David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA

Los Angeles, CA · Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center

Program Statistics

Official school figures and U.S. government data · sources below

Cost of Attendance · 2026–27

In-state tuition & fees $54.7K/yr

Out-of-state tuition & fees $67.0K/yr

$12.2K more per year for non-residents

Median rent · Los Angeles County, CA$1,954/mo

1.4× the U.S. median ($1,413) · Census ACS 2020–2024

Scale & Reach

$412M

NIH funding · FY2025

Clinical training & research

Clinical Training Sites · 5

Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center
Acute care · Public · ER
★★★★★
Santa Monica–UCLA Medical Center
Acute care · Non-profit · ER
★★★★★
Harbor-UCLA Medical Center
LA County teaching hospital · ER
★★★★★
Olive View–UCLA Medical Center
LA County teaching hospital · ER
★★★★★
West Los Angeles VA Medical Center
VA Greater Los Angeles · ER
★★★★★

★ CMS overall hospital rating (1–5). Children's, cancer and psychiatric hospitals aren't rated.

Research Depth

$412M

NIH · FY2025

-17% since FY2021

Top NIH-funded departments

Internal Medicine / Medicine$152M
Pediatrics$41M
Psychiatry$31M

NCI Comprehensive Cancer Center
NIH-funded MD-PhD (MSTP)
NIH clinical & translational science hub
205 recruiting clinical trials

Programs & admissions

Programs & Tracks

Tracks & programs

PRIME-LA
UCLA-Caltech MSTPMD-PhD

Applying

Interviews: Virtual for the 2026–2027 cycle
Required: AAMC PREview (traditional MD track)
Prerequisites: Competency-based · no specific courses required

Sources: How Much Does Medical School Cost? (UCLA DGSOM) · UCLA DGSOM Preparing to Apply · UCLA DGSOM Review Process (interviews) · UCLA Internal Medicine clinical sites · UCLA Psychiatry medical student education · PRIME-LA program FAQ · NCI-Designated Cancer Centers · Census QuickFacts (Los Angeles County, CA) · NIH RePORTER · ClinicalTrials.gov · CMS Care Compare

Program Highlights

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Curriculum

Tim Ellis-Caleo describes a preclinical curriculum organized in organ-system blocks: about two hours of lecture a day plus afternoon sessions three days a week. Third year brings traditional core clerkships in medicine, family medicine, pediatrics, psychiatry, neurology, OB/GYN, and surgery.

UCLA doesn't require specific prerequisite courses; applicants show mastery of competency areas across their academic history instead.

local_hospital

Clinical Training

Tim calls clinical training UCLA's real strength: excellent residents and faculty across varied sites who hand students real responsibility. Students rotate through Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center, Santa Monica–UCLA, Harbor-UCLA, Olive View–UCLA, and the West Los Angeles VA.

The county hospitals at Harbor and Olive View add safety-net experience to UCLA's academic flagship.

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Culture

The class is large, with diverse interests. Tim describes a supportive, friendly culture that also lets students keep some distance from day-to-day school life if they prefer.

Students see classmates most in the first two years; during clinical years, mostly in passing at the hospital.

how_to_reg

Admissions

UCLA weighs the undergraduate record, MCAT, letters, life experiences, and interviews, and requires AAMC PREview scores for traditional MD track applicants. Interviews are virtual for the 2026–2027 cycle.

Tim's advice: pursue non-medical interests before medical school, because it can be all-consuming.

Sources: DocStory interview with Tim Ellis-Caleo · UCLA DGSOM Preparing to Apply · UCLA Psychiatry medical student education

Student Voices

1 interview from current and former UCLA students

Tim Ellis-Caleo

MS4

"The real strength of UCLA lies in the excellent clinical training across a variety of sites. Being exposed to strong residents and faculty who will delegate significant responsibility to you as a medical student is the best way to maximize your learning during third year."

Read Interview →