Table of Contents
Medical Schools That Accept International Students
As of the 2025-2026 admissions cycle, fewer than 70 medical schools across the United States accept international applicants. That’s less than 36% of all allopathic (MD) and osteopathic (DO) programs country-wide.
Apart from a shorter list of options, getting into these medical schools as an international student is challenging for a few more reasons:
- Limited availability: Most medical schools in the U.S. prioritize domestic applicants due to public funding and policy restrictions, leaving only a small number of spots open to international candidates.
- Educational requirements: Many schools expect international applicants to complete substantial coursework, or even a full degree, at an accredited U.S. institution to meet curricular and accreditation standards.
- Visa and financial barriers: Applicants must secure and maintain a student visa and prove they can cover the full cost of attendance, often without access to U.S. federal loans.
Still, gaining admission to U.S. medical schools as an international student is possible with the right preparation, strong academics, and a strategic application approach. It starts with understanding your options. We’ve compiled an up-to-date list of U.S. medical schools that accept international students, plus a detailed guide to applying as international pre-med students.
List of Medical Programs That Accept International Students
| Degree Type | Institution/Program Name | City | State | Private or Public? | Out-of-State Tuition and Fees | Combined Degrees Offered | Requirements and Recommendations |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MD | Frederick P. Whiddon College of Medicine at the University of South Alabama | Mobile | AL | Public | $67,349 | Not provided | |
| DO | Arizona College of Osteopathic Medicine | Glendale | AZ | Private | $76,397 | DO/MS, DO/MPH | |
| DO | California Health Sciences University College of Osteopathic Medicine | Clovis | CA | Private | $59,950 | Not provided | |
| MD | Stanford University School of Medicine | Stanford | CA | Private | $64,901 | MD/PhD, MD/MPH, MD/MBA, MD/JD | At least 1 academic year of study in the U.S., UK or Canada |
| MD | University of California, Davis, School of Medicine | Sacramento | CA | Public | $56,013 | MD/PhD | |
| MD | University of California, Los Angeles David Geffen School of Medicine | Los Angeles | CA | Public | $48,830 | MD/MPH, MD/MBA, MD/PhD | |
| DO | Western University of Health Sciences, College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific | Pomona | CA | Private | $65,500 | Not provided | |
| DO | Rocky Vista University College of Osteopathic Medicine | Englewood | CO | Private | $62,080 | Not provided | |
| MD | University of Colorado School of Medicine | Aurora | CO | Public | $69,871 | MD/MBA, BS/MD, MD/MPH, MD/PhD | Must hold a bachelor's degree prior to matriculation |
| MD | University of Connecticut School of Medicine | Farmington | CT | Public | $77,027 | MD/MBA, MD/MPH, BS/MD, MD/PhD | Must hold a bachelor's degree prior to matriculation |
| MD | Yale School of Medicine | New Haven | CT | Private | $68,697 | MD/MPH, MD/MBA, MD/JD, MD/PhD | |
| MD | Howard University College of Medicine | Washington | DC | Private | $55,002 | MD/MBA, MD/PhD, BS/MD | Must have at least 71 semester hours from a U.S. or Canadian institution |
| DO | Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine - Bradenton Campus | Bradenton | FL | Private | $38,395 | BS/DO | |
| DO | Nova Southeastern University Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Osteopathic Medicine in Clearwater | Clearwater | FL | Private | $67,513 | B/DO | |
| MD | Emory University School of Medicine | Atlanta | GA | Private | $54,270 | MD/MBA, MD/MPH, MD/PhD | 32 semester hours of required science coursework must be taken at a regionally accredited U.S. or Canadian institution |
| MD | University of Hawaii, John A. Burns School of Medicine | Honolulu | HI | Public | $72,100 | Not provided | |
| DO | Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine at Midwestern University | Downers Grove | IL | Private | $78,762 | BS/DO | |
