Are you considering applying to medical school in New Jersey? The Garden State features a wide-ranging and beautiful natural landscape, which includes miles of white sand beaches, rugged coastal cliffs, and forested valleys, a phenomenal food scene, amusement parks, and a diverse patient population.
But what’s it like to attend medical school in New Jersey, and how do you get accepted?
In this post, we’ll break down everything you need to know about going to medical school in New Jersey, including where the medical schools are located, what it’s like to live in New Jersey, how to apply, and tips for gaining acceptance to medical schools in New Jersey.
Here’s what to expect below.
- How Many Medical Schools Are in New Jersey?
- List of Medical Schools in New Jersey
- Cooper Medical School of Rowan University
- Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine
- Rutgers New Jersey Medical School
- Rutgers University Robert Wood Johnson Medical School
- List of Osteopathic Medical Schools in New Jersey
- Rowan University School of Osteopathic Medicine (Rowan-Virtua SOM)
- New Jersey Medical School Locations
- How Much Is Medical School Tuition in New Jersey?
- What It’s Like to Go to Medical School in New Jersey
- How to Apply to New Jersey Medical Schools (MD)
-
- Application Requirements
-
- Application Deadlines
-
- How to Apply to Osteopathic Medical Schools in New Jersey
- Tips to Gain Acceptance at New Jersey Medical Schools (MD and DO)
-
- Understand In-State vs. Out-of-State Preference
-
- Understand the Costs Involved
-
- Bottom Line: Is Going to Medical School in New Jersey Right for You?
How Many Medical Schools Are in New Jersey?
There are 5 medical schools in New Jersey. 4 are allopathic (MD), and 1 is osteopathic (DO).
List of Medical Schools in New Jersey
Allopathic Medical Schools in New Jersey (MD)
- Cooper Medical School of Rowan University
- Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine
- Rutgers New Jersey Medical School
- Rutgers University Robert Wood Johnson Medical School
Cooper Medical School of Rowan University
In 2012, Rowan University and the Cooper Health System partnered to found the Cooper Medical School of Rowan University (CMSRU). CMSRU’s mission is to develop socially conscious, highly skilled physician leaders who will take a patient-centered, team approach to healthcare.
In service of this mission, CMSRU’s humanistic curriculum is focused on self-directed, small-group learning, with patient care experiences beginning during the third week of medical school in the Cooper Rowan Clinic. Another focus of the curriculum is on service learning, which combines teaching and learning with significant community service.
CMSRU is located in Camden, an underserved city where many basic needs, such as food, education, housing, and healthcare, go unmet for many of its residents. CMSRU’s mission is to close this gap by educating physicians who will stay in the region to practice after their medical education concludes.
CMSRU also offers an Accelerated Three-Year Primary Care Track (PC3 Track) for students who know they want to pursue a career in primary care or pediatrics. After earning their MD in three years, graduates have the opportunity to complete their residency training at CMSRU as well as other institutions across the US. US News lists CMSRU as Tier 2 for all medical schools for primary care. They also have almost every specialty residency, so it’s possible you could match at your home program.
One thing to note about CMSRU is if you’re interested in a specialty that puts high value on research and reputation, such as plastics or dermatology, you may have to network more and make more opportunities for yourself, as US News lists CMSRU in Tier 3 for research.
However, CMSRU is affiliated with the MD Anderson Cancer Center, so students will have a great deal of oncology exposure.
Median Academic Scores of Matriculants:
- Median GPA: 3.88
- Median MCAT: 514
Cooper Medical School of Rowan University Secondary Questions.
In-State vs. Out-of-State Preference:
| In-State | Out-of-State | |
|---|---|---|
| Applicants | 1262 | 3288 |
| Matriculants | 87 | 25 |
Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine
Founded in 2015, Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine (HMSOM), New Jersey’s only private medical school, seeks to take healthcare beyond intervention into the science of prevention by going beyond the hospital to connect directly with the people of their community in health, not just in illness.
HMSOM has a unique 3+1 curriculum. All students will go through a three-year core curriculum in which they will meet thorough standardized learning outcomes. In the fourth year, this will be complemented by an extremely individualized experience designed to enhance each student’s professional development. Students can choose to focus on research, global health, a dual degree, or many more options.
The focus of HMSOM’s curriculum is on collaborative learning with other healthcare professional students in order to embrace the social determinants of health and community beyond the acute-care setting. Students will connect with patients on day one and throughout medical school.
This is especially true of their Human Dimension program, a longitudinal course that runs throughout the first three years. Students will be paired with an individual or family in the community that needs a helping hand. They will then follow that person or family over the course of the core curriculum, becoming involved in all aspects of their health.
