Florida might be the perfect option for those who want to enroll in a medical school. Despite being ranked fifth in high-tech employment in the United States, Florida has reported a decreasing number of active physicians. This state has a growing population and will need more professionals in this area in the following years.
Furthermore, Florida has many medical schools that grant doctor of medicine and osteopathic medicine degrees, so you can apply to various schools. That’s why we listed some of the best medical schools in Florida for you, so read the article carefully!
Top Medical Schools in Florida
1. University of Miami
Established in 1952, the University of Miami’s Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine is the oldest medical school in Florida. It has various education and research programs in several affiliated centers. In 2018, it ranked as the 50th medical school in research and the 39th in funding from the National Institute of Health. However, some of its departments and hospitals are ranked within the top 10. For example, its physical therapy department is the 9th in the U.S.
In terms of research, this medical school has many centers where members have made significant scientific breakthroughs. They have around 1,500 ongoing projects. UMMSM has three hospitals on campus where training is done, and there are other affiliated centers, like the Jackson Memorial Hospital, one of the biggest hospitals in the U.S.
Besides the M.D. degree program, UMMSM has other dual degree programs, which include a joint MD and Master’s degree in Genomic Science program and a joint M.D./J.D. in collaboration with the University of Miami School of Law. As is usual for medical schools, admissions are very competitive. In 2018, there were 8,497 applicants, and only 542 were interviewed. However, admissions are even more competitive for dual degree programs because class size is smaller and the number of applicants is usually similar.
In 2018, the class size was 51 students. Because of this competition, the University of Miami medical school is considered the best in Florida. While UMMSM doesn’t accept international students, it doesn’t have a limit for out-of-state students. Please read the Miami Medical School website to learn more about its programs and student services.
2. University of Florida
Founded four years after the UMMSM in 1956, the University of Florida’s College of Medicine is located in Gainesville, Florida, but also has facilities in Jacksonville. According to the U.S. News and World Report, the UF College of Medicine is the 35th medical school in the U.S. regarding research.
If you want to attend a medical school in Florida, this one is great! They offer an M.D. degree program, dual degree programs, and a Physician Assistant program. Regarding residencies and fellowships, they have 75 different programs! Admissions are also highly competitive, but not as competitive as those at other medical schools. With an acceptance rate of 4.6%, there were 2,800 secondary applications in 2017, and only 135 students enrolled.
They accept students who live outside Florida, but they prefer Florida residents. They also take into consideration those applicants who have a strong science and health background. Look at their school website if you’d like to learn more about your opportunities at UF College of Medicine.
3. Florida State University
The Florida State University’s College of Medicine, founded in 2000, is located in Tallahassee, Florida. It was ranked 3rd out of the top 10 medical schools with the lowest acceptance rates by the U.S. News & Report. The MD degree program is divided into four years. The first two years of foundation coursework are done at the main campus in Tallahassee. Here, they learn at no-risk simulated clinical environments.
The following two years of clinical rotation are done at regional campuses located in Orlando, Daytona Beach, Pensacola, Ft. Pierce, Sarasota, Tallahassee, and Ft. Pierce. During this phase, students work at a rural campus, where they interact with patients under the supervision of professionals. They have two fellowship programs in family medicine, micrographic surgery, and dermatology oncology. They also offer seven residency programs in internal medicine, general surgery, family medicine, emergency medicine, and dermatology.
Apart from the MD and Ph.D. programs, they also offer a physician assistant program. Its acceptance rate is 4.6% and doesn’t accept international students. Visit its homepage to learn more about its programs and requirements.
4. University of Central Florida
The University of Central Florida College of Medicine, founded in 2006, is located in Orlando at the UCF Health Sciences Campus. In 2017, it received full accreditation from the Liaison Committee on Medical Education. The M.D. degree program is usually divided into two years of foundation coursework and two years of clinical rotation.
However, students at UCF College of Medicine start having clinical experiences during the first two years. The college is also equipped with innovative simulation environments that include human patient simulators and interactive virtual patients.
The Burnett School of Biomedical Sciences grants other degrees besides M.D. It offers a Bachelor of Science in Biotechnology, Molecular Biology and Microbiology, and Medical Laboratory Science as undergraduate degrees, a Master’s in Molecular Biology and Microbiology, and a Ph.D. in Interdisciplinary Biomedical Science as graduate degrees.
You’ll have to prepare for admissions here as they are very competitive. They receive over 5,000 applications every year, and approximately 400 are interviewed. In the end, only 120 students enroll. However, this medical school in Florida aims to increase class size and enrollment to 480.
Check their website to read all the advice they give to become a competitive applicant. Remember that you must have a bachelor’s degree from a U.S. college, pay special attention to your profile as a future doctor beyond scores and tests (volunteer work, clinical experiences, etc.), and they don’t accept international students.
5. University of South Florida
Morsani College of Medicine is a public medical school established in 1971 at the University of South Florida in Tampa, Florida. It is accredited by the Liason Committee on Medical Education to award an MD degree. The three main focuses of this medical school are research, community impact, and patient care.
There are requirements for the classes that you take in your undergraduate program. You need to take a certain number of science courses, and some classes, such as organic chemistry, are required. You definitely should check out this requirement before you apply.
6. Florida Atlantic University
The Schmidt College of Medicine at Florida Atlantic University is a great medical school in Florida. It is currently ranked at around 100th place for medical schools in the USA. In the latest admission cycle, there were 3,411 applications received, and from that application, 327 were interviewed, and 65 students enrolled.
As you can see, this medical school is not as competitive as the other medical schools on this list. However, the Schmidt College of Medicine is still competitive.
The school opened its doors in 2011 and has been expanding ever since. In 2015, this medical school received full accreditation from LCME, and because of that, applications started to flood in. In 2014, the college added an internal medicine program, and in 2016, they opened a general surgery program. This program is one of the largest in the country, having 45 residency positions open for general surgery. Also in that same year, their emergency medicine was approved for 18 residency, which is very good for a medical school.
7. Florida International University
This medical school opened in 2009 and has offered Doctor of Medicine degrees ever since. Like the other medical schools on this list, it is fully accredited by the LCME. The Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine at Florida International University‘s extensive curriculum prepares students through simulation training, clinical experience, and research.
Pursuing a medical degree in Florida can be an excellent choice for you as an international student because of the increasing population, which means more demand for future healthcare professionals in the state. Moreover, the medical school curriculum in Florida is on par with that in other states, so you can be assured that you will receive a top-notch education, especially if you choose from the universities listed above!
We hope you find this article on the best medical schools in Florida helpful. If you’re interested in studying in the United States, check out the Study in the USA Page and the Available Programs for International Students in the USA!