| MD | Northwestern University The Feinberg School of Medicine | Chicago | IL | Private | $69,442 | MD/MPH, MD/MBA, MD/PhD | At least 3 years of coursework at U.S. or Canada institution required for application. Bachelor's degree required upon matriculation. May make an exception to U.S. or Canada rule for institutions in the British Isles or Australia. |
| MD | University of Chicago Division of the Biological Sciences The Pritzker School of Medicine | Chicago | IL | Private | $60,258 | MD/MPH, MD/MBA, MD/PhD, BS/MD | At least 1 year of science related coursework at a U.S. or Canadian institution. If your premed requirements were taken outside of the U.S. or Canada, you should take a year of upper-level science courses in the U.S. or Canada. |
| MD | University of Illinois College of Medicine | Chicago | IL | Public | $82,957 | MD/MBA, MD/MPH, MD/PhD, BS/MD | At least 32 semester hours at a U.S. institution. Must also have a bachelor's degree. If bachelor's degree is from a university outside the U.S., it will be evaluated for equivalency by WES. |
| DO | Marian University College of Osteopathic Medicine | Indianapolis | IN | Private | $57,000 | Not provided | |
| MD | Tulane University School of Medicine | New Orleans | LA | Private | $71,262 | MD/MPH, MD/MBA, MD/PhD | Must have a bachelor's degree by matriculation. U.S. bachelor's degrees are highly recommended. |
| MD | Boston University Aram V. Chobanian & Edward Avedisian School of Medicine | Boston | MA | Private | $69,528 | MD/MPH, MD/JD, MD/MBA, MD/PhD | |
| MD | Harvard Medical School | Boston | MA | Private | $68,123 | MD/MPH, MD/MBA, MD/PhD | At least 1 year of study at U.S. or Canadian instutition. At least 3 years college coursework and a bachelor's degree required. U.S. or Canadian bachelor's degrees are highly preferred. |
| MD | Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine | Baltimore | MD | Private | $61,696 | MD/MBA, MD/PhD | |
| DO | University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine | Biddeford | ME | Private | $64,160 | Not provided | |
| DO | Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine | East Lansing | MI | Public | $61,838 | Not provided | |
| DO | Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine in Clinton Township | Clinton Township | MI | Public | $61,838 | DO/PhD, DO/MBA | |
| DO | Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine in Detroit | Detroit | MI | Public | $61,838 | DO/PhD, DO/MBA | |
| MD | Wayne State University School of Medicine | Detroit | MI | Public | $67,200 | MD/MBA, MD/PhD, BS/MD, MD/MPH | Must have bachelor's degree Only accepts applications from Canadians and students who completed a bachelor's degree at Wayne State University |
| MD | Saint Louis University School of Medicine | Saint Louis | MO | Private | $64,472 | MD/MBA, MD/MPH, MD/PhD, BS/MD | At least 30 semester hours at a U.S. or Canadian university |
| MD | Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine | Saint Louis | MO | Private | $67,476 | MD/MBA, MD/MPH, MD/PhD | At least 90 semester hours at an accredited university Only accepts coursework from U.S., Canadian or American College Overseas institutions |
| DO | William Carey University College of Osteopathic Medicine | Hattiesburg | MS | Private | $46,000 | Not provided | |
| DO | Rocky Vista University - Montana College of Osteopathic Medicine | Billings | MT | Private | TBA | Not provided | |
| MD | Duke University School of Medicine | Durham | NC | Private | $68,440 | MD/MBA, MD/JD, MD/PhD | Must have completed a minimum of 2 years at a U.S. university |
| MD | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine | Chapel Hill | NC | Public | $62,666 | Not provided | Must have a bachelor's degree If obtained from outside the U.S., prerequisites must be taken at a U.S. institution prior to applying |
| MD | Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth | Hanover | NH | Private | $69,778 | MD/PhD | Minimum of 3 years at a U.S. or Canadian institution is required |
| DO | Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine | Stratford | NJ | Public | $67,452 | DO/PhD, DO/MBA, DO/MPH, DO/JD | |
| DO | Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine Sewell Campus | Sewell | NJ | Public | $67,452 | Not provided | |
