Are you a local or an international student looking for a medical school in the United States? If studying for a career in medicine is your ultimate dream, Arizona has some great options for you. Only three universities grant M.D. degrees; osteopathic medicine is the only option for those pursuing a medical degree. However, these universities are considered to have some of the best medical schools in the U.S.
If you live in Arizona or plan to move there, here you have the medical schools waiting for your application.
Top Medical Schools in Arizona
1. University of Arizona – Tucson
The first College of Medicine of the University of Arizona is the Tucson campus, at the Health Science Center, located on the university’s main campus. It is one of the medical schools in Arizona that grants M.D. It also has almost 50 fellowship and residency programs and two academic medical centers, so the options in the healthcare area are countless.
The College of Medicine has a standard program of four years and offers dual degree programs, which include a Master of Business Administration, a Master of Public Health (these two combined with an M.D.), and a joint M.D./Ph.D. Remember, this is an important aspect you should consider, as you’ll be required to complete a year of residency in order to get your license.
Note that admissions are highly competitive, so be prepared. Almost 10,000 people apply to get one of the 120 spots the university offers. If you are an international student, your options may be reduced, as the university only accepts international students who are recommended by a college’s faculty and then approved by the Dean.
The application process is explained on their website, but in general, you must submit recommendation letters, take the Medical College Admissions Test or MCAT, and attend a few interviews. Fortunately, they also offer financial aid for students on a budget.
2. University of Arizona – Phoenix
The other medical school of the University of Arizona is located on the Phoenix campus. Its College of Medicine functions similarly to that in Tucson. It offers three dual programs besides the four-year undergraduate program: a Master of Business Administration, a Master of Public Health, the first two master’s degrees combined with an M.D., and a joint M.D./Ph.D.
Although the offer of residency and fellowship programs is less varied, there are still over 20 options once you finish the four-year M.D. program. Like most medical schools, the College of Medicine-Phoenix divides the M.D. program into the pre-clerkship curriculum (years one and two) and the clerkship curriculum (years three and four).
However, students here have a bigger clinical exposure as they enter the clerkship curriculum three months before students in other medical schools. They also have flexible schedules and many options for personalized learning. Admissions here are also competitive.
In 2019, they received 5,900 applications from all over the U.S. but only offered 392 interviews. Admissions here and on the Tucson campus are also completely different so that you can apply to both. Furthermore, they consider other aspects besides your GPA and score on the MCAT.
Any previous experience, clinical exposure, cultural background, community service hours, and extracurricular activities are all considered when applying. They also offer financial aid and scholarships, so go to their website to learn more.
3. Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine
Also known as the Mayo Medical School, the Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine (MCASOM) is part of the Mayo Clinic’s educational division. It is located in Phoenix, but there are other two campuses in Florida and Minnesota. Education here is research-oriented, and it is part of Arizona’s medical schools that grant Doctor of Medicine degrees.
MCASOM is considered one of the best and most selective medical schools in the U.S. It was ranked as tier one in the research list of medical schools. Its acceptance rate was 4.2% for the application cycle of 2024, which makes it the medical school with the lowest acceptance rate.
However, their students also have the lowest education debt rates among U.S. medical schools, and they obtain the highest scores at the United States Medical Licensing Examination, or USMLE Step 1, which is part of the test taken to get a medical license.
Students are educated at Mayo Clinic Phoenix, the 11th-best hospital in the U.S. Class sizes are small, schedules and education are highly personalized, and research opportunities are countless. The application process is explained on their website, but as usual, you’ll need to submit recommendation letters, take the MCAT, and go to an interview.
No minimum GPA score is required, but you must be a U.S. or Canadian citizen or have permanent residency. They offer different financial aid and scholarship options.
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4. A.T. Still University – Arizona
If you’d like to receive education in a specific healthcare area, A.T. Still University School of Osteopathic Medicine in Arizona or ATSU-SOMA may be an excellent option. It grants the Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.) degree and is located in Mesa, on the campus of A.T. Still University.
Its educational approach is unique. It focuses on clinical training and applying the clinical presentation educational model. Students spend their first year on the campus, and during the remaining three years, they receive their education at a community health center. Twelve community health centers are available for students, and they are located in and outside Arizona.
ATSU-SOMA offers a dual degree program, so you can obtain your D.O. degree and your Master of Public Health (MPH) simultaneously. Osteopathic medicine requires people who are empathetic and willing to serve the underserved, so its admission board will consider much more than your test scores and recommendation letters.
This medical school looks for students with a background that meets the values of their university. It also offers a wide variety of scholarships and financial aid options. Moreover, prospective students can also take advantage of many volunteer opportunities.
Arizona can undoubtedly offer exceptional opportunities for international students to receive a top-tier medical education in a diverse academic environment because of their renowned universities, such as the University of Arizona College of Medicine, and more schools. So, consider the institutions we listed above if you plan on getting an M.D. or D.O. degree in this innovative state!
We hope this article on medical schools in Arizona was helpful. Make sure also to check out our Study in the USA Page and the Available Programs for International Students in the USA!
