How to compare Caribbean medical… · Caribbean Med Registry

Short answer: Compare on facts from primary sources, not on marketing claims. The key dimensions are accreditor identity and status, pathway eligibility (WFME/ECFMG fit), real COA, and clinical training geography. This registry's Compare tool surfaces accreditation, tuition, and Title IV side-by-side.

Last reviewed: 2026-11-02.

Why "best school" rankings mislead

Caribbean medical school rankings typically reflect:

Affiliations (paid or unpaid relationships)
Marketing budgets — which school can promote itself most aggressively
Outdated or undated data — accreditation statuses and costs change

Rankings rarely disclose methodology, don't reveal who is in the denominator for Match statistics, and don't distinguish between different accreditors. This registry is not a ranking — it is a registry.

Framework: what to compare

1. Accreditor identity and exact status

Not all accreditors are equivalent. Compare:

| Dimension | What to check | |---|---| | Which body? | CAAM-HP, ACCM, NVAO, GMDC, IAAR, other | | WFME-recognized? | WFME Recognition Status | | Exact status | Accredited / with conditions / provisional / withdrawn | | Term | When does the current accreditation period end? | | Source date | When did you check? Agency lists change |

Use the accreditation registry for side-by-side rows, or compare two schools directly.

2. Pathway eligibility for your target

Different accreditors have different implications for:

ECFMG certification eligibility — check your graduation year
WDOMS sponsor notes — affects exam eligibility
State medical licensing board requirements — each state board may have different rules
U.S. Title IV federal loan availability

3. Total cost of attendance

Do not compare tuition alone. Compare:

Tuition (basic sciences) × number of semesters
Tuition (clinical years) × number of semesters — often a different rate
Mandatory fees (technology, insurance, lab)
Living costs: island campus vs U.S. clinical city
Travel between campuses and home
USMLE, NBME, and application fees

Use the cost calculator as a worksheet, and see the cost guide. This registry only publishes tuition figures with a dated primary source.

4. Clinical training geography and quality

Where exactly do core clerkships take place (which states, which hospitals)?
Are the clinical sites currently affiliated (not from a 3-year-old brochure)?
Which states have approved the program's clinical affiliations?
What proportion of students train in U.S.-accredited hospitals?

5. Outcomes (with methodology)

Match rate: who is in the denominator? Active candidates only? All graduates?
USMLE Step 1 / Step 2 CK pass rates: first attempt or including retakes?
Which years? Recent cohorts may differ from historical data

Demand the definition before trusting any percentage.

Using the Compare tool

Our Compare tool puts up to four schools side-by-side with:

Accreditation chips (body + exact status)
Tuition (registry figure from primary schedule where available)
Title IV eligibility
Clinical countries
Last verified date
Source links

Pre-loaded Big-4 pairs:

What to do after comparing

Short-list 2–3 schools that meet your accreditor and pathway requirements
Open each school's profile and click through to every source link
Re-verify the agency list yourself — it may have updated since our last check
Contact each school's admissions office with specific questions about clinical sites and MCAT/GPA
Consult an independent medical education advisor (not affiliated with a school)

How to compare Caribbean medical schools