One of the most interesting things about HMSOM is that graduates are guaranteed a residency spot at that institution if it offers the student’s specialty of interest.
Median Academic Scores of Matriculants:
- Median GPA: 3.82
- Median MCAT: 515
Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine Secondary Questions.
In-State vs. Out-of-State Preference:
| In-State | Out-of-State | |
|---|---|---|
| Applicants | 1236 | 4930 |
| Matriculants | 84 | 78 |
Rutgers New Jersey Medical School
Founded in 1954, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School (NJMS) emphasizes holistic educational experiences with on-the-job training.
NJMS has an organ-based preclinical curriculum for the first two years, with problem-based learning, early clinical exposure through preceptorships in psychiatry and primary care, cadaver anatomy labs with an in-house mortician managing the lab, and patient-centered medicine courses where students learn how to perform histories and physical exams.
Being situated in Newark, where the patient population is underserved, NJMS places a major emphasis on health equity, social justice, and community service. They even have one of the oldest free student-run clinics in the country. The Student Family Health Care Center (SFHCC) was established in 1967 and enables students to volunteer at homeless shelters as well as local public schools.
NJMS emphasizes diversity through recruiting a well-represented class, so they are actively looking for and open to interviewing people from a wide range of backgrounds.
NJMS offers an accelerated 3-year program for students interested in primary care, as well as a 7-year program for high schoolers. Their BA/MD programs are affiliated with a number of undergraduate institutions, such as The College of New Jersey (TCNJ), Rutgers University-Newark, Stevens Institute of Technology, the New Jersey Institute of Technology, and more.
Median Academic Scores of Matriculants:
- Median GPA: 3.85
- Median MCAT: 516
Rutgers New Jersey School of Medicine Secondary Questions.
In-State vs. Out-of-State Preference:
| In-State | Out-of-State | |
|---|---|---|
| Applicants | 1486 | 3917 |
| Matriculants | 145 | 28 |
Rutgers University Robert Wood Johnson Medical School
The Rutgers University Robert Wood Johnson Medical School was founded in 1961, but in 2021, they revamped the program’s curriculum to focus on the 5 Cs: curiosity, critical thinking, clinical skills, competence, and compassion—themes that are woven throughout the entire medical school experience.
Clinical experience begins during the first year through Physicianship Development and Practice (PDP) blocks, where students will care for patients in the clinic as well as their homes. This clinical training is enhanced through the use of Objective Structured Clinical Exercises (OSCE), simulations, and standardized patients, as well as individual observation and feedback from the more than 2400 full-time and volunteer faculty.
Robert Wood Johnson also has an 8-year BA/MD program in combination with Rutgers New Brunswick, in addition to an early assurance program where students are accepted from second year of undergrad. They also offer a three-year accelerated medical school program for students who are interested in becoming primary care physicians.
Similar to the other medical schools in New Jersey, students at Robert Wood Johnson Medical School have ample opportunities to volunteer within their community through the Homeless and Indigent Population Health Outreach Project (HIPHOP).
HIPHOP is a student-run community service program that works in collaboration with community partners and is supervised by faculty. It provides the chance for students to get involved with the Greater New Brunswick area and take part in service-learning activities.
Median Academic Scores of Matriculants:
- Median GPA: 3.83
- Median MCAT: 515
Rutgers University Robert Wood Johnson Medical School Secondary Questions.
In-State vs. Out-of-State Preference:
| In-State | Out-of-State | |
|---|---|---|
| Applicants | 1469 | 4156 |
| Matriculants | 146 | 19 |
List of Osteopathic Medical Schools in New Jersey (DO)
Rowan University School of Osteopathic Medicine
Founded in 1976, the Rowan University School of Osteopathic Medicine is committed to providing excellent patient-centered care that prioritizes primary and interprofessional team-based care designed to respond to the needs of underserved and special needs populations.
Rowan-Virtua SOM has two campuses in New Jersey, one in Sewell and one in Stratford, as well as two curriculum tracks during the pre-clerkship phase: Synergistic Guided Learning Curriculum (SGL) and Problem-Based Learning Curriculum (PBL).
The SGL track has a single-pass system-based design. Organ systems are combined into blocks to facilitate a more intuitive progression of learning. Each block repeats a cyclical process that presents the normal structure and function of the organ system, followed by a description of the progression of diseases, as well as their diagnosis and treatments.
The PBL track focuses on a student-centered approach to the curriculum, where students develop basic science knowledge and clinical reasoning skills through clinical case presentations. Students on this track follow a double-pass systems-based model.
