: Seek out volunteer and research opportunities
Conducting research, shadowing a physician, or volunteering at a hospital look impressive on an application. These activities demonstrate a serious interest in the medical profession. They can also help your child get a sense of what interests them and what they might want to pursue in college. This can help focus your child’s essays, and also help them get specific about which research opportunities at which institutions might appeal to them. Many colleges and universities offer summer programs for high school students, such as the Medical Youth Science Program at Stanford, or the prestigious Research Science Institute at MIT.
Strategy 3: Demonstrate fit by mentioning specific opportunities
Your child should explain why they would be a good fit for each particular school in their “Why us?” college essay. This will mean mentioning specific premed opportunities that the college or university offers. For instance, maybe Stanford appeals to them because they’ve grown up in the shadow of the Bay Area’s innovation centers and hope to join life on the inside. Or maybe Pepperdine’s Summer Research Program in Biology appeals to them because they’ve been wanting to dig deeper into genetics ever since learning about The Human Genome Project in high school.
Your child should also think about ways they’d contribute to the college community as a whole, beyond premed requirements. What are some of your child’s other interests, talents, or extracurricular activities? How will they take advantage of not only the school’s premed opportunities, but also its liberal arts offerings?
For instance, if your child is interested in attending the University of Southern California, maybe they’re excited about the possibility of double-majoring in cinematic arts and biology. Perhaps they are planning to spend the summer interning in a medical television show’s writer’s room. Or perhaps they’d like to pursue global public health alongside their own scientific research and Berkeley’s Integrative Science study abroad program seems like the perfect way to do this.
Target the school’s mission statement
Another fantastic way to demonstrate fit is by reading through the particular school’s mission statement and working aspects of it into your personal statement and/or supplemental essays. UC San Diego’s mission statement, for example, says that they are “transforming California and a diverse global society by educating, by generating and disseminating knowledge and creative works, and by engaging in public service.”
How do your child’s interests, activities and experiences relate to this mission statement? Have they done any volunteering that would fit within the category of ‘public service?’ Have they created anything inspirational or won an award that could show a link to these values?
(Suggested reading: How to Write Great UC Essays (Examples Included))
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Strategy 4: Develop and demonstrate work ethic and study skills
The premed track involves long hours of studying and a lot of multitasking. In their application, it’s a good idea for your child to highlight their dedication to the things they do inside and outside of the classroom. They should show commitment to projects and activities, even if they aren’t necessarily science-related.
Perhaps your child stays late at school rehearsing for plays, spends hours researching debate briefs, or passes weekends laying out the school paper. Maybe they went above and beyond the requirements for a history class presentation the same week they organized their campaign for class president. These things are all worth mentioning. They require discipline and follow-through, displaying the drive necessary to meet the demands of a premed education.
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How California pre-med schools compare nationally
California’s best premed schools hold their own against top programs anywhere in the country. Stanford and Caltech tie for #5 among national universities, Pomona ranks #3 among liberal arts colleges, and UCLA, UC Berkeley, USC, and UC San Diego all rank in the top 30. California’s public universities also send an unusually large number of students to medical school. UCLA alone had 1,272 applicants in the 2025–2026 cycle, placing it as the largest premed pipeline in the nation, according to AAMC data.
If your child is open to attending college outside California, our national ranking compares these schools with top premed programs across the country.
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Frequently asked questions about California pre-med schools
What is the best pre-med school in California?
Stanford University is the best school in California for most pre-med students. It combines elite academics (#5 among national universities) with research and clinical opportunities through Stanford Medicine. That said, the best choice depends on your child’s needs: UCLA offers the state’s largest premed community, while Pomona and Pepperdine report the highest medical school acceptance rates on our list (85% and 70–80%) and offer more individualized advising.
What is the best UC for pre-med?
UCLA is the best UC school for most pre-med students. It sends more applicants to medical school than any other UC (1,272 in the 2025–2026 cycle), has an on-campus medical school, and offers structured shadowing and research programs. UC Santa Barbara is a strong, more accessible alternative, with a 52.2% medical school acceptance rate in 2026 and a 38% undergraduate admit rate.
Is pre-med a major?
No, at most colleges, including every school on our list, pre-med is a track rather than a major. Pre-med students can major in any subject, as long as they complete the prerequisite courses medical schools require, such as biology, general and organic chemistry, physics, and biochemistry. Many pre-meds major in biology or another science, but medical schools also admit humanities and social science majors who complete their prerequisites and perform well on the MCAT.
Does your undergraduate school’s prestige matter for medical school?
Somewhat, but less than many families might assume. Medical schools care most about GPA and MCAT scores, followed by clinical experience, research, extracurriculars, and letters of recommendation. A highly ranked college can help at the margins, since admissions committees recognize the rigor of top programs. However, a strong applicant from a less prestigious school will almost always be more competitive than a weaker applicant from an elite one.
Is it easier to get into medical school from a less competitive college?
Not necessarily. At a less competitive college, it may be easier to earn a high GPA, stand out to professors, and secure research and leadership roles. However, admissions committees consider the rigor of your child’s school, and the MCAT puts all applicants on a level playing field. A 3.8 GPA from a highly ranked school will generally look more impressive than the same GPA from a lower-ranked one. The best choice is a college where your child can be challenged and still thrive.
Are these the only California schools my child should apply to?
Not at all. Our list highlights the California schools with the strongest pre-med programs based on the criteria we outlined earlier, but it isn’t meant to dictate where your child should apply. Many other California colleges can prepare students well for medical school, including the remaining UCs, Cal State campuses like San Diego State and Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, and smaller private colleges like Harvey Mudd, Claremont McKenna, Occidental, and Santa Clara.
Your child’s college list should reflect their GPA, test scores, extracurriculars, academic interests, preferred school size and location, and your family’s financial situation. Note that the UCs and CSUs don’t consider SAT or ACT scores in admissions. Aim for a balanced list of reach, target, and likely schools, and prioritize colleges where your child will be both supported and able to stand out.
Final thoughts
California is full of great undergraduate institutions—public, private, small, and large—that can prepare your child for a career in medicine. As with all college admissions, a competitive application depends on demonstrating fit, preparation, and interest. College admissions committees appreciate sincerity when it comes time to making decisions. So, it will be a good idea to dive deeper into these resources to find the school that is the best fit for your child.
About the Author
Dr. Shirag Shemmassian is the Founder of Shemmassian Academic Consulting and one of the world's foremost experts on college admissions. For over 20 years, he and his team have helped thousands of students get into top programs like Harvard, Stanford, and MIT using his exclusive approach.
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