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University of California San Francisco School of Medicine

University of California San Francisco School of Medicine

San Francisco, CA / School Detail
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APPLICATION FEE
$85
Tuition In State
$50,537
Tuition Out of State
$62,782
Average GPA
3.88
AVERAGE MCAT
516
OOS MATRICULANTS
28.2%

School Overview

Degrees
MD
Ownership
Public Non-Profit
Program Length
4 years
Total Enrollment
161
Founding Year
1864
Accreditation Year
1942
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SDN Insights

Cost of Attendance: $408,164
Estimate repayment

Estimated loan burden for UCSF-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: Above national average cost of living

San Francisco, CA is about 1.16x higher than the national average for cost of living. In the debt estimate, the government-derived local cost adjustment raises the living allowance from $3,000 to about $3,480 per month, mainly reflecting rent, food, transportation, and day-to-day expenses. Compare this with your own housing plan before treating it as exact.

Environment: Urban

Students at UCSF-SOM benefit from a very walkable setting, with many services and eateries just steps away. While biking is possible, the environment is best suited to those who prefer to get around on foot.

Interview Feedback

Overall, applicants ranked the school in the top 6% of interviews, indicating it is highly regarded. They found the interview very impressive with a low stress level and felt they did well.

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Secondary Essays for UCSF-SOM

1. Other
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2. Other
If you are 2023 or earlier college graduate, please use the space below to tell us what you have done since completing your undergraduate degree.
3. Community, Diversity, and Equity
Do you identify as being part of a marginalized group socioeconomically or in terms of access to quality education or healthcare? Please describe how this inequity has impacted you and your community.
4. Career Goals and Future Aspirations
UCSF PRIDE values serve as a guiding light for institutional life and activities. Briefly describe how you will contribute and support one of our PRIDE values that is consistent with your goals or...
5. Other
If you would like to update or expand on your activities, please provide additional information below.
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About the School

The University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) School of Medicine, established in 1864 by Hugh Toland, is the oldest medical school in California and the western United States. Located at the base of Mount Sutro on the Parnassus Heights campus in San Francisco, it operates across seven major sites in the Bay Area. The school comprises 28 academic departments, eight organized research units, and five interdisciplinary research centers. In fiscal year 2022, UCSF was the second-highest recipient of National Institutes of Health (NIH) research funding among U.S. organizations, securing $823.7 million across 1,510 awards.

Curriculum

In 2016, the UCSF School of Medicine introduced the Bridges Curriculum, designed to enhance diagnostic reasoning and integrate clinical experiences early in medical education. This innovative curriculum emphasizes active learning and interprofessional collaboration, preparing students to address complex healthcare challenges.

Facilities

The school's primary facilities include the Parnassus Heights campus, home to the UCSF Medical Center and the Langley Porter Psychiatric Institute. The Mission Bay campus, opened in 2015, houses the UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital, UCSF Betty Irene Moore Women's Hospital, and the UCSF Bakar Cancer Hospital. Additionally, the UCSF Library's main branch, the Kalmanovitz Library, is located at the Parnassus campus, with secondary locations at the Mission Bay campus.

Demographics

As of Fall 2023, the UCSF School of Medicine enrolled 734 students. Of these, 46% identified as underrepresented in medicine, defined as individuals from racial and ethnic groups including Hispanic/Latinx, Black/African American, Pacific Islander/Native Hawaiian (including Filipinx), and Native Indian/Alaska Native. The student body comprised 55.3% female, 42.8% male, and 1.6% non-binary individuals. Additionally, 23% of students were the first in their families to attend college, and 86.6% were California residents.

Last Updated: Aug 21, 2026