The PBL track is offered at both the Stratford and Sewell campuses, whereas the SGL track is only offered at the Stratford campus.
Median Academic Scores of Matriculants:
- Median GPA: 3.6
- Median MCAT: 507
Rowan University School of Osteopathic Medicine Secondary Questions.
New Jersey Medical School Locations
New Jersey is the fifth-smallest state in land area, but with a population of approximately 9.291 million, it’s the most densely populated state in the entire country.
This is due to the fact that it is at the center of the Northeast megalopolis, also known as the Northeast Corridor, which extends from the northern suburbs of Boston to Washington D.C. It’s also the only US state in which every county is considered urban by the US Census Bureau.
- Cooper Medical School of Rowan University: Camden
- Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine: Nutley
- Rutgers New Jersey Medical School: Newark
- Rutgers University Robert Wood Johnson Medical School: New Brunswick
- Rowan University School of Osteopathic Medicine: Stratford, Sewell
Newark, where Rutgers New Jersey Medical School is located, is the state’s most populous city at approximately 304,960. The city has a large underserved population with high rates of homelessness, and safety can sometimes be an issue. However, it’s only a 15-20 minute train/light rail to New York City. It also has a major train station stop that goes to NYC, Philadelphia, Boston, Washington D.C., or any other major Northeastern city.
If you live in Newark and go to NJMS, you don’t necessarily need a car, as there is great public transportation and an efficient taxi and Uber system. Rutgers NJMS also has a free shuttle for medical students that takes you from the school to the train station.
Rutgers, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School is based in New Brunswick, which is a suburban college town of approximately 55,846, and the location of the larger Rutgers University. Its patient population is also very different. There are lots of college sports as well as fun bars to go to, but the catch is you will need a car to get around. New Brunswick is only about 40-45 minutes away from Newark.
Cooper Medical School is located in Camden, which is a more urban area, but you will still need a car. Camden has a population of 71,100 and is an hour and a half away from Newark. It’s home to the Adventure Aquarium.
Nutley, where Hackensack is located, is a suburban area with a population of 30,143. This is another area where you will need a car to get around. Nutley is only 20 minutes away from Newark.
Stratford, where one of the Rowan University School of Osteopathic Medicine campuses is located, has a population of 7000 and is a borough of Camden. It’s just 20 minutes away from Camden proper, and an hour and a half away from Newark. Sewell, where the other campus is located, has a population of 3346, is 20 minutes away from Stratford. You will need a car in both Stratford and Sewell.
How Much Is Medical School Tuition in New Jersey?
So, how much does medical school cost in New Jersey?
New Jersey Tuition Costs (2023 Data From MSAR)
| New Jersey Medical School | Yearly Tuition In-State | Yearly Tuition Out-of-State |
|---|---|---|
| Cooper Medical School of Rowan University | $46,998 | $73,196 |
| Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine | $73,336 | $73,336 |
| Rutgers New Jersey Medical School | $47,505 | $74,349 |
| Rutgers, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School | $46,749 | $73,593 |
| Rowan University School of Osteopathic Medicine | $46,860 | $74,368 |
View the most recent AAMC tuition data.
- Additional fees not included.
You also need to factor in the cost of medical school applications, which can compound across primary fees, secondary fees, exam fees, study resources, and interview travel costs. Learn more: How Much Do Med School Applications Cost? The Full Price Analyzed.
Plus, there are many other financial factors to consider, including housing, transportation, food, exercise, and events. Unfortunately, the cost of living in New Jersey is high, about 11% higher than the national average. Of course, this is still much, much cheaper than living in New York City.
What It’s Like to Go to Medical School in New Jersey
New Jersey is a Northeastern state bordered by New York State in the north and northeast, Delaware in the south and southwest, across Delaware Bay, Pennsylvania in the west, across the Delaware River, and the Atlantic Ocean in the east.
NJ is one of the most densely populated states but it is ranked as the 3rd happiest state according to a national survey. It’s a diverse state in terms of race, culture, religion, and sexual orientation, with a large Asian and South Asian population, so there are ample opportunities to connect with people you otherwise may never meet if you come from a small town in the Midwest. The public school system is also one of the best in the country, with many of its vocational high schools among the top in the US.
The Jersey Shore is beautiful in the summertime and a quick drive away. NJ also has a great public transportation system, as trains can take you to NYC, D.C., Philly, Boston, etc., so it’s quite easy to get to any major metropolitan area in the Northeast.
New Jersey is a scenic state with mountains, beaches, and beautiful forests. It’s also a state that experiences all four seasons, so you can ski in the winter and surf in the summer! Summers are hot and humid, and winters are cold and full of snow. Unfortunately, the Garden State does often experience severe weather, including extreme temperatures, thunderstorms, hail storms, and even tornadoes.
