Out-of-state friendly medical schools are programs that accept a high percentage of applicants from outside their home state. If you’re applying broadly to medical schools in the US, identifying out-of-state friendly medical schools can increase your chances of acceptance. In this guide, we explain how out-of-state admissions work, what makes a strong out of state applicant, and provide a comprehensive list of medical schools that accept out-of-state students.
>>Want us to help you get accepted? Schedule a free initial consultation here <<
What is an Out-of-State Medical School Applicant?
An out-of-state applicant is an applicant that is a resident of a state outside of a medical school's state. There are, however, some schools that have agreements with neighboring states that allow students to be classified as “in-state” or “in region”, even if they are not residents of the school's state. For example, the UW School of Medicine in Washington is a five-state school, providing 95% of its available spots to Washington, Wyoming, Alaska, Montana, and Idaho residents.
Should I Study Out of State?
The decision to apply out-of-state or in-state depends on your academic profile, financial considerations, and long-term goals. According to the AAMC, last year roughly 60% of matriculants attended medical school in their home state compared with 40% that chose an out-of-state medical school. When determining whether studying out of state is right for you, consider the following factors:
Cost
Is medical school worth it? Is it more expensive to attend medical school as an out of state applicant? Well, that depends. Medical school tuition fees are much more expensive for out of state students at public medical schools compared with those in-state. According to AAMC tuition reports, public medical schools typically charge higher tuition for out-of-state applicants than for in-state applicants.
In private medical schools, however, we do not see the same discrepancy in cost. Private medical schools tend to charge the same tuition regardless of state residency, and annual tuition often exceeds $60,000+. When determining the expense of attending medical schools as an out-of-state applicant, it will depend on whether you are applying to a public or a private school.
Here's an overview of the cost differences at medical schools:
Support System
Medical school is mentally and physically taxing, and sometimes students underestimate the power of having their support system nearby.
If your family and friends live in your home state, and you choose to study in a different state, your support system will be less readily available than if you lived nearby. Of course, connecting to loved ones has never been easier as video chat applications keep getting better, but it is difficult to beat connecting in person.
Being farther away also means that you will have to factor in additional costs to get back home for holidays and events, and in general, you will likely have to accept the fact that you will see your family and friends less.
If the medical school you want to attend is somewhere you have never been before, or a place where you do not have connections, it is possible that you could feel isolated or homesick. On the other hand, if you are someone who loves new adventures, enjoys challenges and meeting new people, studying out of state may suit you just fine.
Admission Statistics
Start by using our medical school chance predictor to determine how competitive your GPA and MCAT scores are compared to the medical school's admission statistics. Each school will vary, but it is important to note that some schools hold out-of-state applicants to higher standards and may have tougher admission cut-offs.
If a school requires in-state applicants, for example, to have a minimum GPA of 3.0, they may require out-of-state applicants to have a minimum GPA of 3.2, so strong MCAT prep can make a meaningful difference. If your score is not where you want it to be, you can also look at schools that don't require MCAT. By Reviewing school's admission requirements and checking MSAR for the median GPA and MCAT for matriculants, you ensure that you are competitive as an out-of-state applicant.
Acceptance Rate
Out-of-state medical school applicants face high competition and generally low chances of acceptance compared to in state applicants at public medical schools. This is because in-state medical schools are funded by the state, so they have a specific number of slots that must be allotted to in-state students. While the number of slots allotted to in state students varies between public medical schools, this variation means that there are less spots available for out-of-state applicants.
Private schools on the other hand, usually do not have a specific number of spots they need to fill with in-state residents, so they may place less emphasis on state residency than public schools. For a full list of medical school acceptance rates, visit our blog for additional admission statistics.
Want a quick recap on out of state friendly medical schools? Watch this video:
What Makes a Good Out-of-State Applicant?
1. Stellar Application Materials
If you are applying to medical schools outside of your home state, your applications must stand out.
Your AMCAS work and activities section, medical school personal statement and medical school secondary essays need to be phenomenal and demonstrate why you would be a good fit for the program, regardless of the fact that you do not live in state. You can familiarize yourself with the quality of thought and writing expected from applicants by reviewing medical school personal statement examples.
