Healthcare education in Florida

Florida has experienced significant growth in medical education over the past two decades, with 8 LCME-accredited MD schools and 1 COCA-accredited DO school. Several of these programs were founded since 2005, including FIU Herbert Wertheim, UCF, FAU, and Nova Southeastern’s allopathic program. Florida’s diverse patient population and growing elderly community provide rich clinical training opportunities.

Florida is home to 8 MD schools and 1 DO school.

Middle schoolHigh schoolUndergraduatePrograms

Pipeline programs and pre-med resources

Florida State University College of Medicine focuses specifically on training physicians for rural and underserved communities in Florida, with clinical training sites throughout the state. FIU Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine operates the NeighborhoodHELP program, which pairs medical students with underserved households for longitudinal community health engagement.

The University of Florida offers the Junior Honors Medical Program, a combined BS/MD pathway for high-achieving Florida residents. Pipeline programs are available at several Florida medical schools, including summer enrichment programs for underrepresented students.

For high school students, the Florida Medical Association offers health careers information, and many hospitals throughout the state have structured volunteer and shadowing programs.

For students in Florida, we recommend starting with our level-specific guides: Middle School, High School, or Undergraduate. See also our What Is Pre-Med? and Pre-Med Requirements pages.

Scholarships and loan repayment


Florida Bright Futures Scholarship
Merit-based state scholarship for Florida high school graduates. Covers full or partial tuition at Florida public institutions depending on the award level (Florida Academic Scholars, Florida Medallion Scholars). Apply via FAFSA. Details at Florida Student Financial Aid.

State Loan Forgiveness
Florida offers loan forgiveness for physicians practicing in rural and underserved counties. Check current programs through the Florida Department of Health and the Florida AHEC network.

For federal programs available in all states, see our Income-Driven Repayment, PSLF Guide, and Military Medical Scholarships pages.

Medical schools in Florida

Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine at Florida Atlantic University (MD, Boca Raton) | Website
Florida International University Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine (MD, Miami) | Website
Florida State University College of Medicine (MD, Tallahassee) | Website
Nova Southeastern University Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Allopathic Medicine (MD, Fort Lauderdale) | Website
Nova Southeastern University Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Osteopathic Medicine (DO, Fort Lauderdale) | Website
USF Health Morsani College of Medicine (MD, Tampa) | Website
University of Central Florida College of Medicine (MD, Orlando) | Website
University of Florida College of Medicine (MD, Gainesville) | Website
University of Miami Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine (MD, Miami) | Website

For complete data including application systems and school details, see our Medical Schools Database and filter by state.

Help us improve this page

If you know of a Florida-specific program, scholarship, or resource that should be listed here, please use the Contact Us form or the “Share Your Thoughts” button. We update state pages regularly based on community input.

Last verified: March 2026