Medical Schools In Florida: Ranking and Requirements

The medical schools in Florida are very good for students who need a place to learn and enjoy the goodness of sunshine.

Florida’s major cities and their surrounding areas are where the majority of the schools are located. However, there are many opportunities and encouragement for medical students to work in rural areas.

The institutions on this list were chosen for their overall significance, original research initiatives, educational possibilities, GPAs, MCAT scores, and admissions standards. 

At the end of this article, you will have full knowledge about these medical schools in Florida, their rankings, and their requirements.

Why should you choose medical schools in Florida

The Sunshine State is more than just a place with resorts and tourist attractions. A number of the best medical schools and research facilities in the nation, as well as the world, are located in Florida.

Being the third most populated state, having the highest percentage of residents over 65, and having a diversified population, it presents many opportunities for medical researchers and aspiring doctors to have an influence.

A combination of patient-centered training, social skills, and creative learning and research methods are prioritized in Florida’s top schools both inside and outside of the classroom. 

Overall, these schools enroll students who are not just intellectually gifted but also kind and concerned about their communities.

Best medical schools in Florida

1. Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine at Florida Atlantic University 

Florida Atlantic University is a community-based medical school that is dedicated to teaching doctors who will serve Florida. 

It is one of Florida’s more recent medical institutions. The “high-touch, high-tech” integrated curriculum that FAU touts involves supervised doctor-patient relationships with patients as early as the first year. 

The curriculum at FAU also covers topics like “Ethics, Professionalism, and Professional Identity” and “Diversity, Inclusion, and Social Justice.”

In addition to pass/fail grading and the chance for third-year students to work on their own projects or research during “white space-time,” FAU is renowned for its small class sizes and individualized attention. 

Students at FAU have the opportunity to rotate across associated hospitals located throughout Broward and Palm Beach Counties, as well as benefit from the university’s research partnerships with the esteemed Max Planck Florida Institute for Neuroscience and Scripps Research Institute Florida.

Furthermore, the ranking of this school ranges from #95-124 (Best in medical research) and tuition is pegged at $28,111 (in-state, full-time) 

Requirement

Average MCAT score: 512

AverageGPA: 3.79

2. Florida International University Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine

The goal of Florida International University’s founding was to educate socially responsible medical professionals who could assist the Miami area and all of Florida. This makes it one of the best medical schools in Florida.

As a result, the Neighborhood Health Education Learning Program, which uses interprofessional teamwork to treat marginalized individuals at home, and clinical experience starting in the first month of school are all emphasized in FIU’s integrated curriculum. 

Additionally, FIU has made the transition to pass/fail grading. A variety of hospitals in Miami and Broward County are among the clinical locations linked with FIU.

The ranking of this school is #95-124 for best medical schools for research, and its tuition is $32,737 (in-state, full-time)

Requirement

Average  MCAT: 510

Average GPA: 3.79

3. Florida State University College of Medicine

The College of Medicine at Florida State University was established to train additional medical professionals to provide care for Florida’s sizable elderly population as well as underprivileged urban and rural populations. 

As a result, FSU emphasizes preparing students for primary care and has both a geriatrics department and a Rural Education Program (one of few in the country). 

Following their first two years at the Tallahassee campus of Florida State University, all students are then allocated to one of six regional campuses spread out around the state of Florida to continue their clinical training. This makes it one of the best medical schools in Florida.

Because of FSU’s early start policy, students start their medical school coursework with an anatomy component in the summer. 

In order to promote camaraderie and teamwork, students are also divided into Learning Communities, which are compact groups of about 30 students that share study and lounge spaces.

The ranking of this school is #95-124 and the tuition is $22,408 (in-state, full-time)    

Requirement

Average GPA: 507

Average MCAT: 3.8

4. Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine Bradenton Campus

One of the largest medical schools in Florida and the United States is Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine. 

Although its principal campus is in Erie, Pennsylvania, the need for primary care doctors and Florida’s quick population expansion prompted LECOM to establish a second campus in Bradenton (it has since opened two other campuses in Pennsylvania and New York). 

The problem-based learning curriculum at LECOM Bradenton is the only one available, and students complete case studies in self-guided small groups. 

Students cycle across more than 90 associated hospitals and clinics across the nation in their third and fourth years. However, LECOM Bradenton has come under fire for having a patchy supply of top-notch rotation sites, especially in the neighborhood. 

As a result, some students are required to set up their own rotation sites or finish their rotations in the Northeast.

The tuition at this school is $40,000 – 41,500 for instate and out-state students.

Requirement

Average GPA: 3.5

Average MCAT: 503

5. Nova Southeastern University Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Allopathic Medicine

Even though Nova Southeastern University has had an osteopathic medical school since the 1970s, the institution only recently added an allopathic medical school.

This makes it one of the few colleges to provide both degrees, hence attaining the position of one of the best medical schools in Florida. 

Small starting class sizes, interprofessional teamwork, a curriculum oriented on problem-solving, and pass/fail marking are all provided by NSU-MD. 

The Hospital Corporation of America East Florida series of hospitals hosts the majority of the clinical rotations for NSU-MD, with additional rotations taking place at the West Palm Beach VA Medical Center.

The tuition at this school is estimated at $56,784 (full-time)

Requirement

Average GPA: 3.75

Average  MCAT: 512

6. Nova Southeastern University Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Osteopathic Medicine

The College of Osteopathic Medicine (NSU-COM) of Nova Southeastern University strives to educate primary care physicians while placing a strong emphasis on interprofessional collaboration and providing treatment for the medically underprivileged. 

