MD · Riverside, CA · public · applies through AMCAS
University of California, Riverside School of Medicine
Known as UC Riverside
Prerequisite coursework
Verify with the school| Course | Status | Hours | Lab | Pass/fail | AP credit | Online | Community college | Notes from the school |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Biology BIOL | Required | 8 | No | Case-by-case Applicants are encouraged to review the program prerequisites found here for more information on completing pass/fail coursework: https://somsa .ucr.edu/progr amprerequisites | Yes | Case-by-case Applicants are encouraged to review the program prerequisites found here for more details on completing online coursework: https://somsa .ucr.edu/progr amprerequisites | Yes | Eligible coursework must focus on human or cellular biology (e.g., General, Cell, Molecular, and Developmental Biology, Genetics, or Human Anatomy). We do not accept any Biology courses that focus on Environmental Science, Ecology, Evolution, Plant Biology, and behavioral based Biology courses. Included credit hours are based on semester hours. Lab hours will count towards total semester hours, however, labs are optional. |
| Chemistry CHEM | Required | 16 | No | Case-by-case Applicants are encouraged to review the program prerequisites found here for more information on Pass/Fail grades: https://somsa .ucr.edu/progr amprerequisites | Yes | Case-by-case Applicants are encouraged to review the program prerequisites found here for more details on completing online coursework: https://somsa .ucr.edu/progr amprerequisites | Yes | Eligible courses to fulfill the requirement, must include General Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, and Biochemsitry. Included credit hours are based on semester hours. Lab hours will count towards total semester hours, however, labs are optional. |
| Mathematics MATH | Required | 8 | No | Case-by-case Applicants are encouraged to review the program prerequisites found here for more information on Pass/Fail grades: https://somsa .ucr.edu/progr amprerequisites | Yes | Case-by-case Applicants are encouraged to review the program prerequisites found here for more details on completing online coursework: https://somsa .ucr.edu/progr amprerequisites | Yes | Eligible courses to fulfill the requirement is Calculus and/or Statistics. Included credit hours are based on semester hours. Lab hours will count towards total semester hours, however, labs are optional. |
| Physics PHYS | Required | 8 | No | Case-by-case Applicants are encouraged to review the program prerequisites found here for more information on Pass/Fail grades: https://somsa .ucr.edu/progr amprerequisites | Yes | Case-by-case Applicants are encouraged to review the program prerequisites found here for more details on completing online coursework: https://somsa .ucr.edu/progr amprerequisites | Yes | Eligible coursework includes a standard general physics sequence or any advanced physics courses beyond the introductory level. Included credit hours are based on semester hours. Lab hours will count towards total semester hours, however, labs are optional. |
Community-college pathways
We accept coursework completed at a community college to meet our required science core and recommended humanities core program pre-requisites. Detailed information about our minimum coursework requirements can be found here: https://somsa.ucr.edu/program-prerequisites
Source: MSAR Report for Applicants and Advisors: Premed Course Requirements 2027 (AAMC, retrieved 2026-10-13). Verify with the school.
Admission policies, in the school's words
Students are offered an interview based on their AMCAS application and their secondary application. Candidates selected for interviews will be notified by e-mail. At this stage, only those candidates who have been interviewed can be considered for admission. Decisions for admissions are made on a rolling basis. Acceptances will continue until the class is full. Admission is provisional until candidates complete all required program requirements. Admission decisions are final and thus are not subject to appeal. A student not admitted as a result of the first application may file a second application the following year, however a third application cycle is strongly discouraged. An applicant may request a deferral for up to one year by writing to the Admissions Office. The decision to grant the deferral is made on an individual basis. ***Response to COVID-19 Information for 2026-2027 Admissions Cycle*** The purpose of this message is to address concerns from prospective applicants who are experiencing unprecedented educational upheaval during the COVID-19 pandemic. Applicants for the upcoming application cycle can count on our commitment to the following principles: Pass/Fail Grades – The UCR SOM will accept pass/fail grades, without prejudice, for courses taken during the COVID-19 pandemic. It has always been our practice to consider grades in the context of numerous other aspects of the application, and an international crisis certainly provides a unique and compelling context. In making this statement, we are cognizant of the fact that some undergraduate schools are providing an option for students to take courses either for grades or on a Pass/Fail basis. We therefore want to be explicit that applicants should not feel pressured by us to choose the graded option. Online Coursework– The faculty of the UCR SOM require that students demonstrate a strong foundation that indicates preparedness to engage the curriculum. Our preparation areas are required, however we recognize that there is an increasing degree of variety in premedical course tracks and course offerings at colleges and universities. We further recognize that students may meet these competencies through alternative means or courses, including online. On our secondary application we invite applicants to explain and describe how they have met the requirements through course work and/or additional means. The committee will NOT systematically disqualify candidates due to variation in course completion. The committee will holistically evaluate the preparation of candidates for the school of medicine with a strong focus on science foundation and professional competencies.
Source: MSAR Report for Applicants and Advisors: Admission Policies and Information 2027 (AAMC, retrieved 2026-10-13). Verify with the school.
Who can apply
- Out-of-state applicants
- Case-by-case Out of state applicants will be considered on a case-by-case basis; Applicants will be considered only if they have demonstrated strong ties to inland southern California
- Canadian applicants
- No
- International applicants
- No
- DACA applicants
- Yes The California Dream Act passed in 2011 gives undocumented DACA (AB540 eligibility students) access to state financial aid and institutional and privately-funded scholarships.
- DACA details
- The California Dream Act passed in 2011 gives undocumented DACA (AB540 eligibility students) access to state financial aid and institutional and privately-funded scholarships.
