Medical Schools in Colorado: How to Get In (2024)
/Learn admissions strategies to get into the best Colorado medical schools
there are just two medical schools in colorado
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Part 1: Introduction
Colorado, nicknamed the "Centennial State," is renowned for its majestic Rocky Mountains, and diverse landscapes, from arid deserts to snowy mountains. It’s also home to the highest paved road in North America, the Mount Blue Sky Scenic Byway. With all of this natural beauty, it’s easy to see why so many people are moving there.
Despite the state’s rapidly growing population, there remain only two medical schools in Colorado—one allopathic and one osteopathic.
The University of Colorado School of Medicine is an established medical school with a strong ranking, whereas the Rocky Vista University College of Osteopathic Medicine is a relatively new program (founded in 2006) with the notable distinction of being the first for-profit medical school in the United States.
Whether you are interested in training for an MD near the vibrant downtown area of Denver or attending a DO program whose campus sits in front of a picturesque red rock backdrop, read on to learn more about each Colorado medical school’s admission statistics, requirements, as well as helpful strategies to help you stand out as an applicant.
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Part 2: List of medical schools in Colorado: Rankings & admissions statistics
The two medical schools in Colorado each have their particular strengths and focuses. We’ve compiled the information in the table below to give you a quick visual comparison of each school including their rankings, tuition, and average GPA and MCAT scores among matriculants to help you get an idea of where you might fit in.
The numbers in parentheses indicate the US News and World Report research ranking while the number outside the parentheses indicates the schools ranking within Colorado. This is to help us answer the question, “What is the best med school in Colorado?”
While researching this information, we noticed a few interesting takeaways about the medical schools in Colorado.
According to AAMC Facts data, only 7.1% of all of the University of Colorado School of Medicine’s applications came from within Colorado. The final residential makeup of the class of 2027 had 43.1% of matriculants calling Colorado their home showing a clear preference for residents.
UC SOM is the only Colorado med school that’s ranked.
Rocky Vista University College of Medicine actually has three campuses in Colorado, Utah and Montana.
Rocky Vista University College of Medicine has a minimum science and cumulative GPA requirement of 3.0 but preference is given to candidates with at least a 3.6.
(Note: We strongly advise you to sign up for MSAR for the most up-to-date and comprehensive data on individual MD programs and to sign up for Choose DO for DO program data.)
| Colorado Medical Schools | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Colorado School of Medicine* | $83,290 OOS |
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| Rocky Vista University College of Medicine | $64,254 OOS |
(Suggested reading: Do Medical School Rankings Matter?)
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Part 3: Colorado medical school profiles
Rocky Vista University College of Medicine
The Rocky Vista University College of Medicine (RVUCOM) recruits and educates individuals who are committed to serving as community-based, primary care osteopathic physicians for patients from underserved populations. Students will first pursue the two-year pre-clinical curriculum in which they will progress through each organ system twice: first with an emphasis on normal physiology and second through the lens of the various pathologies that can affect that organ system. During these first two years, students will also receive lessons in osteopathic principles and doctoring skills.
In the final two years of medical school, students will rotate at clinical externship sites, most of which are in Colorado or Utah. The externship site placements are determined by using a lottery system. Moreover, RVUCOM has a four-year integrated ultrasound curriculum so medical students can become facile with the new diagnostic technology early on in their careers.
University of Colorado School of Medicine
The University of Colorado School of Medicine traces its history back 140 years to the opening of the School of Medicine at the University of Colorado in Boulder in 1883. By the late 1990s it became clear that the school needed more space to thrive and eventually moved to its new location and facilities at the Anschutz Medical Campus.
Since that time, it has continued to expand now providing more than 40 degree programs and becoming a nationally recognized institution ranking eighth in the country in primary care.
University of Colorado School of Medicine students will progress through the Trek Curriculum, a curriculum that integrates key topics from learning theory to ensure that students not only learn the foundational principles of medicine but also have strategies to equip them to be successful in the future as life-long physician learners. More specifically, the curriculum integrates lessons in understanding different types of memory, chunking, learning illusions, interleaving, and spaced repetition.
Students also have the option to participate in a “track” if they have a particular interest. These tracks give students the chance to participate in special lectures, sponsored mentored projects and research experiences. The tracks include the Global Health Track and the Research Track.
Additionally, students will participate in “basecamps” at each transition in their learning to provide them with dedicated time to develop the required skills for their next phase in training. These base camps follow a mountain environment theme and include Foothills – Transition to Clerkships, Alpine – Transition to Advanced Clinical Rotations, and Summit – Transition to Residency.
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Part 4: Colorado medical school admissions strategies
Strategy 1: Decide which Colorado medical school to apply to based on your stats
Significant differences exist between the two Colorado medical schools with respect to average GPAs and MCAT scores. Therefore, you’ll want to ensure that your GPA and MCAT score are within the range of your target school. And, if you’re an out-of-state student, the good news is that both schools admit more out-of-state students than in-state.