| MD | Rutgers New Jersey Medical School | Newark | NJ | Public | $71,634 | MD/MBA, MD/MPH, BS/MD, MD/PhD | Must have a bachelor's degree |
| MD | Albert Einstein College of Medicine | Bronx | NY | Private | $0 | MD/MPH, MD/PhD | |
| MD | Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons | New York | NY | Private | $71,425 | MD/PhD | At least 1 year of premed at a U.S. university |
| MD | CUNY School of Medicine | New York | NY | Public | $69,572 | BS/MD | |
| MD | Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai | New York | NY | Private | $63,365 | MD/MPH, MD/PhD | Must have bachelor's degree If degree earned outside the U.S., taking coursework within the U.S. such as such as post-baccalaureate or graduate-level is highly recommended |
| DO | Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine at Elmira | Elmira | NY | Private | $37,740 | BS/DO | |
| MD | NYU Grossman Long Island School of Medicine | Mineola | NY | Private | $3,950 | Not provided | |
| MD | NYU Grossman School of Medicine | New York | NY | Private | $3,950 | MD/MBA, MD/MPH, MD/PhD | |
| MD | Renaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook University | Stony Brook | NY | Public | $69,336 | MD/MBA, MD/MPH, MD/PhD, BS/MD | |
| MD | State University of New York Upstate Medical University Alan and Marlene Norton College of Medicine | Syracuse | NY | Public | $66,703 | MD/MBA, MD/MPH, BS/MD, MD/PhD | At least 90 semester hours at a U.S. or Canadian university |
| MD | Weill Cornell Medicine | New York | NY | Private | $68,892 | MD/MBA, MD/PhD | |
| MD | Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine | Cleveland | OH | Private | $70,074 | MD/MPH, MD/JD, MD/MBA, MS/MD, MD/PhD | Has 2 MD programs named the University program and the College Program For the University Program: If graduated from a school outside of the U.S., must have 1 or 2 undergraduate or graduate years of science coursework at a U.S. university For the College Program: One degree (bachelor's, master's or PhD) must be earned at U.S. or Canadian university Applicants must have resided in the U.S. or Canada for 1 to 2 years |
| MD | McMaster University Michael G. DeGroote School of Medicine | Hamilton | ON | $28,203 | MD/PhD | ||
| MD | The University of Western Ontario - Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry | London | ON | $25,528 | MD/PhD | ||
| MD | University of Toronto Temerty Faculty of Medicine | Toronto | ON | $91,760 | MD/MBA, MD/PhD | ||
| DO | Western University of Health Sciences, College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific-Northwest | Lebanon | OR | Private | $62,916 | DO/MPH | |
| DO | Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine | Erie | PA | Private | $37,740 | BS/DO | |
| DO | Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine at Seton Hill | Greensburg | PA | Private | $37,740 | BS/DO | |
| MD | Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania | Philadelphia | PA | Private | $69,263 | MD/MBA, MD/JD, MD/MPH, MD/PhD | Minimum of 1 year of higher education at a U.S. or Canadian university and completion of prerequisites |
| MD | Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University | Philadelphia | PA | Private | $62,514 | MD/MPH, MD/MBA, BS/MD, MD/PhD | Must have a bachelor's degree from a U.S. or Canadian university |
| MD | University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine | Pittsburgh | PA | Private | $64,798 | MD/MPH, MD/PhD | Minimum of 1 year of higher education at a U.S. or Canadian university and completion of prerequisites |
| MD | Ponce Health Sciences University School of Medicine | Ponce | PR | Private | $68,887 | BS/MD | |
| MD | McGill University Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences | Montreal | QC | $49,275 | MD/PhD | ||
| MD | Universite de Montreal Faculty of Medicine | Montreal | QC | $177,881 | Not provided | ||
| MD | Universite de Sherbrooke Faculty of Medicine | Sherbrooke | QC | $42,550 | Not provided | ||
| MD | The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University | Providence | RI | Private | $68,544 | BS/MD, MD/PhD | Minimum of 1 year of higher education at a U.S. or Canadian university and completion of prerequisites |
