10 Top Med Schools That Accept Community College Credits

If you're an aspiring medical doctor (MD) who has attended a community college, you might wonder if institutions will accept any of your courses as prerequisites. Fortunately, most medical schools accept these credits; however, some might do so with stipulations. Keep reading to discover med schools that accept community college credits.

Do Medical Schools Accept Community College Credits?

A common question among students who want to become doctors is, ''Do med schools accept community college credits?'' Fortunately, the answer is yes. However, keep in mind that many schools accepting these credits prefer that most prerequisites be fulfilled through a four-year institution with a more rigorous curriculum.

What Community College Courses Count Toward Med School?

In many cases, medical schools accept lower-division biology, chemistry, and physics courses from community colleges. They generally prefer that students complete their upper-division counterparts at a four-year institution.

Medical Schools That Accept Community College Credits

Do medical schools care if you earned these credits through community college instead of a four-year college? While some schools care, most don't. Take a look at this list to discover the top medical schools that accept community college credits.

1. Florida Atlantic University

Florida Atlantic University's Schmidt College of Medicine offers an MD program providing didactic coursework, clerkships, acting internships, and a residency. The college generally enrolls applicants with the following averages: a 513 score on the MCAT 2015, a 3.7 overall GPA, and a 3.6 BCPM GPA.

Students with a community college background can use some lower-division courses as prerequisites when applying.

• Estimated tuition cost: $28,112 per year (in-state); $62,532 per year (out-of-state)
• Financial aid: Students can reduce costs with institutional grants, state and school scholarships, and federal loans.
• Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)

2. University of Maryland, Baltimore

The University of Maryland School of Medicine at the University of Maryland, Baltimore, is home to the Department of Medicine, which offers 12 divisions to accommodate varying medical interests. Some include:

• cardiovascular medicine
• geographic medicine
• infectious diseases
• nephrology

Students who want to enter this medical school can satisfy some prerequisites with community college credits. However, the university prefers that most courses come from a four-year institution.

• Estimated tuition cost: $21,477.50 per semester (in-state); $37,639.50 per semester (out-of-state)
• Financial aid: Financial aid is available for medical students, including the Hans R. Wilhelmsen Memorial Scholarship Fund for Dental and Medical Education.
• Accreditation: Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE)

3. Wayne State University

At Wayne State University, learners interested in entering medical school can use community college credits as prerequisites. However, the institution recommends that pre-med learners limit coursework to 24 to 30 credits.

Wayne State's School of Medicine offers a Warrior MD program designed for aspiring physicians. The curriculum is organ systems-based and includes classroom, self-directed, and small-group learning as well as hands-on clinical training.

• Estimated tuition cost: $43,773 per year (in-state); $72,022 per year (out-of-state)
• Financial aid: WSU offers financial aid, including a full-tuition scholarship for select students.
• Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission (HLC)

4. University of California, Davis

The University of California, Davis's School of Medicine offers several medical degree programs, including the accelerated competency-based education in primary care (ACE-PC) pathway, which helps students earn an MD in three years.

UC Davis pre-medical requirements include completing prerequisite courses (community college credits are accepted). Courses to complete include biological sciences, general chemistry, organic chemistry, and physics.

• Estimated tuition cost: $48,280 per year
• Financial aid: At UC Davis, medical students can save with grants, scholarships, and loans.
• Accreditation: WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC)

5. University of Illinois

The University of Illinois's College of Medicine has campuses across the state in Chicago, Peoria, and Rockford. Program options include:

• Doctor of Medicine (MD)
• MD joint degree programs
• urban medicine program (UMED)
• rural medical education program (RMED)

To gain admission, students should hold a baccalaureate degree and complete prerequisites. Some courses can be taken at community colleges; however, advanced biology and biochemistry requirements must be fulfilled at a four-year science degree-granting institution.

• Estimated tuition cost: $48,450 per year (in-state); $82,350 per year (out-of-state)
• Financial aid: Students can pursue federal student aid, private loans, and external scholarships. All MD enrollees are automatically considered for merit scholarships.
• Accreditation: HLC

6. University of California, Irvine

The top-ranked School of Medicine at the University of California, Irvine delivers programs for medical degrees, graduate medical education, and dual-degree MD seekers.

For community college students interested in enrolling, UC Irvine recommends completing two years at a community college. Afterward, they can transfer to a four-year school where, in their first year, they'll take the MCAT and apply to medical school.

