collageIf you’re a premed who attended college in California, UC San Diego School of Medicine is likely on your radar. UCSD Medical School is one of the younger medical schools in California, but it has churned out impressive results in its half-century of existence. Innovation is at the School of Medicine’s core; from their reimagination of the medical education model—which emphasized basic science education alongside clinical training—to the doctors who pioneer life-saving surgeries.
Each year, UCSD cultivates a diverse class of 100 to 130 future physicians. About one-quarter of the student body is underrepresented in medicine, and the class is made up of equal parts men and women.
Due to the school’s strong research reputation and rigorous standards, it’s difficult to become one of those matriculants. In this post, we will help you understand how to present yourself as a competitive applicant and discuss what goes into standout secondary application essays. We will also cover requirements and deadlines that you’ll need to keep in mind when applying to UCSD.
Average GPA: 3.77
UCSD Medical School admissions statistics
UCSD’s current acceptance rate is 3.8 percent. It’s no surprise then that UCSD matriculants have impressive statistics. Here is the profile for the 2019 entering class: Average MCAT: 516.15.
Part 2: UCSD Medical School MD programs
In addition to the traditional four-year degree, UC San Diego offers three other programs for students wishing to obtain an MD:
Medical Scientist Training Program MD/PhD: This program integrates intensive lab research training with medical education. Many students choose to combine their MD with a biochemistry PhD, but technically any graduate program is available in this program. It usually takes students eight years to complete both degrees.
Program in Medical Education – Health Equity (PRIME-HEQ): The mission of the PRIME-HEQ program is to eradicate demographic-based health disparities and has been designed for students interested in becoming physicians for vulnerable and marginalized communities. About 10 percent of the 2019 incoming class enrolled in PRIME-HEQ.
Global Health Academic Concentration (GHAC): UCSD offers this program to prepare students interested in global health by exposing them to the challenges, ethics, and inequities of the global health ecosystem. GHAC students are required to complete a research experience outside the United States as well as a clinical rotation.
In this post, we’ll cover the traditional MD path.
Part 3: UCSD Medical School requirements
The UCSD admissions committee will evaluate your application based on four key components:
- MCAT scores and strong academic record: we’ll discuss statistics and current class profiles shortly.
- Scholarly and extracurricular activities: UCSD looks for depth and does not necessarily favor traditional pre-med extracurricular activities.
- Letters of recommendation: You must submit three, but no more than five,letters of recommendation through the AMCAS letter service.
- Interview: Candidates that submit a successful AMCAS and secondary application will be invited tointerview with the admissions committee.
UCSD does not actually require any specific coursework in order to apply for their School of Medicine. That said, they do recommend students take at least two semesters of biology, chemistry, organic chemistry, physics, and math, plus one semester of biochemistry.
UCSD Medical School admissions statistics
UCSD’s current acceptance rate is 3.8 percent. It’s no surprise then that UCSD matriculants have impressive statistics. Here is the profile for the 2019 entering class:
- Average MCAT: 516.15
- Average GPA: 3.77
- Average science GPA: 3.73
(Note: Admissions data for the entering class of 2020 is currently unavailable. We’ll update the guide with this data as soon as it becomes available.)
Eligibility
UC San Diego only considers U.S. citizens, permanent residents, and DACA recipients for admission. Foreign students without a green card are ineligible. Furthermore, all applicants must have completed at least one full year of study at a four-year college in the U.S.
UCSD Medical School tuition
If you’re a California resident, the first year of medical school at UC San Diego costs about $65,000. This estimate includes tuition, room and board, books, and supplies. Non-residents must pay an additional $12,245 in tuition, bringing their total to just over $77,000.
UCSD does not offer specifics about their need-based financial aid program, but their data show that in 2019 UCSD Medical School graduates left campus with an average debt of $134,000.
2023 University of California, San Diego School of Medicine Tuition & Fees
The 2023 tuition at University of California, San Diego School of Medicine is $40,955 for California residents and $53,200 for out-of-state students. The 2023 tuition & fees is increased by 2.83% compared to the previous year rate (2022). University of California, San Diego School of Medicine’s tuition is 11.60% lower than average tuition of U.S. medical schools and similar to the average tuition of California medical schools.