2. Ties to the State, Region or Medical School
A main reason why most public medical schools prefer in-state applicants is because they want students who will serve the local community by practicing medicine in state once they have graduated.
In selecting out-of-state applicants, medical schools are interested in students who can demonstrate their love of the state they are applying to, their connections to the state, and their motivations for practicing medicine in the state. Some students, for example, want to apply out of state because they have spent a lot of time in a different state.
Having significant ties to a state can also put you at an advantage. Perhaps your family has a holiday home in your state of choice or maybe you have parents or other family members that live there. Similarly, if you have worked in a state or have studied there, this can help prove your love and connection to the state.
3. Alignment with a School’s Mission
Successful applicants tend to apply to a mix of in-state and out-of-state programs to increase their chances of receiving interviews.
Although many public schools prioritize residents, perhaps you have the intention of moving, living and working in a different state because you want to help their local rural or underserved communities. Your own passions and motivations, however, should line up perfectly with a medical school's mission statement and vision to assist underserved communities. Within your applicant materials, it is not enough to simply discuss how you love the state and think it is a nice place. Rather, you will need to have a real reason for applying from out of state and must demonstrate dedication to contributing to the programs mission statement and values to make you a good candidate.
Want to make your med school application stand out? Here's some tips!
How to Identify Out-of-State Friendly Medical Schools
Medical schools vary in how they allocate seats based on state residency and regional agreements. Examining how each program defines residency and distributes its class, provides a clearer picture of how accessible it is to out-of-state applicants.
The following factors represent the reliable indicators used to evaluate this:
1. Percentage of Out-of-State Matriculants
The most reliable indicator of whether a school is out-of-state friendly is the percentage of its incoming class that comes from outside the state. Schools where a majority of matriculants are from out of state are more likely to consider non-resident applicants without strong geographic preference.
When reviewing a school, prioritize programs where out of state students make up a substantial portion of the class, such as more than 50%, as this reflects actual enrollment patterns rather than stated policies.
2. Size of the Out-of-State Applicant Pool
While the percentage of out-of-state matriculants shows how many non-resident students a school enrolls, it does not reflect how competitive those spots are. Some schools receive a very high number of applications, which can make admission more competitive despite enrolling many out of state students.
It is important to consider applicant volume alongside enrollment data when reviewing a school to better understand how difficult it may be to gain admission to their program.
3. Regional Agreements
As mentioned earlier, some medical schools operate within regional systems that expand their definition of “in-state” applicants. The University of Washington’s WWAMI program, for example, includes applicants from several neighboring states, who are given preference like in-state residents.
When evaluating a school, check whether it participates in regional agreements, as these can affect how your out of state application is categorized and reviewed.
4. Private vs Public Schools
Public medical schools tend to be funded by state governments and often reserve a large proportion of seats for in-state applicants. Private medical schools, by comparison, generally recruit nationally and do not apply the same residency preferences.
When comparing schools, consider whether the institution is public or private, as this may determine how much weight is placed on your residency status during admissions decisions.
These factors provide a framework for understanding how medical schools evaluate and enroll out-of-state applicants. While individual admissions policies vary, patterns in residency distribution, regional preferences, and applicant volume offer a reliable way to assess how accessible a program may be.
The list below applies these indicators across U.S. medical schools to highlight where out-of-state applicants are most represented.
List of Out-of-State Friendly Medical Schools
Below is a comprehensive list of all out of state friendly medical schools in the US along with their percentage of out-of-state matriculants in the previous year. All acceptance rates are estimated using available applicant and matriculant data.
*Wyoming, Alaska, Montana, and Idaho residents are considered in-state when applying to the University of Washington.
Medical Schools in the US that Enroll a High Percentage of State Students
Medical schools vary in how they treat out-of-state applicants, and some programs tend to accept a larger portion of out-of-state applicants than others.
The following medical schools enroll a larger proportion of students from outside their home state compared with most public medical schools. It also helps to compare these options with other easy medical schools to get into.