Applying to the “right schools” is one of the most underrated parts of the medical school application process. It’s important to remember that completing a high-quality application takes time. Therefore, while it may seem easy to add “just one more” program to your school list, you risk compromising the quality of your other applications.
(Suggested reading: What MCAT Score Do You Need to Get Into Medical School?)
Strategy 2: Focus on your fit with each Colorado medical school in secondary essays and interviews
All medical schools have unique specialties, whether it’s excellence in research, commitment to serving underserved populations, or a specific area of clinical medicine. You should thoroughly review each school’s website for insights on their area of expertise and explain in your secondary essays how your extracurricular activities demonstrate your fit. For example, since RVUCOM is a DO school, you can discuss how your experiences shadowing a DO physician have confirmed your interest in osteopathic medicine.
Also, if you have a connection to Colorado, be sure to mention this. Medical schools pay attention to yield-rates, and a clear connection to the state can help you make your case.
(Suggested reading: Medical School Secondary Essays: The Complete Guide & How to Ace Medical School Interviews)
Strategy 3: Planning for different interview styles is beneficial
Being invited for an interview at any medical school is an outstanding achievement, but each school will have its own methods of conducting those interviews. Find out as much as possible
about the interview process to prepare yourself for the big day.
Most medical schools conduct one of two types of interviews, a traditional panel interview or the multiple-mini interview (MMI). The latter format is growing in popularity and focuses on assessing candidates’ critical thinking and communication skills.
Both medical schools in Colorado use traditional interviews but UC SOM utilizes a three-pronged process consisting of a small group interview, a traditional panel and observation of a group activity. In this way, they will ask you questions alongside your fellow applicants as well as examine how you interact with others in a team.
Additionally, UC SOM conducts all of their interviews virtually. As many schools are adopting this approach, this presents new challenges for students as they navigate a different landscape. It can be hugely beneficial to do a technology test run with a friend or family member before the big day to make sure everything looks good and works correctly.
Preparing for this type of interview will involve practice in different situations in addition to considering how you will answer questions beforehand. You might look to your experiences shadowing or volunteering in a clinic to help.
(Suggested reading: How to Ace Medical School Interviews)
Strategy 4: Organize your time around the number of secondary essays
Managing your time well while you’re applying to med school is critical for a successful applicant. Writing personal statements and filling out primary and secondary applications reduces the amount of time you have to craft compelling secondary essays.
If you take into account the number of essays you will need to write for each school you apply to, scheduling tasks is much easier. You’ll also be more capable of writing for each target audience, the adcoms at particular institutions.
We’ve listed the amount of secondary essays for medical schools in Colorado in the table below. It’s also worth considering word limits when you divide up your workload. RVUCOM’s essay doesn’t have a word limit, while UC SOM’s essays all have limits around 300-500 words.
| Coloradao Medical Schools | |
|---|---|
| Rocky Vista University | |
| University of Colorado School of Medicine |
(Suggested reading: How Many Medical Schools Should I Apply To? Which Ones?)
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Part 5: Frequently asked questions
Is Colorado a good state for doctors?
When considering a medical school in Colorado, it’s natural to look even further ahead and wonder if Colorado is somewhere you’d like to practice long-term. Determining whether Colorado is a “good” state for doctors will depend on your personal preferences as well as things like average salary, cost of living, and professional environment.
According to US News and World Report, Colorado ranks 13th in health care while Becker’s Hospital Review ranked it 11th in the best states for a physician in 2023. Physicians Thrive ranks it sixth for average salary coming in at $253,000 per year.
When looking at these rankings, there are certainly worse states to practice medicine in, especially if you’re keen on exploring the great outdoors in your spare time through activities such as hiking and/or skiing.
How hard is it to get into University of Colorado medical school?
Getting into any medical school is difficult, but getting into the University of Colorado School of Medicine is quite competitive. Aside from the high average GPA and MCAT scores listed above, in 2022-2023 they received 5,835 completed applications (meaning the secondary application was also submitted) for just 181 seats—an acceptance rate of just 3.1 percent.
Suggested reading: (How Hard Is It to Get into Medical School?)
Is there a shortage of doctors in Colorado?
Attending med school does not come cheap, so you’ll want to think about your chances for employment after graduation and residency. The nonprofit consulting group the Colorado Health Institute claims that nine of the state’s regions are experiencing a shortage of primary care physicians. This seems to be especially true in rural and underserved areas. If making a difference among these populations is part of your dream, Colorado could be a great state for you to practice in. Additionally, the Colorado Health Service Corps offers the possibility of funding to repay your student loans if you practice a needed specialty in a designated health professional shortage area.
Final thoughts
The two medical schools in Colorado are very different with respect to training modality and average MCAT and GPA scores. Regardless of whether you apply to one or both, be sure to communicate your fit with each school in secondaries and interviews to maximize your odds of admission.
About the Author
Dr. Shirag Shemmassian is the Founder of Shemmassian Academic Consulting and one of the world's foremost experts on medical school admissions. For nearly 20 years, he and his team have helped thousands of students get into medical school using his exclusive approach.