| MD | Vanderbilt University School of Medicine | Nashville | TN | Private | $66,509 | MD/JD, MD/MPH, MD/MBA, MD/PhD | Must have a bachelor's degree Minimum of 1 year of higher education at a U.S. university highly recommended |
| MD | Anne Burnett Marion School of Medicine at TCU | Fort Worth | TX | Private | $63,034 | MD/MPH | |
| DO | Rocky Vista University College of Osteopathic Medicine - Utah Campus | Ivins | UT | Private | $62,080 | Not provided | |
| DO | Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine Virginia Campus | Blacksburg | VA | Private | $49,800 | Not provided | |
| DO | Liberty University College of Osteopathic Medicine | Lynchburg | VA | Private | $49,440 | Not provided | |
| MD | University of Virginia School of Medicine | Charlottesville | VA | Public | $63,464 | MD/MPH, MD/MBA, MD/PhD, MD/JD | 90 semester hours of coursework at a U.S. or Canadian university required Bachelor's degree is strongly preferred |
| MD | West Virginia University School of Medicine | Morgantown | WV | Public | $66,231 | MD/MBA, MD/PhD | A minimum of 90 credit hours PLU.S. three years of higher education at the undergraduate or graduate level from an accredited U.S. or Canadian academic institution is required. |
Data is up to date as of October 2025, but check with the respective school about their specific requirements before you apply. Some schools not on this list take international students if they have permanent resident status or are DACA recipients. The MSAR database is a good way to verify application requirements and restrictions, school-by-school.
A note on Canadian medical schools: Policy changes have made it much harder for international students to study medicine in Canada. Ontario banned international students, including those from the U.S., starting in Fall 2026. New visa caps and accreditation updates will affect and residency pathways. We’ve detailed it all in our guide to Canada’s medical school changes.
Canadian students seeking a medical school education in the U.S. may have an advantage over other international students. Some U.S. medical schools consider Canadian degrees equivalent to U.S. ones, and some schools only accept Canadian international students.
This isn’t true for all U.S. medical schools, though, and Canadian students would still be considered international students for visa or financial aid purposes.
WATCH THIS WEBINAR: How IMGs Can Match Into the Residency of Their Choice
Challenges and How to Overcome Them
If you’re an international student applying to a medical school in the U.S., you’ll face many challenges that differ from those of U.S. citizens. We’ve put together some expectations and how to set yourself up for success.
Limited School Options
The Challenge: Fewer than half of U.S. medical schools accept international students. This significantly narrows the pool of schools you can apply to.
How to Overcome It: Use tools like our Med School Explorer and the MSC Score Calculator to help you choose schools you’re more likely to get an acceptance from. Leverage your results to seek additional opportunities to enhance your credentials.
These might include boosting your GPA or MCAT score, engaging in relevant research projects, gaining clinical experience, or undertaking volunteer work in healthcare settings.
Additional Eligibility Requirements
The Challenge: International applicants often need to meet extra criteria as part of the admissions process to apply to a U.S. or Canadian college of medicine. This can differ by institution, but most often, schools will require you to:
- Complete at least one year, sometimes all, of your prerequisite coursework at an accredited U.S. university. Some medical schools only accept international students who have earned their undergraduate degree from their university.
- Demonstrate fluency in English, typically through the TOEFL exam, if an applicant’s undergraduate degree was not completed in an English-speaking country. (Students from Australia, for example, wouldn’t need to meet this requirement.)
How to Overcome It: You need to prepare early as an international student, and we mean years early. As you near the end of high school, it’s a good idea to consider where you’ll spend your undergraduate years and whether you need to brush up on your English language fluency.