NSU-COM students start their clinical exposure in the first month of medical school and finish a required, three-month clinical rotation in a rural setting. 

The program has campuses in Fort Lauderdale and Tampa/Clearwater. Students also have the chance to take part in medical outreach initiatives abroad in Cuba, Ecuador, India, Jamaica, and Puerto Rico.

Large hospitals throughout the counties of Broward, Miami-Dade, and Palm Beach, as well as other locations, are included in the well-established clinical rotations at NSU-COM. NSU-COM has previously been blamed for lowering first-time COMLEX pass rates; nevertheless, during the past few years, pass rates have started to trend once again upward.

Requirement

Median GPA: 3.5

Median MCAT: 505 and it should not be older than 3 years prior to the date you submit your AACOMAS application.

7. University of Central Florida College of Medicine

With the help of other UCF institutions like the Burnett School of Biomedical Sciences, UCF provides students with research-based medical school education.

Individualized research projects and the Community of Practice program, a protracted learning experience that aids students in developing clinical abilities are two hallmarks of UCF’s integrated curriculum. 

UCF opened its own medical center, the UCF Biomedical Sciences Campus at Lake Nona, in 2021 despite the recent rotation site loss of two of its largest associated hospitals.

This is one of the best medical schools in Florida, and it is ranked #87 (best medical school for research) and its tuition is $25,491 (in-state, full-time) 

Requirement

Average MCAT score: 513

Average GPA: 3.86

8. University of Florida College of Medicine

The University of Florida College of Medicine, widely regarded as Florida’s best medical school, is renowned for its kind, close-knit community. 

UF students gain from first-year mentoring programs and intimate class sizes. Pass/fail grading, early clinical publicity (three months into the first year, students leave Gainesville to work with a Florida primary care doctor for 2.5 weeks), and excellent research opportunities, such as the Discovery Pathways Medical Student Research Program, are all provided by UF in addition to the foregoing. 

Students can also gain access to a variety of patient care experiences through participating in student-run free clinics, going on international medical mission trips, and doing rotations at Shands Hospital, UF’s main teaching hospital.

The ranking of this school is #37 for best medical school in research, and its tuition is $32,744 (in-state, full-time) 

Requirement

Average MCAT score: 516

Average GPA: 3.91

9. University of Miami Miller School of Medicine

The Miller School of Medicine at the University of Miami is one of the top medical schools in Florida and the state’s oldest medical institution. 

Miami University offers an integrated curriculum that includes opportunities for small-group and team-based learning, a streamlined, one-year pre-clinical phase, and the ability for students to design their own path to completion of medical schools, such as a research project or an early transition to residency. 

Miami is home to the second-busiest medical center in the country, the UM-Jackson Memorial Hospital Medical Center, as well as free clinics that offer top-notch, diverse clinical experiences.

The school is ranked #43 for best medical school in research, and its tuition is $48,663.

Requirement

Average MCAT: 514

Average GPA: 3.78

10. University of South Florida Health Morsani College of Medicine

Two programs are available to medical students at USF: the CORE program, which is based in Tampa, and the SELECT program, in which students complete their first two years in Tampa and their final two years in Pennsylvania’s Lehigh Valley. 

Both programs use a single curriculum that emphasizes small groups, active learning, and early clinical exposure. 

The SELECT program offers a graduate certificate degree in medical leadership, whereas the CORE program offers academic emphases that let students concentrate on a field of interest. 

USF has excellent clinical and research possibilities; students spend the majority of their rotations at Tampa General Hospital, the only Level 1 trauma center in the area. 

Tampa General and USF may now work together more effectively because of the recent completion of a new medical school building nearby.

This medical school ranks #46 in best medical research, and its tuition is $29,175 (in-state, full-time)

Requirement

Average GPA: 3.82

Average MCAT: 516

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

How many medical schools are in Florida?

Currently, Florida has 10 medical schools, including 2 osteopathic institutions and 8 allopathic schools.

What are the easiest medical schools to get into in Florida?

Florida Atlantic University Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine can be described as the easiest, with a 6.5 percent admittance rate, it outperforms its competitors while an average GPA of 3.7 and an average MCAT of 510 are accepted too.

How many years does it take to become a Doctor in Florida?

The typical length of medical school is four years, followed by at least three years of residencies for graduates (but can go upwards of 11 years). 

A fellowship may need more years of training for some doctors.

What is a good MCAT score?

A score of 515 or higher, or in the overall 90th percentile, is considered to be a good MCAT result. 

Anything that receives a score of 517 or above is regarded as excellent. It will be challenging for medical schools to reject your application with that kind of score.

Is GPA or MCAT more important?

MCAT, however, is the simple reply. Some medical schools think that your GPA, which assesses your work ethic and tenacity, is a stronger predictor of future success. 

However, the one element that is 100 percent objective is your MCAT score. It is the only metric that can fairly compare every pupil.

Is there math on the MCAT?

Just arithmetic, algebra, and trigonometry are the only core math concepts covered on the MCAT. Calculus is not at all a part of the MCAT. 

Most math-related issues will be found in the section on Chemical and Physical Foundations of Biological Systems.

Is the MCAT multiple-choice?

The Medical College Admission Test, also known as the MCAT, is more than just a requirement for applying to medical schools. 

For admission to medical schools in the United States and Canada, a multiple-choice, computer-based exam is necessary.

Conclusion

Now that you know about the best medical schools in Florida, you can apply. While applying, ensure you prepare well in terms of tuition.