A nonprofit educational organization
Log In Sign Up
Search

Student Doctor Network

Schools Database
University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Medicine

University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Medicine

Birmingham, AL / School Detail
Application Tracking
Log in to track
School Detail Interview Feedback Secondary Essays
APPLICATION FEE
$100
Tuition In State
$37,282
Tuition Out of State
$67,786
Average GPA
3.83
AVERAGE MCAT
509
OOS MATRICULANTS
17.9%

School Overview

Degrees
MD
Ownership
Public Non-Profit
Program Length
4 years
Total Enrollment
186
Founding Year
1859
Accreditation Year
1946
Has any information changed? Report an update.

SDN Insights

Cost of Attendance: $313,140
Estimate repayment

Estimated loan burden for UAB-SOM using 4 years of in-state tuition, $1,500 annual fees, $3,000 monthly living expenses, government-derived local cost-of-living adjustment, $1,000 loan fees, and an 8.5% interest assumption.

Cost of Living: Below national average cost of living

Birmingham, AL is about 0.92x the national average for cost of living. In the debt estimate, the government-derived local cost adjustment lowers the living allowance from $3,000 to about $2,760 per month. Local rent and commuting choices can still move your actual budget meaningfully.

Environment: Urban

Nestled in an area with excellent walkability and strong biking infrastructure, UAB-SOM offers students flexibility in how they get around. Whether on foot or bike, most destinations are easily accessible, making for a convenient daily routine.

Interview Feedback

Overall, applicants ranked the school in the top 19% of interviews, indicating it is highly regarded. They found the interview very impressive with a low stress level and felt they did well.

Read Feedback Interview Prep Add Feedback

Secondary Essays for UAB-SOM

1. Geographic Connection and Commitment
State of Residence Section: 1. Non-Alabama Resident with Ties to Alabama: Please describe any connections or significant experiences you have had related to the state of Alabama or UAB Medical Center.
2. Geographic Connection and Commitment
All applicants: If the area where you spent most of your life before college differs from your current permanent address, please explain.
3. Career Goals and Future Aspirations
Essay Section: 3. Where do you envision yourself in your medical career fifteen to twenty years from now?
4. Community, Diversity, and Equity
Learning from others is enhanced in educational settings that include individuals from diverse backgrounds and experiences. Please describe your personal characteristics or experiences that would...
5. Personal Experiences and Challenges
Describe an interaction with a patient in the healthcare system. This could be a direct observation of a patient (in person or virtual) during a shadowing or clinical experience, or a personal...
Read More Essay Questions Add Essay Questions

About the School

The School of Medicine is dedicated to the education of physicians and scientists in all of the disciplines of medicine and biomedical investigation for careers in practice, teaching and research. Necessary to this educational mission is the provision of outstanding medical care and services and the enhancement of new knowledge through clinical and basic biomedical research.

Curriculum

All of the basic science coursework (first two years of medical school) is completed on the Birmingham campus. Students develop techniques in medical interviewing and physical diagnosis in the Introduction to Clinical Medicine during the first two years. At the end of the second year, students must pass Step I of the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) before they are promoted to the third year. During the third and fourth years, students take core clinical clerkships and electives. Electives and individualized experience programs may be taken in a variety of locations including Tuscaloosa and Huntsville. In their senior year, students must pass Step II of the USMLE to graduate.

Facilities

University Hospital is the largest comprehensive medical facility in Alabama. It excels in the areas of emergency care transport, heart and kidney diseases, cancer, spinal cord injuries, diabetes, arthritis, organ transplantation, and cardiac surgery. It is licensed for more than 900 beds and serves approximately 43,000 inpatients each year. Because University Hospital is at the forefront of medical innovation, it draws referrals from community hospitals throughout Alabama, as well as many other states and a number of foreign countries.

Last Updated: Aug 21, 2026