BYU School of Medicine clears accreditation hurdle, will open in 2027 with 60 students

Dean Mark Ott found the email in his inbox Tuesday evening. By Wednesday morning, BYU President Shane Reese was standing at the BYU Broadcasting Building telling a livestreamed audience what the message meant: the university's new School of Medicine had just been cleared to start training doctors.

The Liaison Committee on Medical Education — the accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education for MD programs — voted this week to grant BYU preliminary accreditation, authorizing the school to recruit students and launch its program. The first class of 60 students is set to arrive in July 2027, and applications will open within the coming weeks once national systems are updated, according to Ott.

I am absolutely thrilled. It is indeed a historic day for Brigham Young University.— Shane Reese, BYU President

Preliminary accreditation is the formal gate that separates a medical school concept from a functioning institution. Without it, BYU could not legally recruit or enroll students. With it, the school can begin building a class — though full accreditation, which typically takes four years from this point, will be required before the program reaches its intended scale, according to Ott.

The school was announced by the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in July 2024. BYU filed its LCME application in August 2025, and an accreditation team visited the campus in June. Wednesday's vote reflects the outcome of that visit.

The BYU School of Medicine will offer a distinctive approach to medical education rooted in faith, rigorous academic preparation, and service. Receiving preliminary accreditation is a major milestone and allows us to fulfill a prophetic vision of preparing physicians who will bless individuals, families, and communities throughout the world.— C. Shane Reese, BYU President

Alongside the accreditation news, BYU released the first architectural renderings of the school's permanent home and announced that the BYU Board of Trustees has approved the building plans. The 275,000-square-foot structure will sit on the corner of University Avenue and Cougar Boulevard — the site of the former Provo High School, which BYU purchased for $25 million in 2016 — one block east of Intermountain Health's Utah Valley Hospital, the school's primary clinical affiliate.

The design draws deliberately from Provo's architectural memory. According to Ott, the building echoes the craftsmanship of the former Brigham Young Academy — the original BYU campus building that now houses the Provo City Library — as well as the Provo City Center Temple and, in its repetitive arches, the BYU Jerusalem Center. A two-story forum at the main entry is designed as a shared gathering space for students, faculty, staff, and visitors.

This is indeed going to be a centerpiece for the Brigham Young University campus.— Shane Reese, BYU President

Inside, the building will house advanced simulation and clinical skills training facilities, anatomy and research laboratories, a medical library, a global health and research hub, and student amenities including outdoor courtyards and a family room with children's play space.

This building was designed to be far more than a collection of classrooms and laboratories. It will be another BYU temple of learning. Every aspect of the building is intended to support the formation of physicians who are not just academically prepared, but spiritually grounded and committed to a higher standard of care as disciples of Jesus Christ.— Mark Ott, inaugural dean, BYU School of Medicine

Construction on the permanent building is scheduled to begin in 2027. BYU officials declined to give a completion estimate, citing the city's planning and permitting process and potential international supply chain complications, according to Deseret News. In the meantime, the first class will study in renovated space within the former Provo High School building on the same property, which includes anatomy and simulation labs, team-based learning classrooms, and faculty mentoring areas. The site's existing track, field, and tennis courts are expected to stay open through this fall.

Many people have sacrificed, volunteered, and worked tirelessly to bring us to this historic moment. With preliminary accreditation granted, we are now positioned to begin preparing Christ-centered physicians who will combine exceptional medical training with a deep commitment to caring for all people as fellow children of a loving God.— Mark Ott, inaugural dean, BYU School of Medicine

Prospective students can review admissions criteria now at medicine.byu.edu. Ott said the formal application window will open within the next couple of weeks once national medical school application systems reflect BYU's new accredited status.

Why it matters — BYU's medical school will be the first new MD-granting institution in Utah in decades, trained on a faith-centered model, and its permanent building will reshape a prominent block of Provo's west side — with applications opening now for anyone who wants to be in the first class.

Reported by byu.edu, deseret.com