If you’re a foodie, thanks to its diversity, New Jersey has one of the best food scenes in the country, ranging from quality diners fixing up American classics to exquisite Italian restaurants to mouth-watering pizza to pork rolls to disco fries (crinkle cut French fries with cheese curds and gravy) to New Jersey Italian hot dogs (pizza bread bun with a fried hot dog, peppers and onions, and fried potatoes) to delectable Indian restaurants, there’s truly something for everyone.
Remember when we said the Garden State was the most densely populated in the country and outside of Newark you’ll need a car to get around? This translates to traffic. The traffic is some of the worst in the country, so be prepared to face gridlock during your commute. The average New Jersey driver loses 64 hours each year to traffic!
How to Apply to New Jersey Medical Schools (MD)
To apply to allopathic (MD) medical schools in New Jersey, you’ll use the American Medical College Application Service (AMCAS), which is the AAMC’s centralized medical school application processing service, and the primary application method for first year entering classes for most US medical schools.
No matter how many allopathic schools you want to apply to in New Jersey or the rest of the country (aside from Texas), you only need to submit one set of application materials to AMCAS, and the system handles the rest.
Here’s what you need to know about applying to med schools in New Jersey.
1 | Application Requirements
Your primary application is made up of multiple different pieces, and each is critical to your acceptance.
A successful primary application must consist of your college transcripts, a high GPA and MCAT score, a convincing, narrative-driven personal statement, strong letters of recommendation, and a detailed and diverse Work and Activities section.
Depending on which schools you’re applying to, you may also need to complete a situational judgment test, either the AAMC PREview exam or Acuity Insights.
At the time of this article, Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine (HMSOM) requires applicants to complete Acuity Insights, which includes both the Casper test and Duet.
Casper is a computer-based situational judgment test administered by Acuity Insights and designed to assess the kind of person you are beyond your hard skills and grades. The test evaluates your soft skills, such as your interpersonal communication, empathy, ethical decision making, professionalism, and bedside manner.
Duet is a value-alignment assessment that compares what an applicant values most in a program to what the programs have to offer.
Rutgers, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School requires students to complete either the Casper test or the AAMC PREview exam. Cooper Medical School of Rowan University and Rowan University School of Osteopathic Medicine both recommend applicants take PREview.
The AAMC PREview Professional Readiness Exam is a situational judgment test very much like Casper that was just recently released by the AAMC. It is also designed to evaluate a premed’s professionalism, interpersonal skills, and ethical decision making. Made up of a series of hypothetical scenarios that students may be faced with in medical school, this multiple choice exam was created to assess a premed’s awareness of effective and ineffective professional behaviors.
Our Casper Test Guide and AAMC PREview Guide have everything you need to know about these unique tests. When it comes time to prepare, utilize our Casper and PREview AI courses, which generate instant feedback, including emotion detection analysis and immediate personalized evaluation. These courses include unlimited practice problems, so you’ll have endless opportunities to adapt to various scenarios, refine your skills, and deeply understand the nuances of both exams.
After you submit your primary application, you can expect to receive a secondary application two to four weeks later. Unlike the primary application, secondaries are submitted directly to each school you received them from.
If admissions committees like your secondary, you could receive an interview invitation at any point between the end of August and the spring of the following year.
Learn more about the complete application process: How to Get Into Medical School: AMCAS Application Process.
2 | Application Deadlines
The AMCAS application opens during the first week of May, and submissions occur at the end of May or early June. So if you plan to start medical school in the fall of 2026, you must begin the application process in the spring of 2025.
It is critical to understand that the technical deadlines for your application provided by most medical schools do not reflect reality. This is because applications are reviewed on a rolling (continuous) basis, meaning they are evaluated as they are received.
Therefore, the first people to submit their primary are the first to receive secondaries, and then the first to receive interview invites. Schools can only accept so many students, so the longer you procrastinate on submitting your application, the more you hinder your chances of acceptance.
Applying as soon as submissions open is essential to your success. And that also goes for submitting your secondaries and booking your interviews. For the vast majority of medical schools throughout New Jersey and the country, interviews begin in September and can run through March of the following year.
Here’s what you should be working on month-by-month: Medical School Application Timeline and Monthly Schedule. (Updated every application cycle.)
How to Apply to Osteopathic Medical Schools in New Jersey
Applying to the Rowan University School of Osteopathic Medicine (Rowan-Virtua SOM) is much the same as applying to MD schools in New Jersey. The DO primary application, just like the MD one, requires your transcripts, MCAT score, personal statement, letters of recommendation (evaluation), and an experiences and achievements section.