The medical school tuition differs and more expensive than the regular undergraduate and graduate programs. The average undergraduate program tuition & fees at University of California-San Diego is $14,700 for California residents and $44,454 for out-of-state students. The average graduate schools tuition & fees other than medical school is $13,564 for California residents and $28,666 for out-of-state students
The average living costs including room & board and transportation costs is $23,994 and the personal miscellaneous expenses is $4,212.
| California Residents | Out-of-State | |
|---|---|---|
| University of California, San Diego School of Medicine Tuition & Fees | $40,955 | $53,200 |
| U.S. Public Medical School Average | $38,176 | $60,181 |
| California Public Medical School Average | $40,992 | $53,237 |
| Living Costs | $23,994 | |
| Miscellaneous expenses | $4,212 | |
| Books & Supplies | $1,969 | |
| Undergraduate Program | $14,700 | $44,454 |
| Graduate Program | $13,564 | $28,666 |
University of California, San Diego School of Medicine 4-Yeras MD Program Total Costs
The tuition for MD program varies by medical years depending on mandatory fees and required course works. The estimated COA (cost of attendance) for the standard four(4) years MD program at University of California, San Diego School of Medicine is $305,742 for California residents and $354,722 out-of-state students based on the current tuition rate. The COA includes the costs for tuition & fees, room & board, transportation, books & supplies, and other personal miscellaneous expenses. The next table summarizes medical school costs for four(4) years by year and cost item.
| Year 1 | Year 2 | Year 3 | Year 4 | 4 Years Estimation | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition & Fees | |||||
| California Residents | $40,955 | $44,973 | $44,973 | $40,855 | $171,756 |
| Out-of-State | $53,200 | $57,218 | $57,218 | $53,100 | $220,736 |
| Room & Board / transportation | $23,994 | $29,326 | $31,992 | $23,994 | $109,306 |
| Books & Supplies | $1,969 | $1,457 | $1,457 | $609 | $5,492 |
| Miscellaneous Expenses | $4,212 | $5,148 | $5,616 | $4,212 | $19,188 |
| COA | |||||
| California Residents | $71,130 | $80,904 | $84,038 | $69,670 | $305,742 |
| Out-of-State | $83,375 | $93,149 | $96,283 | $81,915 | $354,722 |
University of California, San Diego School of Medicine MCAT & GPA Scores
The average MCAT score of enrolled students at University of California, San Diego School of Medicine is 516. Compared to the average MCAT of all medical schools, the MCAT score of University of California, San Diego School of Medicine is around average of U.S. medical schools (the average score is 512).
The average GPA is 3.77 and it is around average compared to other medical schools (the average GPA is 3.73).
| 2022 | |
|---|---|
| MCAT – University of California, San Diego School of Medicine | 516 |
| U.S. Medical Schools | 512 |
| California Medical Schools | 514 |
| GPA – University of California, San Diego School of Medicine | 3.77 |
| U.S. Medical Schools | 3.73 |
| California Medical Schools | 3.76 |
University of California, San Diego School of Medicine Acceptance Rate & Yield
The 2022 acceptance rate at University of California, San Diego School of Medicine is 1.48% where 9,348 applicants have applied to and 138 students have accepted and finally enrolled to school. The acceptance rate at University of California, San Diego School of Medicine is much lower (extremely difficult to get in) compared to other medical schools in united states (the average acceptance rate is 3.52%). Note that the acceptance rate means the percentage of applicants who are accepted and enrolled (not just accepted).
| Total | Residency | Gender | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | Other State | Men | Women | ||
| Applicants | 9,348 | 5,300 (56.7%) | 4,048 (43.3%) | 4,253 (45.5%) | 5,085 (54.4%) |
| Enrolled | 138 | 111 (80.4%) | 27 (19.6%) | 51 (37.0%) | 87 (63.0%) |
| Acceptance Rate | 1.48% | 2.09% | 0.67% | 1.20% | 1.71% |
| U.S. Medical Schools | 3.52% | 10.29% | 1.04% | 3.48% | 3.56% |
| California Medical Schools | 1.51% | 2.14% | 0.63% | 1.52% | 1.51% |
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