Note that acceptance rate within this list are estimates based on publicly available admissions data and applicant totals. Because most medical schools do not publish acceptance by residency status, out-of-state acceptance rates are approximate.
1. Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences F. Edward Hebert School of Medicine
- Estimated Out of State Acceptance Rate: 7.8%
- Overall Acceptance Rate: 8.1%
2. Ponce Health Sciences University School of Medicine
- Estimated Out of State Acceptance Rate: 4.98%
- Overall Acceptance Rate: 8.98%
3. Creighton University School of Medicine
- Estimated Out of State Acceptance Rate: 4.25%
- Overall Acceptance Rate: 4.34%
4. Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth
- Estimated Out of State Acceptance Rate: 6.1%
- Overall Acceptance Rate: 6.3%
5. Thomas F. Frist, Jr. College of Medicine at Belmont University
- Estimated Out of State Acceptance Rate: 3.22%
- Overall Acceptance Rate: 3.66%
- Estimated Out of State Acceptance Rate: 2.79%
- Overall Acceptance Rate: 4.22%
7. San Juan Bautista School of Medicine
- Estimated Out of State Acceptance Rate: 2.68%
- Overall Acceptance Rate: 5.71%
8. Saint Louis University School of Medicine
- Estimated Out of State Acceptance Rate: 2.66%
- Overall Acceptance Rate: 3.03%
9. Loma Linda University School of Medicine
- Estimated Out of State Acceptance Rate: 2.64%
- Overall Acceptance Rate: 3.13%
10. Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine
- Estimated Out of State Acceptance Rate: 2.55%
- Overall Acceptance Rate: 2.54%
FAQs
1. What is an out-of-state friendly medical school?
An out-of-state friendly medical school is one that accepts a significant percentage of its students from states outside its own. These schools are often private institutions or public schools with regional agreements.
2. Do private medical schools have better acceptance rates for out-of-state applicants?
Generally, yes. Private medical schools usually do not prioritize in-state applicants, resulting in more balanced acceptance rates for out-of-state students.
3. Why do public medical schools favor in-state applicants?
Public medical schools receive state funding and aim to serve the residents of their state, which often translates into reserved spots for in-state students.
4. How much more expensive is out-of-state tuition compared to in-state?
On average, out-of-state tuition at public medical schools can be $20,000–$30,000 higher per year compared to in-state tuition. Private schools typically have similar tuition rates for all students.
5. Which medical schools accept the most out-of-state students?
Private medical schools and certain public programs accept a higher percentage of out-of-state applicants. Examples include schools like Case Western Reserve, Creighton University, and Darthmouth’s Geisel School of Medicine, where most students come from outside the state.
6. Do I need ties to a state to apply to its medical schools as an out-of-state applicant?
While not always required, having ties to a state (e.g., family, work, or previous residence) can strengthen your application and demonstrate your commitment to serving that community.
7. What factors should I consider when applying out-of-state?
Key factors include cost, support systems, your competitiveness based on GPA/ MCAT requirements, and the school's mission alignment with your career goals.
8. How can I improve my chances of acceptance as an out-of-state applicant?
Focus on crafting standout application materials, highlighting any ties to the state or school, and showcasing how your goals align with the school's mission and community needs
To your success,
Your friends at BeMo
BeMo Academic Consulting
Please note: although we have made every effort to provide the most accurate information, admissions information changes frequently. Therefore, we encourage you to verify these details with the official university admissions office. You are responsible for your own results. BeMo does not endorse nor affiliate with any official universities, colleges, or test administrators and vice versa.
Like our blog? Write for us! >>
Have a question? Ask our admissions experts below and we'll answer!
2 Comments
Hardhipriya Sudarsanam • 02/16/2022 05:37
Can you let us know, which schools will accept mcat 509, gpa 3.8? out of state, in AZ right now.
ReplyMargaret • 03/04/2025 12:23
Where did you get your data for the out of state acceptance rate? I am using the MSAR to calculate the number of out of state matriculants divided by the total number of out of state applications for a rough gauge on acceptance rates. Is there another resource that tells you the number of out of state acceptances (not matriculants)? Thank you!
Reply