Florida offers several accredited Doctor of Medicine programs across public and private universities. The Florida Department of Health also continues to monitor the size, composition, and geographic distribution of the state’s physician workforce to support healthcare workforce planning.
This article highlights seven medical schools in Florida, including their current program structures and admissions policies. Let’s take a look at the top medical schools in Florida.
Top Medical Schools in Florida
1. University of Miami
Established in 1952, the University of Miami’s Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine was Florida’s first medical school. It is based in Miami’s health district and offers medical education, clinical training, and research programs through the university and its affiliated healthcare institutions.
The school enrolls approximately 200 new students across its medical programs each academic year. In addition to its M.D. program, the school’s current class profile includes students pursuing the M.D./M.B.A., M.D./M.P.H., and M.D./Ph.D. pathways.
Admission is highly competitive. The school’s current admissions guidance states that international applicants are not eligible, although certain other immigration categories, including DACA, may be considered. Applicants should review the current eligibility requirements on the Miami Medical School website before applying.
2. University of Florida
Opened in 1956, the University of Florida’s College of Medicine is based in Gainesville. It also offers eligible M.D. students an opportunity to complete their third and fourth years at the Jacksonville Regional Medical Campus. In the 2026 U.S. News & World Report medical school rankings, UF was placed in Tier 1, the highest tier, for research.
The college offers an M.D. program and several combined-degree pathways. Its admissions website reports that it receives more than 2,800 completed secondary applications for a class of approximately 135 students, making admission highly selective.
Applicants must generally be U.S. citizens or permanent residents, and the college does not accept international applicants. Degree and prerequisite rules differ for applicants who completed some education outside the United States, so prospective students should consult the current admissions requirements.
3. Florida State University
The Florida State University’s College of Medicine uses a community-based educational model. M.D. students complete their first two years of foundational and early clinical education in Tallahassee before completing their principal clinical training at one of the college’s six regional campuses.
The college reports receiving more than 6,500 applications and typically interviewing approximately 250 to 300 applicants. It rarely considers applicants who are not legal residents of Florida unless they have significant ties to the state. Applicants must also be U.S. citizens or permanent residents.
In addition to the M.D. program, the college offers a Biomedical Sciences Ph.D. and a Physician Assistant program. In the 2026 U.S. News & World Report rankings, its primary care program received a Tier 2 designation and was the highest-rated primary care program among Florida’s public medical schools.
4. University of Central Florida
The University of Central Florida College of Medicine is located at UCF’s Health Sciences Campus in Lake Nona, Orlando. The college welcomed its inaugural M.D. class in 2009 and received full accreditation from the Liaison Committee on Medical Education in 2013.
The M.D. curriculum combines foundational science, clinical education, research, and community service. Students begin developing clinical skills early in the program and have opportunities to participate in research throughout their medical education.
The college currently lists several joint-degree options, including the M.D./Ph.D., M.D./M.B.A., M.D./M.S. in Biomedical Engineering, and M.D./M.S. in Hospitality and Tourism Management. The Burnett School of Biomedical Sciences also offers multiple bachelor’s degree options, master’s programs, Ph.D. programs, and an M.D./Ph.D. pathway.
Admission is restricted to U.S. citizens and permanent residents. International applicants are not eligible for admission to the M.D. program. Prospective applicants should review the college’s current admissions website for degree, prerequisite, testing, and residency requirements.
5. University of South Florida
The Morsani College of Medicine at the University of South Florida was established by the Florida Legislature in 1965 and welcomed its charter class in 1971. It was renamed the Morsani College of Medicine in 2011 and is fully accredited by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education. Its primary educational facility is in downtown Tampa.
Applicants must complete prerequisite coursework in areas such as biology, general chemistry, organic chemistry, biochemistry, physics, mathematics, and English or writing. Because the required number of courses varies by subject, applicants should compare their academic records with the current course requirements before applying.
The M.D. program generally limits admission to U.S. citizens and permanent residents. Applicants requiring an F-1 student visa are ordinarily ineligible, although the college states that limited exceptions may be evaluated individually. In the 2026 U.S. News & World Report rankings, Morsani received a Tier 1 designation for research for the second consecutive year.
6. Florida Atlantic University
The Schmidt College of Medicine at Florida Atlantic University offers a patient-centered M.D. curriculum with early clinical and community experiences. During the first two years, students regularly participate in supervised clinical learning, while later stages of the program include core and longitudinal clerkships.
The college’s current entering-class profile reports 4,165 applications and 78 matriculating students. The class had a mean MCAT score of 515 and a mean overall GPA of 3.85, demonstrating that admission remains highly competitive.
Applicants must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents and must earn a bachelor’s degree before matriculation. The college also specifies where required prerequisite coursework may be completed, so students with international academic records should carefully review the current admissions policy.
7. Florida International University
Florida International University’s Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine was established in 2006, welcomed its first class in 2009, and received full accreditation from the Liaison Committee on Medical Education in 2013. The college offers the Doctor of Medicine degree through its integrated four-year curriculum.
The StepUp curriculum introduces students to clinical training during the first year and incorporates simulation, standardized patients, clinical placements, research, and community-based learning.
The college considers only U.S. citizens and permanent residents for the M.D. program. International applicants and applicants with DACA status are not eligible.
Pursuing a medical degree in Florida can be an excellent option for eligible applicants because the state offers programs with different educational models, clinical settings, and research opportunities. However, international students should not assume that they are eligible to apply. Every school listed above restricts admission according to citizenship or immigration status, and none generally admits applicants who require an F-1 student visa.
We hope you find this article on the best medical schools in Florida helpful. For more information about studying in the United States, visit the Study in the USA Page and explore the Available Courses for International Students.
