Florida

MD and DO Medical Schools in Florida

Florida has 9 accredited MD and DO programs — seven MD and two DO — each with a distinct mission, student profile, and admissions philosophy. Here is what you need to know about every one of them.

Florida is one of the most competitive states for in-state medical school applicants. The state has seven MD programs and two DO programs, and most of them give clear preference to Florida residents. If you are a Florida resident applying to Florida schools, you have a real advantage — but only if your application is built correctly.

The GPA and MCAT averages below reflect recent entering class statistics for matriculated students and are sourced from AAMC MSAR or school-reported data where available. Acceptance rates and tuition figures are not listed — they are not consistently published by Florida schools and change year to year. Consult AAMC MSAR (MD programs) or AACOMAS (DO programs) for current cycle data.

Dr. Tomei's Perspective

Florida schools are not safety schools. UF, Miami, and USF are among the most selective programs in the country for in-state applicants. The advantage of Florida residency is real, but it does not compensate for a weak application. I have reviewed applications from Florida students who were rejected from every in-state school because they did not understand what each program was actually looking for.

All Florida MD and DO Programs

University of Miami Miller School of Medicine

Avg MCAT (matriculants)

517

Avg GPA (matriculants)

3.77

Source

AAMC MSAR (matriculants)

Mission Focus: Research-intensive, global health, underserved communities

One of the most selective private MD programs in the Southeast. Strong emphasis on research productivity and community health. Miami location provides access to a uniquely diverse patient population. Consult AAMC MSAR for current acceptance rate and tuition.

University of Florida College of Medicine

Avg MCAT (matriculants)

514

Avg GPA (matriculants)

3.77

Source

AAMC MSAR (matriculants)

Mission Focus: Primary care, research, rural medicine

UF gives clear preference to Florida residents; a substantial majority of each entering class is from Florida. Strong primary care mission — applicants interested in specialization should demonstrate genuine primary care interest in their essays. Consult AAMC MSAR for current acceptance rate and tuition.

Florida State University College of Medicine

Avg MCAT (matriculants)

507

Avg GPA (matriculants)

3.70

Source

AAMC MSAR (matriculants)

Mission Focus: Primary care, rural and underserved medicine

FSU is a community-based medical school with regional campuses across Florida. It has one of the most explicit primary care missions in the country. Applicants drawn to rural or underserved practice settings will find strong alignment here. Consult AAMC MSAR for current acceptance rate and tuition.

University of Central Florida College of Medicine

Avg MCAT (matriculants)

511

Avg GPA (matriculants)

3.72

Source

AAMC MSAR (matriculants)

Mission Focus: Interprofessional education, simulation, Central Florida health needs

UCF is a newer program with a strong simulation and technology focus. The Lake Nona medical city campus is a distinctive environment. UCF values community ties and Florida residency. Consult AAMC MSAR for current acceptance rate and tuition.

University of South Florida Morsani College of Medicine

Avg MCAT (matriculants)

512

Avg GPA (matriculants)

3.73

Source

AAMC MSAR (matriculants)

Mission Focus: Research, Tampa Bay community health

USF Morsani moved to a new downtown Tampa campus. Strong research infrastructure through Tampa General Hospital. Florida residents make up a large share of each entering class. Consult AAMC MSAR for current acceptance rate and tuition.

Florida Atlantic University Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine

Avg MCAT (matriculants)

511

Avg GPA (matriculants)

3.72

Source

AAMC MSAR (matriculants)

Mission Focus: Geriatrics, community health, South Florida

FAU has a distinctive focus on aging and geriatric medicine, reflecting South Florida's demographics. Smaller class size. Strong community hospital partnerships. Consult AAMC MSAR for current acceptance rate and tuition.

Florida International University Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine

Avg MCAT (matriculants)

510

Avg GPA (matriculants)

3.70

Source

AAMC MSAR (matriculants)

Mission Focus: Green Book curriculum, social determinants of health, underserved Miami

FIU uses a unique "Green Book" curriculum focused on social determinants of health. Strong emphasis on serving Miami's diverse and underserved communities. Applicants with community health backgrounds will find strong mission alignment here. Consult AAMC MSAR for current acceptance rate and tuition.

Nova Southeastern University Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Osteopathic Medicine

Avg MCAT (matriculants)

504

Avg GPA (matriculants)

3.55

Source

AACOMAS / school-reported (matriculants)

Mission Focus: Primary care, osteopathic philosophy, South Florida

NSU-COM is one of the largest DO programs in the country. Fort Lauderdale campus with a broad clinical rotation network across Florida. Applicants should be prepared to articulate genuine interest in osteopathic medicine and philosophy. Consult AACOMAS and the NSU admissions page for current acceptance rate and tuition.

LECOM Bradenton (Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine)

Avg MCAT (matriculants)

502

Avg GPA (matriculants)

3.50

Source

AACOMAS / school-reported (matriculants)

Mission Focus: Primary care, osteopathic philosophy, self-directed learning

LECOM Bradenton is known for a self-directed learning curriculum and a strong primary care pipeline. Students should research the learning format carefully before applying to confirm it matches their learning style. Consult AACOMAS and the LECOM admissions page for current acceptance rate and tuition.

MD vs. DO in Florida: What You Need to Know

Both MD and DO degrees allow you to practice medicine in all 50 states. The distinction matters most during residency matching — MD graduates have historically matched into competitive specialties at higher rates, though the gap has narrowed significantly since the 2020 merger of ACGME and AOA residency programs.

If you are applying to DO programs, you need to be able to articulate a genuine interest in osteopathic philosophy — not just as a backup to MD programs. Admissions committees at NSU and LECOM can tell when a student is applying to DO programs as a fallback. That narrative will hurt you.

Florida DO programs are also competitive. NSU-COM receives thousands of applications for a few hundred seats. A published average MCAT does not mean that score gets you in — it means the average matriculant had that score. The floor is lower, but the full application still needs to be strong.

Dr. Tomei's Perspective

I tell every student the same thing: apply to both MD and DO programs if you are a competitive DO applicant. The stigma around DO is largely gone in clinical medicine. What matters is where you match for residency, and that depends on your Step scores, clinical performance, and letters — not your degree type.

Need Help Building Your Florida School List?

Choosing the right Florida programs — and knowing how to position yourself for each one — is one of the highest-leverage decisions in your application cycle. Dr. Tomei can help.

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