When a proposed medical school applies to LCME, it must go through a rigorous process, which, if successful, results in a preliminary accreditation. No students can be enrolled until LCME grants that designation. As of January 2011, there are seven medical schools in the United States operating under a preliminary accreditation. One such school is the Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine in Rochester, Minnesota. Like all schools with this status, it is a new school, having started the accreditation process in January 2007, with approval by Oakland University and the Beaumont Hospital on July 31, 2008. When LCME granted its approval, one of the reasons was the close connection between Beaumont Hospital and Oakland University, which will provide students with the available resources of the hospital.
Some of the medical schools with LCME accreditation are operating by religious organizations. One such school is the University of St. Louis School of Medicine, which is part of the larger St. Louis University, a Catholic Jesuit institution. The Catholic faith reflects itself in the school's mission and values, which include a concern for the sanctity of life, a respect for dignity and a devotion to social justice, humility and professional behavior based upon relationships with fellow members of humanity and with one's Creator.
Many medical schools that receive LCME accreditation are operated as private institutions, such as the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago, Illinois. The school is located along the shoreline of Lake Michigan in the heart of Chicago. The school was founded in 1859, and became part of Northwestern University in 1870. Northwestern offers combined degrees with its M.D., including a Master of Business Administration, a Master of Humanities, a Master of Public Health and a Ph.D. from the Medical Scientist Training Program.
Many accredited medical schools are public universities. In the State of Indiana, the only medical school can be found at the University of Indiana. Its main campus is located in downtown Indianapolis. The school awarded its first degree in 1907. Its entering class in 2010 consists of 322 students, with 1,245 students in the M.D. program for all four classes. According to the school's website, this number represents the second largest student body of any medical school in the United States.