9 Top Out-of-State Friendly Medical Schools in the US | 2023

Out-of-State Friendly Medical Schools: When students decide which medical schools to apply to, they consider several factors. Some of these factors include class size, reputation, and tuition.

However, many students believe that the most important factor to consider is the school’s location, and more specifically, whether or not the school is located in-state or out-of-state.

In this post, we will help you decide whether or not you should study in another state and examine the characteristics of an excellent application from another state.

Finally, we will present you with a list of medical schools that welcome applicants from other states and medical schools that are the least competitive for applicants from other states.

Is Medical School Hard?

Medicine is a broad field that involves science, methodology, pragmatism, patience, personality, and empathy.

The sheer quantity of knowledge required for medicine is daunting, but just getting into school can be more difficult. It’s exceedingly difficult to get into medical school.

Getting into a medical school is challenging, hard, and any other word for difficult put together in one sentence.

The good news is that it’s all within your grasp. It’s not impossible just because it’s difficult to do. As you begin college, remember that many other students have been in your shoes.

Who is an Out-of-state Applicant?

In general, a candidate who is a resident of a state that is not the state where a medical school is located is considered an out-of-state applicant.

However, some schools have agreements with neighboring states that enable students to be classified as “in-state” or “in the region” even if they do not live where the school is.

This is possible because these students attend schools near one another.

Why Should I Attend an Out-of-State Medical School?

It is up to the individual candidates to decide whether to study in their own or another state; there is no right or wrong response to this question.

According to the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC), around 61% of newly enrolled students often attend medical school in their home state, compared to the 39% who choose to attend a medical school in another state. 

Here are some of the reasons you should attend an Out-of-State Medical School:

1. Expand Horizons:

Studying out-of-state immerses you in diverse environments, broadening your worldview and enriching your understanding of healthcare disparities.

2. Distinctive Curriculums:

Some out-of-state schools might offer groundbreaking research opportunities, pioneering medical techniques, or a curriculum tailored to your interests.

3. Networking Reach:

Building professional relationships in a different state can be invaluable. It provides a wider array of job opportunities and a richer pool of mentors and colleagues.

4. Character Development:

Being away from familiar surroundings pushes you out of your comfort zone. This fosters independence, resilience, and adaptability—essential for a medical professional.

5. Campus Culture and Facilities:

Every medical school has its own ethos, mission, and set of resources.

An out-of-state institution might provide facilities, student organizations, or a learning culture that aligns more closely with your personal and professional values.

6. Increased Residency Options:

Familiarity with multiple state healthcare systems might give you an edge when applying for competitive residency programs later on.

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What are the requirements for admission to out-of-state-friendly medical schools? 

To get started, you can use one of several online medical school chance predictors to determine how competitive your MCAT and GPA scores are compared to the admission statistics of the medical school you’re interested in attending.

Every school is different, but it’s crucial to remember that certain institutions hold out-of-state applicants to higher criteria and might have stricter admission cut-offs.

For instance, if a school requires in-state candidates to have a minimum GPA of 3.0, it might require out-of-state applicants to have a minimum GPA of 3.2.

You need to make sure that you carefully read a school’s admissions requirements to guarantee that you will be able to compete with applicants from other states.

How much does it cost to attend out-of-state-friendly medical schools?

The tuition expenses for medical schools are significantly higher for out-of-state students attending medical schools than for their in-state colleagues.

Out-of-state students spent an average of $62,000 for one year of tuition, health insurance, and other fees, whereas residents of the state paid an average of approximately $37,000 for the same expenses.

If you live in a different state and want to attend medical school, the money you will need to spend depends entirely on whether you want to go to a public or private school.

What is the acceptance rate of out-of-state medical schools?

Out-of-state applicants who wish to attend public medical schools face a significantly higher level of competition and a significantly lower likelihood of being accepted.

This is because medical schools within the state get funding from the state, so they must set aside a certain proportion of seats for in-state applicants.

This number fluctuates between different public medical schools, but on average, fewer than 10% of available spaces are reserved for applicants from other states.

But because private schools do not typically have a specified number of slots they need to fill with people from within the state, the acceptance rates at these institutions do not differ between residents from within and outside the state.

Private medical schools have a higher acceptance rate for out-of-state students than public medical schools.

How does the support system affect medical school application?

Students sometimes fail to see the importance of having their support system close at hand, even though medical school is incredibly strenuous on both the mind and the body.

If you opt to attend medical school in a state that is not your home state, but your family and friends continue to remain there, you will find that it is more difficult to count on their support than it would be if you lived nearby.

Being further away also means you will have to figure out additional costs to get back home for holidays and festivities.

You will likely have to accept that you will see your family and friends less frequently. 

You may experience feelings of isolation or homesickness if the medical school you wish to attend is located in a city or town that you have never been to or do not have any ties to.

On the other hand, if you are always up for new challenges and are excited by the prospect of meeting new people, then attending school in another state could be the perfect fit for you.

Out-of-State Friendly Medical Schools:

Because most medical school student bodies are often composed of students from the same state as the school, it can be challenging for students from other states to secure admission.

On the other hand, several educational institutions are open to students from different states.