• Estimated tuition cost: $49,776.31 to 54,518.66 per year
• Financial aid: Federal and private student loans and external scholarships can help students save.
• Accreditation: WSCUC

7. University of Chicago

Students interested in medical careers can find several programs at the University of Chicago's Pritzker School of Medicine. Some include:

• MD program
• MD/Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) programs
• interdisciplinary MD-dual degrees

Admission requirements include completing 90 credit hours before matriculating from a four-year, degree-granting institution. Community college credits are accepted in combination with credits from a four-year school.

• Estimated tuition cost: $61,812 to $81,816 per year
• Financial aid: Learners can reduce costs with Pritzker scholarships, Pritzker Med institutional loans, Federal Direct loans, and outside scholarships.
• Accreditation: HLC

8. Johns Hopkins University

The MD program at Johns Hopkins University delivers a Genes to Society curriculum that explores health and disease via principles of adaptation to the environment and variability of the genotype. Scholarly concentrations include:

• basic science
• clinical research
• history of medicine
• public health research

Before applying to this program, students should take prerequisite courses, some of which can be completed at a community college. However, the school recommends supplementing these prerequisites with advanced courses at a four-year school.

• Estimated tuition cost: $66,580 per year
• Financial aid: Johns Hopkins offers full cost-of-attendance financial aid packages (e.g., tuition, living expenses, and fees) for medical students whose families earn less than $175,000. Families earning less than $300,000 receive scholarships covering tuition.
• Accreditation: MSCHE

9. Washington University in St. Louis

At the School of Medicine at Washington University in St. Louis, students can choose from degree options that include:

• MD
• combined MD and PhD
• combined MD and Master of Public Health (MD/MPH)
• combined MD and Master of Business Administration (MD/MBA)

The medical school accepts applicants who have taken courses at a community college (summer school or online). However, most classes, especially science, should be taken for a letter grade at students' primary undergraduate institutions.

• Estimated tuition cost: $67,968 per year
• Financial aid: Enrollees can reduce costs with merit scholarships and need-based scholarships. Some eligible students receive full tuition funding.
• Accreditation: HLC

10. George Washington University

George Washington University's School of Medicine & Health Sciences offers an MD program that explores the fundamentals of medicine, including pediatrics, surgery, and psychiatry. A fundamentals of clinical practice phase with clerkships is also included.

Students who want to apply can submit coursework from a community college. However, GW prefers that applicants complete most pre-medical coursework at a four-year institution.

• Estimated tuition cost: $73,350 to $74,502 per year
• Financial aid: Students can save with scholarships, fellowships, student loans, and more.
• Accreditation: MSCHE

How We Rank Schools

Our team rigorously vetted the schools in this ranking list to verify each meets the following criteria:

• Accreditation: All institutions are accredited by nationally ranked institutions, such as the MSCHE.
• Reputation: These schools are known for their top faculty and quality academic experiences.
• Affordability: Institutions offer affordable tuition or financial assistance to make medical school more affordable.

FAQs About Using Community College Credits for Medical School

Now that you know which medical schools accept community college credits, the next step is to enroll in a program. Explore the following FAQs to learn more before getting started.

Which Medical Schools Do Not Accept Community College Credits?

Most medical schools take community college credits; however, you might encounter exceptions. For instance, the Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine considers community college credits within its academic review; however, the credits can't be used to fulfill prerequisite course requirements. At the San Juan Bautista School of Medicine, only general English and Spanish community college credits are accepted.

Do Medical Schools Accept Community College Science Courses?

Do medical schools care if you went to community college for your science courses? Some institutions accept community college science courses like general biology, physics, and organic chemistry. However, most prefer that learners complete science prerequisites at a four-year institution.

Do Community Colleges Offer Pre-Med Tracks?

Yes, you can find community colleges with pre-medical tracks. In these programs, students complete prerequisite courses that prepare them for more advanced pre-med coursework at a college or university.

What Is the Lowest GPA Medical Schools Will Accept?

The lowest medical school admissions GPA you'll encounter is usually a 3.0. However, some institutions follow a holistic admissions review that considers MCAT scores, academic background difficulty, letters of recommendation, and more. At these schools, a lower GPA might be accepted.

Is It Cheaper To Start Pre-Med at a Community College?

Generally, attending a community college and transferring to a four-year institution to complete upper-level coursework is a more cost-effective way to pursue a medical degree.

Explore Pre-Med Programs Online

Take steps toward a rewarding career in medicine by exploring the degree programs on Learn.org. Contact schools today to learn how they can help you achieve your goals.