5 Best Medical Schools in Arizona

The best medical schools in Arizona offer a unique and outstanding medical experience for incoming students pursuing a career in Medicine. 

These schools have a first-class academic reputation as one of the top 100 US universities based on the U.S News & Reports rankings. Each institution offers the best graduate programs in medicine, a metropolitan campus environment, great research centers, hands-on work, and direct patient care experiences in reputable hospitals in the United States. 

There are 85 colleges and universities in Arizona. 30 are public institutions, 42 are for-profit private institutions and 13 are nonprofit private schools. The five medical schools in Arizona comprise two osteopathic and three allopathic schools. 

Keep reading to know these 5 best medical schools in Arizona, the quality of these schools, student enrollment, curriculum, GPA and MCAT score requirements, rankings, hospital affiliations, and a lot more. 

But first, here are the requirements to get accepted into medical schools in Arizona.

Best medical schools in Arizona

How to get accepted into Medical school in Arizona

Medical schools in Arizona are very selective and competitive. The acceptance rate is 2%.

Medical degrees are considered second degrees in the United States. Therefore, to enroll directly for a Bachelor of Medicine, you must first complete a bachelor’s program degree in a related science subject (chemistry, biology) and earn a bachelor’s degree in the science subject before applying to study medicine. A medical degree program typically lasts 4 years.

To get accepted into a medical school in Arizona, incoming students are expected to have:

  1. High school diploma
  2. Minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.0
  3. Undergraduate degree in the field of Sciences (3-4 years)
  4. Exceptional TOEFL language scores
  5. Minimum MCAT exam result (depends on the university individually)
  6. Extracurricular activities
  7. Letters of recommendation

During the admission process, students with experience providing medical care to the local community in Arizona or those who are able to show a strong commitment to serving patients in Arizona are highly considered.

You should also have completed internships, and/or had job experiences in the medical field, to increase your chances of getting accepted. You can choose to volunteer at a free clinic, or with a hospital service, as it is one of the best ways to show your commitment and passion for medicine.

For some medical work experiences, You can also be paid while working with professors in reputable medical colleges in research. Lab internships and assistantships vacancies may also be available to collaborate with other researchers on their projects or even do research on your own project.

Nurse assistant or nurse’s aide jobs are available for those who want to work directly with patients, at a hospital, local clinic, or any place where ill and sick people are treated.

Official letters of recommendation from your professors, employers, or people who can vouch for you are also required.

It is necessary that the recommendation letter comes from a current or previous employer who can vouch for your work ethic. This will enable the admissions committee to determine how committed and strong-willed you are to study medicine. 

Official letters of recommendation can be submitted either through email with the rest of your application materials or mailed directly.

5 Best Medical Schools in Arizona

  1. Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine 
  2. Midwestern University Arizona College of Osteopathic Medicine 
  3. University of Arizona College of Medicine 
  4. University of Arizona, Phoenix College of Medicine
  5. A.T. Still University of Health Sciences 

1. Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine

The Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine (MCASOM), is a research-oriented medical school founded in 1971 and located in Rochester, Minnesota, with additional campuses in Florida and Arizona. MCASOM is part of the Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science (MCCMS), which is a division of the Mayo Clinic. It was renamed in honor of businessman Jay Alix who donated $200 million to the school in November 2018.

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MCASOM is a world-class university for patient care and research. It ranks as one of the best medical schools in Arizona and within the top #50 of best M.D. programs in the United States. The Arizona campus has a high reputation in more than 65 surgical and medical fields.

The Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) degree offered by the school is accredited by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME) and Higher Learning Commission (HLC). US News & World Report ranks its research program #11 in the U.S. Medical graduates from Alix get the opportunity to work with a large population and gain the experience they need to become successful medical professionals. 

“Lead. Transform. Heal” motto of Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine encourages students to make an impact in health care from the start of their medical studies. The curriculum focuses on a high ratio of patients to students clinical setting. In the first two years, classroom learning is combined with clinical training comprising clinical integration courses, The last two years are completed with clerkships.

MCASOM acceptance rate is  2% every year, making the college of medicine very competitive. A total of 5,000 applications were received in 2021 and 174 students were given admission.