Competitive Admissions
The Challenge: International student medical school acceptance rates are considerably lower compared to domestic students. According to the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC), for the 2024-2025 school year, only 10% of international applicants were admitted to MD programs. Compare that to an overall acceptance rate of 44.6% for all MD applicants in 2024.
How to Overcome It: This is true for all prospective med students, but to be a competitive applicant, you’ll need to start with a high GPA and MCAT score. When you prepare for the MCAT, consider private MCAT tutoring and give yourself at least 6 months to study before you take the exam.
When it’s time to apply to medical school, work with an experienced advisor to ensure every part of your application is complete and optimized for success, including your secondary application. The right advisor can help you write a personal statement that sets you apart from all applicants, not just your international peers.
Financial Aid Challenges
The Challenge: Access to financial aid is limited for international students. International applicants don’t qualify for federal student loans unless they are permanent residents of the U.S. or green card holders. Some medical schools may require proof of financial resources to cover tuition costs before accepting you.
American medical schools aren’t inexpensive, either. It costs an average of $59,720 per year to attend medical school in the U.S. Some schools, particularly public universities, offer breaks on tuition for in-state applicants, but this doesn’t apply to international students.
How to Overcome It: Plan ahead. In addition to saving money whenever possible, look for loans and scholarships for international medical students. The International Scholarships & Financial Aid (IEFA) database is a fantastic resource to find scholarships and loans that may apply to you.
Many schools, including some in the Ivy League, will consider students on a financial need basis and offer scholarships or institutional loans to help you cover the cost of attendance. You can also consider private loans to pay for medical school, although these should be a last resort.
Visa and Work Authorization Restrictions
The Challenge: International students must navigate visa restrictions, especially in relation to work and extracurricular activities. Certain research opportunities you pursue could qualify as work and interfere with your visa status.
How to Overcome It: Aim for undergraduate research projects on campus, rather than with private companies. Talk to your pre-health advisor before accepting scholarship funds for research.
Once you are accepted and enroll in medical school, focus on maintaining strong academic performance. Schools that welcome international students often have financial resources available for visa sponsorship during clinical rotations.
Transcript and Coursework Verification
The Challenge: Transcripts from an international school require verification by an accredited U.S. institution to apply to medical school via AMCAS (MD programs) or AACOMAS (DO programs).
One part of this verification process is converting international grades to a U.S.-equivalent GPA. Typically, if you’re transferring during undergraduate studies, schools will use an official conversion platform like WES (World Education Services) iGPA Calculator.
How to Overcome It: If you plan to complete your undergraduate degree in the U.S., contact your pre-med advisor or admissions office to find out which courses will be verified and transferred. Plan to retake any courses that cannot be transferred to your target school of medicine.
If you will not complete any part of your undergraduate degree in the U.S., contact the medical program(s) to which you plan to apply to discuss prerequisite requirements. Some schools only accept international applicants with at least one year of medical schooling in the U.S.
Expert tip: Many international students who already have a bachelor’s degree complete post-baccalaureate programs to fulfill these requirements and strengthen their application.
The MCAT
The Challenge: All prospective med students must take the MCAT, administered in English. This complex exam can be difficult for those who completed their undergraduate degrees outside the U.S. due to language barriers or differences in scientific standards and terminology.
Assume that as an international student, your MCAT should be as high (or higher) than the average of matriculating students at your target school. This varies, but a good MCAT score for MD applicants is 511 or higher.
How to Overcome It: Every student can benefit from MCAT tutoring, and this is doubly true for international students. An experienced tutor will help you identify high-yield topics to study and develop a plan based on your unique needs to boost your MCAT score.
Our MCAT tutoring students score 12+ points higher on the MCAT. That many points can take your application to the next level, especially at a more competitive school of medicine.
Application Checklist for International Students
Applying to medical school as an international student comes with unique challenges. This checklist highlights the key steps to maximize your chances of acceptance:
- Brush up on English fluency. Take practice English tests. Improve your comprehension and speaking skills through platforms like Duolingo, Coursera, local language schools, or personalized tutoring such as iTalki.