- Residency preference (school's page)
- The FAQ says students are generally from California or have very strong ties to the community and that out-of-state applicants are considered on a case-by-case basis; 95% of the Class of 2030 have ties to Inland Southern California.
Source: (AAMC, retrieved 2026-10-13). Verify with the school.
Interview
- Format
- Interviews will be scheduled on selected weekdays, weeknights, and weekends from September 2026 through March 2027. They will be conducted in the Multiple Mini-Interview (MMI) format.
- Invitations sent
- August 2026
- Typical interview day
- Upon invitation, applicants will receive a school overview and the opportunity to interact virtually with the UCRSOM community, including faculty, staff, and students. To ensure a smooth experience, applicants will be provided with comprehensive manuals and dedicated staff support to assist with MMI experience.
- Regional interviews
- Regional interviews are not available.
- Video interviews
- Interviews will be done virtually utilizing Zoom and KIRA.
- School's admissions page says
- Multiple Mini Interview (MMI): candidates rotate through stations with two minutes to review each scenario and six minutes with the interviewer; the full MMI takes about three hours.
Tags are derived from the text above by keyword; read the text before relying on a tag.
Source: MSAR Report for Applicants and Advisors: Interview Procedures 2027 (AAMC, retrieved 2026-10-13). Verify with the school.
Situational-judgment tests and MCAT dates
- Casper
- Not on official list source
- AAMC PREview
- Not used "We are not using PREview scores in the admissions process" source
- Latest MCAT considered
- November 01, 2026
- Oldest MCAT considered
- November 2023
Casper status comes from the school's own admissions page where it states one, otherwise from published requirement lists; PREview from the school's page or the AAMC PREview policies report. Both change between cycles. Verify with the school.
Secondary application
- Required
- Yes
- Fee
- $120
- Fee waiver available
- Yes
- Deadline
- Nov 1, 2026 November 1st, 2026
- Who receives it
- All verified applicants meeting eligibility will be notified by e-mail to complete a secondary application.
Source: (AAMC, retrieved 2026-10-13). Verify with the school.
Letters of evaluation
- Committee letter
- Accepted
- Letter packet
- Accepted
- Individual letters
- Accepted
Source: (AAMC, retrieved 2026-10-13). Verify with the school.
Waitlist and deposit
- Typical waitlist positions
- 150
- Offers made from the waitlist
- 45
- Deposit required
- No
Cost of attendance and debt
| In state | Out of state | |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition and fees | $42,298 | $54,543 |
| Health insurance | $5,578 | $5,578 |
| Total cost of attendance, year 1 | $97,557 | $109,802 |
92% of students receive aid. Average indebtedness of indebted graduates: $217,416.
Official AAMC counts, 2025-2026
- Applications
- 6,508 (75.9% in-state)
- Matriculants
- 90 (96.7% in-state, 3.3% out-of-state; 58.9% women)
- Applications per seat
- 72
Source: AAMC FACTS Table A-1: Applications and Matriculants by School, State of Legal Residence, and Gender, 2025-2026 (AAMC, retrieved 2026-10-13).
Entering class 2026
- Applicants
- 6,826
- Interviewed
- 374
- Matriculated
- 94
- Women
- 49%
- First generation
- 48%
Source: the school's published class profile (page), retrieved 2026-10-13. Statistics describe one entering class and are not cutoffs.
Transfer applications
No
Mission statement
The mission of the UCR School of Medicine is to improve the health of the people of California and, especially, to serve Inland Southern California by training a diverse workforce of physicians and by developing innovative research and health care delivery programs that will improve the health of the medically underserved in the region and become models to be emulated throughout the state and nation.
Notes
Class of 2030 profile page lists applicants, interviews, enrollment and demographics (70% from economically disadvantaged backgrounds, age range 21-36) but no GPA or MCAT figures. No minimum grade or MCAT requirement stated; highest MCAT within three years considered. Secondary fee is $50 for AMCAS Fee Assistance Program recipients.
Sources for this page
- MSAR Report for Applicants and Advisors: Premed Course Requirements 2027 · AAMC, retrieved 2026-10-13
- MSAR Report for Applicants and Advisors: Admission Policies and Information 2027 · AAMC, retrieved 2026-10-13
- · AAMC, retrieved 2026-10-13
- · AAMC, retrieved 2026-10-13
- MSAR Report for Applicants and Advisors: Interview Procedures 2027 · AAMC, retrieved 2026-10-13
- · AAMC, retrieved 2026-10-13
- · AAMC, retrieved 2026-10-13
- · AAMC, retrieved 2026-10-13
- · AAMC, retrieved 2026-10-13
- · AAMC, retrieved 2026-10-13
- · AAMC, retrieved 2026-10-13
- · AAMC, retrieved 2026-10-13
- · AAMC, retrieved 2026-10-13
- · AAMC, retrieved 2026-10-13
- · AAMC, retrieved 2026-10-13
- · AAMC, retrieved 2026-10-13
- · AAMC, retrieved 2026-10-13
- School website (class profile and admissions pages)
- LCME Directory - Accredited Programs
- AAMC FACTS Table A-1: Applications and Matriculants by School, State of Legal Residence, and Gender, 2025-2026 · AAMC, retrieved 2026-10-13
- https://somsa.ucr.edu/admissions-faq · school website, retrieved 2026-10-13
- https://somsa.ucr.edu/admission-medical-school · school website, retrieved 2026-10-13
- https://somsa.ucr.edu/admissioninterview · school website, retrieved 2026-10-13
- https://somsa.ucr.edu/ · school website, retrieved 2026-10-13
AAMC report data may be reproduced and distributed with attribution for individual, educational and noncommercial purposes. This page is free and carries no advertising.