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2. Midwestern University Arizona College of Osteopathic Medicine

The Midwestern University Arizona College of Osteopathic Medicine (AZCOM) is a school of osteopathic medicine established in 1995 in Glendale, Arizona, as a part of Midwestern University. AZCOM grants the Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.) degree and is one of the best medical schools in Arizona. 

The college of Osteopathic medicine first started after the Board of Trustees purchased 135 acres of land to build the Glendale Campus which is now home to academic buildings, student housing, laboratory facilities, and an on-campus osteopathic clinic equipped with innovative technology designed for maximum patient comfort and care. 

AZCOM curriculum and research are designed to benefit students by providing students many opportunities for hands-on work experiences and direct patient care. The first two years are centered on educational coursework and quality patient experiences in a clinical setting. The final two years involve 84 weeks of clinical rotations and direct-care training in various centers. Professional faculty members and fully licensed practitioners train students to become successful and compassionate doctors and physicians. 

At the end of their graduate studies, the salary range for AZCOM graduate students is between $234k and $497k. For the three osteopathic licensing examinations, COMLEX, there is a 95% pass rate from AZCOM students. Additionally, over 95% of graduates get immediate job offers after completing their residencies.

AZCOM partners with more than 2,000 physicians at major metropolitan private practices and health centers throughout the State of Arizona and the U.S to provide clinical rotations for medical students during their third and fourth years. There are also new postdoctoral programs in primary care disciplines established by AZCOM through its Arizona Graduate Medical Education Consortium. Medical students go for their residency programs and internship at several hospitals throughout Arizona.

With many of its graduates practicing in rural and u deserved communities, Arizona College of Osteopathic Medicine is ranked the #1 best medical school for primary care. With the school’s overall reputation, innovative facilities, and comprehensive curriculum, AZCOM is an ideal choice of medical school for incoming students who want to become successful health caregivers in the medical field.

The medical school acceptance rates for both AZCOM DO and MD degree programs are around 40-41%. Successful applicants have an average MCAT score of 515 and a GPA score of 3.4 in both Sciences and overall. Six semester hours in English and eight semester hours in other science programs is the minimum course work required: biology, organic chemistry, physics, and inorganic chemistry. 

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3. University of Arizona College of Medicine

The University of Arizona College of Medicine is an independent medical school and one of three MD granting medical schools of the University of Arizona located in Tucson, Arizona. The college of medicine is ranked among the top 100 med schools for primary care, and research as well as has a high number of graduates serving rural communities in Arizona.

The College of Medicine – Tucson campus is is governed by the Arizona Board of Regents and located at the University of Arizona Health Sciences (UAHS) center. The center is situated on the University of Arizona campus. The college was first accepting Arizona residents only before it started accepting qualified non-resident and international students for the beginning of the 2009–2010 class. This increased the number of applications to 10,000 a year.

UA College of Medicine curriculum focuses on providing a continuous M.D. curriculum that produces experienced doctors who make remarkable advancements in the medical field. Clinical training starts from the first year and is combined with basic science lessons. Science courses are taken in the “Preclerkship Phase,” including a clinical reasoning course, core science courses, and a doctor/patient & societies course. Then there’s a 12 monthly clerkship course, that is designed to prepare students for residencies. 

In the end, medical students are required to carry out a scholarly Project through a 4-year-long continuing course that allows them to carry out research with a faculty mentor on a specific topic. Over 70 residency and fellowship programs in medicine including nonstandard clinical fellowships in Gastrointestinal Pathology and Acute Care are sponsored at the University of Arizona College of Medicine.

Admission into the UA College of Medicine is very competitive, with the acceptance rate for the incoming first-year class expected to be less than 2 %. A total of 9,600 applications were received for an incoming cohort of 120 students in 2022.

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4. University of Arizona, Phoenix College of Medicine

The University of Arizona College of Medicine is a branch campus of the University of Arizona College of Medicine established in Tucson in 2007. In 2012, it became an independent medical school with approximately 125 students enrolled annually and more than 4,000 graduate physicians since its inception.

The Phoenix college of medicine is one of the best medical schools in Arizona. It is among the top 100 medical schools in the United States for primary care and ranked #53 for graduates practicing in underserved areas. It is also part of the University of Health Sciences, which is a leading institution in health professions training and biomedical research. With over $200 million raised in grants and contracts every year, the school is able to perform the most advanced research and creative training and education. There are nine different locations throughout Pheonix and the university partners with the most reputable institutions and organizations such as  Valleywise Health, the Phoenix Children’s Hospital, the Phoenix VA Health care system, and the Mayo Clinic.