1. University of Vermont College of Medicine:

The University of Vermont, a public research university in Burlington, Vermont, has a medical school called the Robert Larner College of Medicine.

It has been around since 1822, making it the seventh-oldest medical school in the country. 

They estimate that more than 90% of the students interviewed are not from Vermont. In-state students pay a tuition fee of $37,070, while out-of-state students pay $64,170.

More so, the University of Vermont College of Medicine is one of the top out-of-state friendly medical schools in the United States.

See 2023 Fees

2. West Virginia University School of Medicine:

The West Virginia University School of Medicine in Morgantown, West Virginia, is a professional school studying medicine and other health professions.

The West Virginia University School of Medicine interviews most prospective students from other states. The university comprises three separate campuses in Morgantown, Eastern, and Charleston. The tuition fee is about $84,771.

See 2023 Fees

3. The University of Michigan Medical School:

The University of Michigan’s medical school was established in 1850 and rapidly gained a leadership position in American academic medicine. The medical school is one of the top out-of-state friendly medical schools.

Because of this, they were pioneers in the United States when it came to building a university hospital for physician training.

It was the first school to use high-quality laboratory instruction and clerkships to transform students from passive observers into active participants in the learning process, making them pioneers in the modern science-based curriculum.

The medical school at the University of Michigan interviews approximately 70% of applicants who do not currently reside in Michigan.

See 2023 Fees

4. University of Virginia School of Medicine:

The University of Virginia School of Medicine is the graduate medical school for the University of Virginia.

The school’s buildings are on the grounds of the University of Virginia, right next to Academical Village in Charlottesville, Virginia.

Like the University of Michigan, the University of Virginia interviews 70% of applicants from outside the state.

There is little distinction between the in-state and out-of-state tuition rates at the University of Virginia (about $51,034 and $63,464, respectively).

See 2023 Fees

5. Eastern Virginia Medical School:

Norfolk, Virginia, is home to the Eastern Virginia Medical School, a state-run medical school.

EVMS is a non-academic medical school based in the Hampton Roads region of southeast Virginia that works with several local medical facilities to train aspiring emergency room physicians.

The average grade point average (GPA) at Eastern Virginia Medical School is 3.66, and the average score on the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) is 32. The school is located in Norfolk, Virginia.

The Eastern Virginia Medical School is one of the top out-of-state friendly medical schools.

See 2023 Fees

6. University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Medicine:

The University of Missouri–Kansas City School of Medicine has been around since 1971.

It is one of three medical schools near Kansas City’s downtown. The school has a combined Bachelor’s/MD program that can be completed in less than six years.

The applicants have an average grade point average of 3.7 and an average MCAT score of 28.

However, tuition for out-of-state students is nearly twice as much, coming in at $60,000 per year rather than $30,000, which is the tuition paid by in-state students. 

More so, the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Medicine is one of the top out-of-state friendly medical schools in the United States.

See 2023 Fees

7. Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine:

Penn State College of Medicine, or Penn State College of Medicine, is Penn State’s medical school. Academically, Penn State College of Medicine is among America’s most prestigious medical schools.

The difference between the two is not that significant. Unfortunately, even for residents of Pennsylvania, the tuition is nearly equivalent to what one would pay at a private school.

See 2023 Fees

8. Ohio State University College of Medicine:

The Ohio State University College of Medicine is the university’s medical school. It is in Columbus, Ohio.

U.S. News & World Report’s rankings show that the college is considered one of the best in education and research.

It is considered a thing of beauty to live in Ohio and be able to attend Ohio State University.

You would only be responsible for paying $31,272 as an in-state student. But as an out-of-state student, your tuition will be $55,048.

See 2023 Fees

9. University of Iowa The Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver School of Medicine:

Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine has a great reputation and educates future doctors, scientists, and educators. Case-based learning is the foundation for students’ education in Iowa’s medical curriculum.

This school might be the right fit for you if you have a passion for potatoes and medicine. Applicants must have a minimum grade point average of 3.8 and a minimum score of 33 on the MCAT.

See 2023 Fees

Frequently Asked Questions on the Out of State Friendly Medical Schools:

Is med school expensive?

On average, a year of medical school costs $54,698. An average public medical school costs $49,842 per year. An average private medical school costs $59,555 per year. An in-state resident pays an average of $51,464 yearly for medical school.

How long do you go to med school?

To become a doctor, you’ll need to graduate from medical school in four years and spend three to seven years in residency.

Can you fail medical school?

Yes. Failure is possible if you violate your school’s code of conduct or fail to behave accordingly. Academically, however, due to the cost of training each student, medical schools will do everything possible to prevent low-scoring students from dropping out.

How long is a residency?

The length of a physician’s residency depends heavily on their chosen specialization. A typical residency in primary care takes two to four years, while a residency in surgery might take up to eight years.

Conclusion:

Now that you know which out-of-state medical schools are friendly to out-of-state students, you can pick up an application form, but ensure that you meet all of the medical school’s requirements.

Awesome one; I hope this article answers your question.

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ST Admin
ST Admin

Hello, I am ST Admin! For five years, I began actively assisting students in Europe, the United States, and Canada in their pursuit of college advice and scholarship prospects. I am the Administrator of www.schoolandtravel.com at present.

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