Medicine Schools and Programs in The United States

Medicine Studies in The United States

In the United States, medicine is not a first degree as it is in Spain or Latin America. Future doctors first complete a bachelor's degree, then four years of medical school, then residency training in a hospital. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), physicians and surgeons typically need a bachelor's degree plus a medical degree that takes an additional four years, followed by 3 to 9 years of internship and residency depending on the specialty. SpainExchange lists 39 colleges and universities in the United States under medicine, from research universities to smaller colleges.

How medical education is organised

• Undergraduate (pre-med) study: a bachelor's degree, usually four years. No specific major is required, but applicants usually have studied biology, physical science or health-related subjects
• Medical degree: either a Doctor of Medicine (MD) or a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO). Both lead to work as a physician; DO programmes put extra emphasis on the musculoskeletal system, preventive medicine and whole-person care
• Medical school: a first phase of classes and laboratory work (anatomy, biochemistry, pharmacology, medical ethics), then a second phase working with patients under supervision in hospitals and clinics
• Residency: 3 to 9 years of training in a specialty, plus a fellowship of 1 to 3 years for a subspecialty

MD programmes are accredited by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME), which is sponsored by the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) and the American Medical Association (AMA). Graduates of LCME-accredited schools can take the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) and enter residency programmes accredited by the ACGME.

Admission and language

Medical schools are highly competitive. Applicants usually submit transcripts, scores from the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) and letters of recommendation, and most schools interview candidates. At Stanford University, for example, applications go through the American Medical College Application Service (AMCAS), whose deadline for the class entering in 2027 was 1 October 2026. Teaching is in English: Stanford expects applicants to write clearly, speak fluently and read English with excellent comprehension.

International applicants face extra conditions, and these differ from school to school. Stanford considers visa-eligible international applicants, but they must have studied for at least one academic year at an accredited college or university in the United States, Canada or the United Kingdom. Yale School of Medicine accepts applicants educated outside the United States, but its pre-medical courses (general biology, general and organic chemistry, physics, all with laboratory work) must be completed at an accredited U.S., UK or Canadian college. A bachelor's degree at a U.S. college is therefore one way for international students to meet these conditions. For the bachelor's degree they apply like any other undergraduate: universities require an English proficiency test, and once accepted by an SEVP-certified school the student receives the Form I-20 needed for the student visa.

Costs

Medical school is expensive. Yale School of Medicine lists tuition of $76,700 per year in its 2026-27 budget, before fees, books and living costs. Yale states that international students are assessed for need-based financial aid in the same way as U.S. citizens, except for loans. The bachelor's degree comes first and has its own cost: according to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), average tuition and fees at four-year institutions in 2022-23 were $9,800 at public institutions (in-state rates) and $40,700 at private non-profit institutions.

Where to study medicine

New York has the most schools in this directory (three), followed by Cambridge, Miami, Boston and Philadelphia (two each). Examples range from research universities such as Harvard University, Yale University, Stanford University, Columbia University, Cornell University, The University of Chicago, Vanderbilt University and the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), to large public universities such as The Ohio State University, the University of Washington, the University of Minnesota and The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and other institutions such as Creighton University in Omaha and Hesston College in Kansas.

Recognition and licensing

A medical degree alone does not allow a person to practise. All states require physicians to be licensed: candidates must graduate from an accredited medical school, complete residency training and pass standardised national exams. The USMLE has three exams, called Steps, and is accepted by all state medical boards, but each state board sets its own rules. Anyone who plans to practise in a particular state, including doctors trained abroad, should check that state's medical board.

Careers

Physicians work in doctors' offices and hospitals, but also in government agencies, non-profit organisations and insurance companies; some choose medical research or public policy. According to BLS, physicians and surgeons held about 862,800 jobs in 2025. Employment is projected to grow 4% from 2025 to 2035, with about 22,100 openings a year.

Frequently asked questions

Can I study medicine in the United States straight after high school?

Usually not. Medical schools normally require a bachelor's degree first, although some offer combined undergraduate and medical programmes that last 6 to 8 years.

Do U.S. medical schools accept international students?

Some do, with extra conditions. Stanford, for example, accepts visa-eligible international applicants who have studied at least one academic year at an accredited college in the United States, Canada or the United Kingdom.

What is the MCAT?

The Medical College Admission Test is the admission test that U.S. medical schools usually ask for, together with transcripts and letters of recommendation.

How long does it take to become a doctor in the United States?

Typically four years of undergraduate study, four years of medical school and 3 to 9 years of residency, depending on the specialty.