Medical students get to treat actual patients from different populations as part of their creative Distributive Clinical Model. Through the world-class biomedical research facility, learning is done in clinical environments at one of the nine clinics located near the campus. These clinics are affiliated with the school.

The Phoenix College of Medicine partners with the Phoenix Art Museum. The curriculum involves a comprehensive education and training for students to know and appreciate traditional and modern art. Based on the Program of Art in Medicine, put in place in 2014, medical students are encouraged to explore human emotions and various aspects through creation, art, analysis of art, and appreciation.

Phoenix College of Medicine admission is very competitive. A total of 6,000 applications were received each year for an incoming cohort of 200 students. An average overall MCAT score and GPA score of 514 and 3.72 are required to get admitted into the class of 2024.

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5. A.T. Still University of Health Sciences

A.T. Still University (ATSU) is a private medical school founded in 1892 by Dr. Andrew Taylor Still and located in Kirksville, Missouri, with a second campus in Arizona. It is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and is one of the world’s first osteopathic medical schools. ATSU has three 200 acres of campus with six colleges and schools which has trained thousands of doctors and physicians.

ATSU-ASHS program curriculum is committed to training extraordinary health professionals by combining advanced, evidence-based teaching methods and innovative approaches to training, to provide future doctors and physicians with the ability to deliver quality medical care. This includes expanding top-notch healthcare services to local communities, such as the elderly, people with disabilities, and those experiencing economic, and or linguistic barriers to medical and healthcare treatments.

Programs like the Physical Therapy and Physician’s Assistant programs are highly ranked by US News & World Report. The Audiology and Occupational Therapy programs are ranked #55 and #108 best in the United States and boast a 100% employment and praxis exam passage rate among its graduates who complete their degree within the specified time frame. The Audiology faculty comprise experts committed to training the next generation of audiologists

A.T. Still University is one of the best medical schools in Arizona for medical students who want to become exceptional doctors and health care, professionals.

ATSU-ASHS admission is very selective, Last year, only 20% of applicants were admitted. Applicants who graduated from a non-US university or college must submit justified evidence of a U.S. degree and/or course equivalency. Foreign transcripts must also be made available and evaluated by a foreign transcript evaluation service. The evaluation must specify that the transcript(s) grades are equivalent to that of a U.S. degree.

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FAQs on the Best Medical Schools In Arizona

What is the number 1 medical school in Arizona?

The Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine (MCASOM), is a research-oriented medical school that is part of the Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science (MCCMS), a division of the Mayo Clinic.
MCASOM is a world-class university for patient care and research. It ranks as one of the best medical schools in Arizona and within the top #50 of best M.D. programs in the United States. The Arizona campus has a high reputation in more than 65 surgical and medical fields.

How many medical schools are in Arizona?

There are a total of five medical schools in Arizona. Two out of the five medical schools are osteopathic and three are allopathic.

What cities in Arizona have the best Medical programs?

Phoenix, AZ, and Scottsdale, AZ (Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine) 
Glendale, AZ (Midwestern University Arizona College of Osteopathic Medicine) 
Tucson, AZ (University of Arizona College of Medicine) 
Phoenix, AZ (University of Arizona, Phoenix College of Medicine) 
Mesa, AZ (A.T. Still University of Health Sciences) 

Is it hard to get into the University of Arizona Medical School?

Admission into medical schools in Arizona is very competitive, with a 2% acceptance rate for the incoming students. The average MCAT score of the enrolled students is 508 while the GPA score is 3.72.

What Medical school has the best M.D program in Arizona?

Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine has an outstanding medical program in Arizona.
The curriculum for students pursuing an M.D. degree focuses on patient care and clinical experiences that enhance your classroom learning, and biomedical research to deepen students understanding of medicine. The curriculum focuses on a high ratio of patients to students clinical setting. In the first two years, classroom learning is combined with clinical training comprising clinical integration courses, The last two years are completed with clerkships.

Conclusion

And that’s it. Everything important information you need to know on the 5 best medical schools in Arizona. 

These schools offer a comprehensive curriculum, hands-on work experiences and direct patient care, equipped laboratory facilities, training spaces, and lot’s more. They are also affiliated with reputable teaching hospitals

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