However, instead of applying through AMCAS, you’ll apply through the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine Application Service (AACOMAS), which is the centralized osteopathic medical school application processing service in the US.
The other primary difference is that applying to osteopathic schools requires familiarity and experience with osteopathy. You will be asked directly in your DO personal statement why you want to pursue osteopathic medicine, and you must include at least one letter of recommendation from a DO.
Learn more about the DO application process with our AACOMAS Application Guide for DO Schools.
Tips for Acceptance at New Jersey Medical Schools (MD and DO)
1 | Understand In-State vs. Out-of-State Preference
It’s important to understand that all medical schools in New Jersey show a strong preference for in-state applicants. Even Hackensack (HMSOM), the state’s only private school, admits far more in-state applicants than out-of-state. During the 2023-2024 cycle, HMSOM accepted 1.6% of out-of-state applicants vs. 6.8% for in-state.
Of the 3917 out-of-state applicants who applied to Rutgers NJMS during the previous cycle, only 28 were accepted. That’s an acceptance rate of 0.7%.
The numbers do not lie. If you are not a resident of New Jersey, you face an uphill battle when it comes to securing your acceptance in the Garden State.
2 | Understand the Costs Involved
Unfortunately, New Jersey has quite a high cost of living, so if you plan on attending medical school in the Garden State, you’ll need to plan your finances in advance.
This by no means is to suggest that you should not have New Jersey schools on your school list due to financial concerns. Early on in the application process, it’s great to think broadly about the schools you want to apply to. The world is your oyster!
That said, finances are a very real factor in applying to and attending medical school. The sooner you understand the costs you will face, the sooner you can start to build a plan around how you can afford rent, tuition, food, and other expenses.
Understanding that you’ll need additional financial aid or scholarships means it’s all the more crucial that you stand out as a medical school applicant. You can positively set yourself apart from your peers through both the hard (MCAT and GPA) and soft (personal statement and interview) components of your application.
This is why it’s essential to start thinking about your medical school application as soon as possible. Pursue the extracurriculars you’re most passionate about, work hard to foster relationships with professors and supervisors for strong letters of recommendation, start brainstorming your personal statement, and hone your interview skills. Don’t wait until application season to get started—especially if you’ll require financial aid!
Bottom Line: Is Going to Medical School in New Jersey Right for You?
Medical schools in New Jersey prioritize diversity, health equity, and social justice, as well as serving the largely underserved urban population of the state.
But beyond the medical program and school resources, it matters whether or not you enjoy the community and environment you’ll call home for the next four or more years.
Pros of Medical School in New Jersey
- A diverse patient population
- Great public transportation and proximity to major cities (NYC, Philly)
- Airport access (there are 41 airports in the state, with the largest being Newark Liberty International Airport, which is 33 miles or a 50 minute drive from JFK)
- You can experience all four seasons
- Lots of amusement parks (Six Flags, Seaside, Jenkinson’s, etc.) and Jersey Shore right there!
- Great public school system (if you have children)
- Great shopping
- Great and diverse food
- Great STEM programs
- If in-state, in-state tuition, favoritism towards in-state applicants
Cons of Medical School in New Jersey
- High taxes
- High cost of living
- Need a car to travel (plus NJ drivers are aggressive)
- Lots of traffic
- High tourist center (can be crowded in the summer)
- Medical schools are not necessarily the most prestigious in the country by name alone
- Extreme weather (including snowstorms, hurricanes, and tornadoes)
- Everyone asking if you know the Jersey Shore cast
New Jersey is known for its diverse population, world-class food scene, proximity to major US cities, and the scenic Jersey Shore. If you also prioritize Gym, Tan, Laundry (GTL), the Garden State could be the one for you!
Learn more: How to Decide Which Medical Schools to Apply to (12 Important Factors).
What Adcoms Are Looking For
No matter which state you apply to, admission committees are looking for mature, well-rounded, and dedicated students who will enrich the student body of their school. A checkbox mentality will get you nowhere. Enthusiasm and perseverance are critical.
Med School Insiders can help you craft a stand out application that will get you noticed by New Jersey medical schools, as well as any schools at the top of your list. We have a range of services to suit your specific needs, from one-on-one guidance to application editing to mock interviews.
Our services are tailored to meet the needs of each student because we understand that every applicant is unique. Learn more about our comprehensive medical school application packages.
Sign up for our newsletter and follow our blog for the latest medical school application news, guides, and study strategies.
Thank you to Rose Maisner, MD, from Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, for being our Insider contributor for this guide.
