Best Medical Schools in California

Medical schools in the state of California are highly competitive, requiring students to have a minimum of a bachelor’s degree, as well as have an acceptable Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) to be considered for admission. Programs generally take four years to complete, resulting in a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.) or Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) and followed by periods of internship and residency at a hospital. Written and practical exams must be passed in order to receive licensure in California. Visit our med school degree page about a degree in medicine.

Get information on the best med schools in California today by utilizing the state listing below. Our educational resources will help you better understand how to become a doctor in California along with information on adjacent degree programs of interest in the medical field such as neuroscience, biomedical science, cytotechnology, and bioinformatics. Learn more and get matched to the best med school in California for you by reading the guide below!

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List of Medical Schools in California

The California medical schools listed below are accredited by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education, which is an organization that provides accreditation for medical education nationwide.

Schools are sorted by size with the largest medical schools first, based on the number of medical student graduates per year.

1. Loma Linda University - Loma Linda, CA

• Medical program accredited since 1942
• About 160 students graduate per year
• Estimated tuition & fees are about $58,000 per year

2. University of California - Los Angeles - Los Angeles, CA

• Medical program accredited since 1951
• About 160 students graduate per year
• Estimated tuition & fees are about $37,000 per year (Nonresidents: $50,000)

3. University of California - San Francisco (UCSF) - San Francisco, CA

• Medical program accredited since 1942
• About 160 students graduate per year
• Estimated tuition & fees are about $36,000 per year (Nonresidents: $48,000)

4. University of California - San Diego (UCSD) - Riverside, CA

• Medical program accredited since 1968
• About 110 students graduate per year
• Estimated tuition & fees are about $36,000 per year (Nonresidents: $49,000)

5. University of California - Irvine (UCI) - Irvine, CA

• Medical program accredited since 1961
• About 110 students graduate per year
• Estimated tuition & fees are about $36,000 per year (Nonresidents: $48,000)

6. CAL CBC - Stockton, CA

• About 100 students graduate per year
• Estimated tuition & fees are about $17,000 per year (Nonresidents: $30,000)

7. University of California - Davis - Davis, CA

• About 90 students graduate per year
• Estimated tuition & fees are about $36,000 per year (Nonresidents: $48,000)

8. University of California - Riverside - Los Angeles, CA

• About 40 students graduate per year
• Estimated tuition & fees are about $36,000 per year (Nonresidents: $49,000)

9. University of Southern California - Los Angeles, CA

• Medical program accredited since 1949
• Estimated tuition & fees are about $66,000 per year

Physicians can work in many types of specialties which may cause a large range in salary expectations. Here is a list of average annual salaries for general practitioners working in major cities in California.

• Oakland, Hayward, Berkeley: $207,000
• San Diego, Carlsbad: $205,000
• Sacramento, Roseville, Arden, Arcade: $177,000
• San Francisco, Redwood City, South San Francisco: $200,000
• Salinas: $207,000

Doctors in California Compared to Median Income Averages

• +280% Above State Median Income
• +288% Above National Median Income

Doctors in California take home an average of $75.00 per hour. Annual earnings for Doctor's working in the State of California average $156,825 which is 280% above the state median income and 288% above the national median income for all occupations.

Employment for a Doctor makes up just of the working population in California and is limited due to the specific qualifications required along with the schooling involved in this career path. The increasing demand for qualified doctors coupled with the educational barrier to entering the field is met with a steady supply of eager college graduates anxious to make a long-lasting impact in the lives of others in and around California.

Average Income for a Doctor in California

California Doctor

• Employment: 174,360
• Median Hourly Wage: $75.00
• Median Annual Wage: $156,825

State Average

• Employment: 16,070,230
• Median Hourly Wage: $19.75
• Median Annual Wage: $41,090

National Average

• Employment: 155,760,000
• Median Hourly Wage: $19.33
• Median Annual Wage: $35,977

Notes: Tuition & fee amounts are for both California in-state residents and out-of-state students unless noted otherwise. The tuition information displayed is an estimate, which we calculated based on historical data and should be solely used for informational purposes only. Please contact the respective doctoral school for information about the current school year.

Source: IPEDS Survey 2012-2020: Data obtained from the US Dept. of Education's Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS). Data may vary depending on school and academic year.