Medical Schools in Utah: Complete Guide for 2027 Applicants

Utah has three medical schools offering paths to becoming a physician: one MD program and two DO programs. While the number of schools is small compared with states such as California, New York, or Texas, Utah offers applicants three distinct medical education environments.

The medical schools in Utah are:

1. Spencer Fox Eccles School of Medicine at the University of Utah
2. Noorda College of Osteopathic Medicine
3. Rocky Vista University College of Osteopathic Medicine, Utah Campus

If you are considering medical school in Utah, this guide compares the schools, GPA and MCAT expectations, tuition, application systems, and important factors to consider for the 2026-2027 application cycle.

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Medical Schools in Utah at a Glance

Academic figures for Noorda-COM and RVUCOM are the latest figures published by the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine (AACOM). Tuition figures are published by the respective institutions and may change from year to year.

1. Spencer Fox Eccles School of Medicine at the University of Utah

Location: Salt Lake City, Utah
Degree: MD
Application: AMCAS

The Spencer Fox Eccles School of Medicine at the University of Utah is Utah's only MD-granting medical school. The program is based within University of Utah Health in Salt Lake City and is accredited through the Liaison Committee on Medical Education.

The school has 132 available seats per entering class, with seats allocated partly according to an applicant's legal state of residence. International applicants are considered within the nonresident category.

GPA and MCAT requirements

Rather than publishing a single minimum GPA and MCAT combination, the school uses a matrix. Applicants are encouraged to apply when they meet one of these combinations:

• MCAT 494-497 with an undergraduate GPA of at least 3.80
• MCAT 498-499 with an undergraduate GPA of at least 3.60
• MCAT 500 or higher with an undergraduate GPA of at least 3.00

Applicants must meet the academic eligibility requirements before receiving a secondary application. The school then conducts a broader mission-aligned review of eligible candidates.

Tuition and cost

For the 2025-2026 academic year, first-year fall and spring tuition and fees were approximately $34,553 for Utah residents and $66,318 for nonresidents. Summer tuition was listed separately at approximately $13,949 for residents and $28,914 for nonresidents.

This distinction is important because tuition should not be confused with the school's total cost of attendance, which also includes housing, transportation, books, food, and personal expenses.

The University of Utah also gives significant consideration to residency when allocating seats. For example, 10 seats are specifically designated for qualifying Idaho students through an agreement with the state of Idaho.

Who should consider it?

The University of Utah may be particularly attractive to applicants looking for:

• An MD program within a major academic health system
• Research opportunities
• Rural and community medicine exposure
• Multiple medical specialties and academic departments
• An established university environment

Applicants should pay particularly close attention to residency requirements because the school's seat allocation policies differ from those of many private medical schools.

2. Noorda College of Osteopathic Medicine

Location: Provo, Utah
Degree: DO
Application: AACOMAS

Noorda College of Osteopathic Medicine, commonly called Noorda-COM, is a private osteopathic medical school in Provo.

Noorda-COM has received full accreditation from the Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation (COCA).

Unlike the University of Utah, Noorda does not restrict consideration based on an applicant's state of permanent residence and encourages applications from qualified students regardless of where they live.

Average GPA and MCAT

AACOM currently reports the following academic profile for Noorda-COM:

• Average cumulative undergraduate GPA: 3.47
• Mean MCAT: 501.8

Noorda states that an MCAT of 500 with section scores of approximately 125 is preferred, while total MCAT scores of 494 or below are not considered.

Remember that an average is not a minimum. Applicants above or below these figures may still be considered within the school's overall admissions process.

Tuition

For first-year students in the 2026-2027 academic year, Noorda lists:

• Tuition: $71,210
• Student fees: $2,635
• Total institutional expenses: $73,845

Its estimated total cost of attendance rises to approximately $119,607 after health insurance, instruments, housing, food, transportation, and other expenses are considered.

This is another reason applicants should compare tuition and total cost of attendance separately when evaluating medical schools.

Who should consider it?

Noorda may appeal to students interested in:

• Osteopathic medicine
• A private medical school with no state-residency preference
• Technology-supported medical education
• Simulation-based learning
• Training in Utah's growing healthcare environment

3. Rocky Vista University College of Osteopathic Medicine, Utah Campus

Location: Ivins, Utah
Degree: DO
Application: AACOMAS

Rocky Vista University College of Osteopathic Medicine, or RVUCOM, operates campuses in Colorado and Utah. Its Utah campus is in Ivins, near St. George in southwestern Utah.

RVUCOM's Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine program is accredited by the Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation.

The four-year curriculum begins with two years of preclinical education followed by two years of clinical education.

Average GPA and MCAT

AACOM reports:

• Average cumulative undergraduate GPA: 3.61
• Mean MCAT: 504.4

RVU requires applicants to have at least a 3.0 cumulative and science GPA. The university does not publish a strict minimum MCAT score, although it notes that competitive applicants generally have stronger academic records.

Tuition

RVUCOM tuition for the 2026-2027 academic year is $72,526. Student health insurance is listed separately at $5,936, although students with qualifying equivalent coverage may be able to waive the university plan.

Who should consider it?

RVUCOM Utah may be worth exploring if you are interested in:

• Osteopathic medicine
• Early clinical integration
• A smaller-city medical school environment
• Training in the Mountain West
• A curriculum combining biomedical science, clinical skills, and osteopathic principles
  
  

MD vs. DO Medical Schools in Utah

One of the biggest decisions for a Utah medical school applicant is whether to pursue an MD, a DO, or both.

Both MDs and DOs are licensed physicians who can enter medical specialties and residency programs in the United States.

