Michigan Medical Schools 2025 Guide: MD & DO Programs, Admissions, and Strategy

Why consider Michigan for medical school

Michigan blends large urban hospitals, community sites, and rural rotations, so you can train across diverse settings. The state’s health systems support strong research and primary care pathways, and several schools emphasize service to underserved communities. If you are a Michigan resident, you may also find in-state tuition advantages at public programs.

Looking for a premed internship or medical elective abroad? Inquire here.

All medical schools in Michigan

Below is a concise, student-focused overview of every MD and DO program in Michigan. Always confirm requirements and dates on each school’s site before you apply.

#1. Central Michigan University College of Medicine MD

• Location: Mount Pleasant
• Signature strengths: Commitment to rural and underserved care across central and northern Michigan and the Upper Peninsula.
• Curriculum: Early clinical skills, simulation, community-engaged learning.
• Admissions snapshot: Holistic review with emphasis on service, cultural competence, and readiness for patient care.
• Good fit for: Applicants drawn to primary care and community health.
  
  

#2. Michigan State University College of Human Medicine MD

• Location: East Lansing and Grand Rapids with community campuses statewide
• Signature strengths: Primary care orientation, community campuses that mirror Michigan’s urban and rural mix.
• Curriculum: Shared Discovery Curriculum with early and middle clinical exposure followed by late clerkships in community campuses.
• Admissions snapshot: Looks for academic readiness, sustained service, and mission alignment.
• Good fit for: Students who value longitudinal community training and broad Michigan placements.
  
  

#3. Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine MD

• Location: Rochester, with core training at Beaumont hospitals in Royal Oak, Troy, and Grosse Pointe
• Signature strengths: Large integrated health system, Level 1 trauma exposure at Royal Oak, strong mentoring culture.
• Curriculum: Organ systems, early patient contact, scholarly and community engagement.
• Admissions snapshot: Holistic review that values a well-rounded academic foundation, BCPM strength, and reflection.
• Good fit for: Applicants seeking high-volume suburban-urban clinical training.
  
  

#4. University of Michigan Medical School MD

• Location: Ann Arbor
• Signature strengths: National research leadership, robust scholarly opportunities, strong specialty and primary care options.
• Curriculum: Foundational scientific phase, core clerkships, then an individualized professional development phase with flexible tracks.
• Admissions snapshot: Focus on academic excellence, service, professionalism, and evidence of growth mindsets.
• Good fit for: Students aiming for discovery, academic medicine, or complex tertiary care environments.
  
  

#5. Wayne State University School of Medicine MD

• Location: Detroit
• Signature strengths: Urban clinical immersion, large class community, partnerships across Detroit safety-net and specialty sites.
• Curriculum: Systems-based science, early clinical exposure, strong community engagement.
• Admissions snapshot: Holistic review that weighs academics, service, clinical activity, and mission fit, with attention to Michigan residents.
• Good fit for: Students energized by big-city medicine and health equity work.
  
  

#6. Western Michigan University Homer Stryker M.D. School of Medicine MD

• Location: Kalamazoo
• Signature strengths: Private program with close ties to two teaching hospitals, supportive learning environment, and strong simulation.
• Curriculum: Clinical skills early, structured professional development, research and leadership opportunities.
• Admissions snapshot: Multi-step review that assesses attributes, communication, reasoning, and teamwork.
• Good fit for: Learners who prefer a mid-sized city, tight-knit cohorts, and broad hands-on experience.
  
  

#7. Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine DO

• Location: East Lansing with additional sites
• Signature strengths: Osteopathic training with statewide clinical network and a focus on patient-centered primary care.
• Curriculum: OMM integration, early patient interaction, options for dual-degree training.
• Admissions snapshot: Values exposure to osteopathic practice, service, professionalism, and strong MCAT-GPA fundamentals.
• Good fit for: Students aligned with DO philosophy and statewide community care.

Costs, residency, and competitiveness

Public vs private: 

Public programs often offer lower in-state tuition, while private schools may provide merit or need-based aid. Compare total cost of attendance, not tuition alone.

Residency: 

Some Michigan programs give practical preference to in-state applicants, yet qualified out-of-state candidates are admitted every year.

Competitiveness: 

All programs are selective. Balance your list with reaches, targets, and foundations based on recent class profiles.

Michigan application strategy that works

1. Show mission fit: 

Link your experiences to each school’s community and clinical goals. Be specific about why their sites, tracks, or values match your path.

2. Earn credible clinical exposure: 

Prioritize roles with direct patient contact, teamwork, and reflection. Keep notes you can use in secondaries and interviews.

3. Demonstrate service and cultural competence: 

Long-term service in clinics, shelters, schools, or public health shows reliability and empathy.

4. Plan your timing: 

Schedule the MCAT with retake buffer, submit AMCAS early, and turn secondaries within 1 to 2 weeks.

5. Tell a cohesive story: 

Personal statement for your why, secondary essays for program fit, activity descriptions for impact and growth.

Add a global edge to your Michigan applications

Structured, mentored clinical experience in resource-limited settings strengthens communication, adaptability, and cultural competence. These experiences translate into compelling essays and interviews while preparing you for diverse patient care.

• Pre-meds and pre-health: Pre-Health and Pre-Med Internships
• Medical students: Medical Electives and Residency Electives
• Considering PA routes too. Explore Physician Assistant Internships and Pre-PA Internships
• Dental and nursing tracks. See Dental Electives Abroad, Pre-Dental Internships, Nursing Electives, and Pre-Nursing Shadowing
  
  

FAQs: Michigan medical schools

I. How many medical schools are in Michigan

Seven total across MD and DO pathways.

II. Do Michigan schools prefer in-state applicants

Public schools often prioritize residents, but strong nonresident applicants are admitted.

III. Which program is the best

The right program depends on your goals. Compare mission, curriculum, clinical sites, advising culture, research options, and cost.

IV. How can I stand out

Pair solid academics with reflective clinical exposure, sustained service, and school-specific essays that show clear alignment.

Next steps

• Apply for upcoming cohorts in Kenya or Tanzania
• Have questions about placements, housing, or timing. Inquire here

Go Elective does not provide admissions advising. Always verify current prerequisites, deadlines, tuition, and fees on each medical school’s official website and in AMCAS or AACOMAS.

Article Details

Categories

Recent Articles , Pre-health, Medical Electives, MCAT/MSAR/USMLE, Med Schools,

Author: Go-Elective Abroad

Date Published: Sep 13, 2025