University of California, San Francisco

San Francisco, CaliforniaMDUCSF Official website

MCAT517AverageSource for MCAT
GPA3.87AverageSource for GPA
Class size1772025-2026Source for Class size
In-state tuition$42,540One year, tuition and feesSource for In-state tuition

Mission

UC San Francisco (UCSF) is the leading university dedicated to advancing health worldwide through preeminent biomedical research, graduate-level education in the life sciences and health professions, and excellence in patient care. Within our overarching advancing health worldwide mission, UCSF is devoted at every level to serving the public. UCSF’s commitment to public service dates to the founding of its predecessor institution, Toland Medical College, in 1864. Born out of the overcrowded and unsanitary conditions of Gold Rush-era San Francisco, Toland Medical College trained doctors to elevate the standards of public health in the burgeoning city. By 1873, the University of California acquired the college and forged a partnership with San Francisco General Hospital that continues to this day and serves as a model for delivering leading-edge care at a public safety-net hospital. Today UCSF’s public mission goes beyond San Francisco and delivers a substantial impact on a national and global level by innovating health care approaches for the world’s most vulnerable populations, training the next generation of doctors, nurses, dentists, pharmacists and scientists; supporting elementary and high school education; and translating scientific discoveries into better health for everyone.
As the school states it

Admissions office

UCSF School of MedicineBox 0408San Francisco, CA 94143-0408 USA

Tuition and cost

Tuition and fees
In state$42,540
Out of state$54,785
One year, as reported. A missing figure means the school did not report it, never that it costs nothing.
Cost of attendance
In state$89,616
Out of state$101,861
Tuition plus the living costs the school budgets for. This is what a loan is sized against.
What you leave with
Average graduating debt
$105,406
Students receiving aid
88%
Health insurance
In state
$10,901
Out of state
$10,901
After graduation
Monthly loan payment
$1,491
Earnings, 1 year out
$76,908
Earnings, 5 years out
$153,063

Loan payment is on federal graduate loans only. Earnings are medians for everyone who finished this program, and a year out most of them are in residency.

Who can apply

Out-of-state ApplicantsYesYes, Yes, all applicants
Canadian ApplicantsNoNo
International ApplicantsNoNo
DACA Status ApplicantsYesYes, Yes, all applicants
Transfer applicantsNoNot accepted
Community college prerequisitesYesAccepted
AP creditConditionsVaries by course
Online courseworkYesAccepted
Pass/fail courseworkYesAccepted

We accept all coursework completed at a community college, provided it is from an accredited institution. Premedical students should pursue a four-year undergraduate curriculum and obtain a baccalaureate degree before entering medical school. A maximum of 105 quarter units can be transferred from a community college.

Applying

How competitive is admission here?

58.6applications per seat2025-2026
10,372applications received2025-2026
46.3%from in state2025-2026
  1. MCAT scores this school will read
    Oldest accepted
    January 2024
    Latest accepted
    September 13, 2026
  2. AAMC PREview
    Policy
    We are not using PREview scores in the admissions process
  3. Secondary application
    Required
    Yes
    Fee
    $85
    Sent to
    Screened applicants after preliminary review.
    Fee waiver
    Available
  4. Secondary deadline
    Due
    December 01, 2026
  5. Letters of recommendation
    Committee letter
    Accepted with conditions
    Letter packet
    Accepted with conditions
    Individual letters
    Accepted
  6. Interview
    Invitations
    September 1, 2026
  7. Deposit on an offer
    Required
    No

Prerequisite coursework

  • BiochemistryOne (1) semester or quarter of colleve-level Biochemistry.Required
  • BiologyTwo (2) semesters or three (3) quarters of college-level Biology with laboratory.LabRequired
  • ChemistryOne (1) semester or two (2) quarters of college- level Chemistry.Required
  • Inorganic ChemistryOne (1) semester or two (2) quarters of college- level Inorganic Chemistry.LabRecommended
  • Organic ChemistryOne (1) semester of college-level organic chemistry with laboratory.LabRequired
  • PhysicsOne (1) semester or two (2) quarters of college- level Physics.Required

Interview

File: closed file
Video interview

Interviews are conducted via zoom

Regional interviews

Interviews are conducted via zoom

How the school describes it

Consists of two double- blind interviews, each lasting 45 minutes to one hour.

Invitations

September 1, 2026

A typical interview day

https://meded.ucsf.edu/pro spective-students/md- program-admissions/md- program-application- process? anchor=step4#section3506 -4

If you are waitlisted

Waitlist positions
Approximately 150
Waitlist offers
50

Applicants on the alternate list are not considered until after the April 30 deadline.

Sources

Figures here were last reviewed on 2026-07-11.

PreMD publishes no ranking of medical schools and republishes nobody else's. Reported averages and medians describe entering classes; they do not predict an applicant's result.

PreMD is an independent planning tool for applicants. It is not affiliated with, sponsored by or endorsed by this school, and this is not the school's official website. Marks are shown for identification.