- Plan your courses using MSAR. Schedule your undergraduate courses based on U.S. medical school admission requirements using the MSAR database.
- Attend a U.S. undergraduate program. If possible, complete your final 1-2 years (or more) in the U.S. to earn a bachelor’s degree. No matter what, confirm which international coursework will transfer.
- Focus on on-campus research. Pursue research projects on your university campus rather than at private companies to avoid conflicts with your visa status.
- Plan your finances early. Prepare for the cost of medical school. Explore scholarships and financial aid for international students. Document your financial plan, as most medical schools will ask for it.
- Prepare for the MCAT. Dedicate at least six months to MCAT study, and consider a remote tutor to target your weakest areas. Make sure to keep your grades high as you prep.
- Select schools strategically. Input your GPA and MCAT scores into tools like the Medical School Chance Predictor to identify target and reach schools. Compare those with the list of medical programs that accept international students.
- Invest in application advising. Work with an experienced advisor to ensure your medical school application is complete, optimized, and competitive.
Choosing Between U.S. and International Medical Schools
When deciding where to apply and study medicine, whether that’s a U.S. or international medical school, here are some practical steps to guide your decision:
- Assess your career goals. Decide where you want to practice medicine. U.S. institutions are ideal for a career in the U.S. once you’re done with your medical education. International schools make sense if you want to practice medicine in your home country.
- Compare costs. U.S. medical schools can be expensive, especially for non-U.S. citizens. Factor in tuition, living expenses, and financial aid. (Some Caribbean medical schools offer U.S.-friendly programs at lower costs.)
- Check admission requirements. U.S. medical schools often have stringent admission criteria for international students as part of their application process. Compare these with international schools to see where your qualifications may fit best.
- Evaluate clinical opportunities. U.S. schools provide U.S.-based rotations. International schools might provide diverse clinical experiences, but ensure they are recognized by U.S. standards if you wish to practice there.
- Consider language and culture. If English isn’t your first language, attending a U.S. medical school could be challenging. Think about your comfort with English, other languages, and living abroad.
- Review residency outcomes. Research residency match rates, especially for U.S. residencies, if that’s your goal.
- Seek guidance. Connect with current students or alumni from both U.S. and international medical schools for real-world insights.
- Reflect on personal preferences and long-term plans. Consider lifestyle, family, visa options, and career trajectory over the next 10-20 years. Think about the long-term impacts of your choices.
Read Next: The Best Medical Schools for Non-Traditional Applicants
FAQs
While no med school is truly “easy” to get into, certain programs are less competitive than others. Reference our guide for a list of medical schools (MD and DO programs) with higher acceptance rates and less strict GPA and MCAT requirements.
DO schools that accept international students may have slightly lower GPA and testing requirements, with slightly higher acceptance rates for international students.
More affordable options for international students often include Caribbean medical schools, which offer lower tuition than most U.S. schools. American schools that accept international students often come at a higher price tag, as financial aid is limited.
International students can be accepted into some U.S. medical schools, but it’s highly competitive. Fewer schools accept international students compared to U.S. citizens, and acceptance rates are significantly lower. Success requires excellent GPA and MCAT scores, strong clinical and research experience, and careful financial and visa planning.
Gain a Competitive Edge With Physician-Lead Support
No matter where you’re coming from, whether you’re an international student or a U.S. applicant aiming for a top program, we can help you improve your chances of acceptance. Build your application alongside a doctor with admissions experience and join the 95% of clients who get into medical school.
Sahil Mehta MD
Dr. Mehta is the founder of MedSchoolCoach and has guided thousands of successful medical school applicants. He is also a practicing physician in Boston where he specializes in vascular and interventional radiology.
See How We Can Help
Search for:
RECENT POSTS
Caribbean Medical Schools: Pros, Cons, and the Top 6 Schools
medschoolcoach
Medical Schools in Colorado
medschoolcoach
2025/26 AMCAS Application Guide (With Screenshots)