Osteopathic medical education also incorporates osteopathic principles and a whole-person approach to patient care.

In Utah:

• University of Utah: MD
• Noorda-COM: DO
• RVUCOM Utah: DO

Applying to both MD and DO programs can broaden your medical school options if both pathways fit your goals.

How Do You Apply to Medical Schools in Utah?

The application system depends on the degree.

For the University of Utah MD program:
Apply through the American Medical College Application Service (AMCAS).

For Noorda-COM and RVUCOM:
Apply through the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine Application Service (AACOMAS).

AACOMAS allows students to complete one centralized application and submit it to participating osteopathic medical schools.

For the 2026-2027 cycle, AACOM states that its application cycle remains open through April 30, 2027, although individual schools can have earlier deadlines. Applying well before final deadlines is generally advisable because medical schools may review candidates throughout the cycle.

What Do Utah Medical Schools Look for in Applicants?

GPA and MCAT scores matter, but they represent only part of a medical school application.

Applicants should also work on demonstrating meaningful preparation for medicine through experiences such as:

• Clinical exposure
• Physician shadowing
• Community service
• Research
• Leadership
• Healthcare employment or internships
• Strong letters of recommendation
• Clear motivation for becoming a physician

AACOM specifically encourages future applicants to continue building clinical experience through shadowing, volunteering, healthcare employment, and internships while completing their undergraduate education.

The goal should not simply be accumulating hours. Strong experiences help you understand patient care, healthcare systems, teamwork, and whether medicine is genuinely the right career for you.

Students looking to broaden their exposure before medical school can also explore Pre-Health and Pre-Med Internships with Go-Elective. These experiences can provide supervised exposure to healthcare environments while helping students develop a broader understanding of medicine and global health.

How to Choose Between Utah Medical Schools

Do not choose a medical school solely because its average MCAT or GPA looks closest to yours.

Consider:

1. MD or DO

Decide whether you are interested in allopathic medicine, osteopathic medicine, or comfortable applying to both.

2. Academic fit

Compare your GPA and MCAT with each school's published requirements and entering-student data.

3. Residency preferences

This is particularly important at the University of Utah, where legal residency affects seat allocation.

4. Cost

Compare tuition, mandatory fees, insurance, housing, transportation, and total cost of attendance rather than tuition alone.

5. Location

Salt Lake City, Provo, and Ivins offer significantly different environments. Think about where you would be comfortable studying and living for four years.

6. School mission

Read each school's mission, curriculum, clinical training model, and community priorities. Admissions committees are not simply looking for applicants with strong numbers. They are looking for students whose experiences and goals align with the institution.

Building Clinical Experience Before Medical School

Medical schools want applicants who understand what working in healthcare actually involves.

That understanding can come from hospital volunteering, shadowing physicians, working in patient-facing healthcare roles, participating in research, or completing structured clinical experiences.

For students interested in expanding their perspective beyond their home healthcare system, Go-Elective's Pre-Health and Pre-Med Internships provide opportunities to observe healthcare delivery in international settings under professional supervision.

Students already enrolled in medical school can instead explore Medical Electives.

International clinical exposure should complement, rather than replace, the academic preparation, local clinical experience, community service, and other activities expected by individual U.S. medical schools.

Final Thoughts

There are three medical schools in Utah: one MD program and two DO programs.

The University of Utah offers the state's only MD pathway and has strong residency-based seat allocation policies. Noorda-COM and RVUCOM Utah provide two osteopathic pathways with different academic profiles, locations, and educational environments.

Rather than asking which Utah medical school is easiest to enter, focus on which schools best match your academics, experiences, career interests, finances, and approach to medicine.

Then review each school's official admissions requirements carefully before submitting your application, since GPA requirements, MCAT policies, tuition, and deadlines can change between application cycles.

FAQ About Medical Schools in Utah

#1. How many medical schools are in Utah?

Utah has three medical schools offering MD or DO degrees: Spencer Fox Eccles School of Medicine at the University of Utah, Noorda College of Osteopathic Medicine, and Rocky Vista University College of Osteopathic Medicine's Utah campus.

#2. Is there an MD medical school in Utah?

Yes. The Spencer Fox Eccles School of Medicine at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City offers the MD degree. The other two medical schools in the state offer DO degrees.

#3. Is there a medical school in Salt Lake City?

Yes. The Spencer Fox Eccles School of Medicine at the University of Utah is located in Salt Lake City.

#4. Is there a medical school in Provo, Utah?

Yes. Noorda College of Osteopathic Medicine is located in Provo and offers the Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree.

#5. What medical school is in southern Utah?

Rocky Vista University College of Osteopathic Medicine operates its Utah campus in Ivins, near St. George.

#6. What is the easiest medical school to get into in Utah?

There is no Utah medical school that should be considered "easy" to enter. Noorda-COM currently reports a lower average GPA and MCAT than RVUCOM, but admissions decisions consider much more than academic averages. Applicants should compare their complete profile with each school's requirements rather than treating averages as acceptance cutoffs.

#7. What GPA do you need for medical school in Utah?

Requirements differ by school. The University of Utah uses a GPA-MCAT matrix, Noorda-COM publishes its own minimum requirements and currently reports an average undergraduate GPA of 3.47, while RVUCOM requires at least a 3.0 cumulative and science GPA and reports an average cumulative GPA of 3.61.

#8. Does Utah have both MD and DO medical schools?

Yes. Utah has one MD medical school and two DO medical schools, allowing applicants to consider both allopathic and osteopathic medical education.

Article Details

Categories

Recent Articles , Pre-health, Med Schools,

Author: Tatina Himes

Date Published: Sep 2, 2026