Top 20 Medical Schools In The US

• #1 in Research
• #22 in Primary Care
• Acceptance Rate: 2.1%
• Location: Longwood Medical Area in Boston, Massachusetts

Founded in 1782, Harvard Medical School (HMS), the graduate medical school of Harvard University, is among the oldest medical schools in the US. HMS maintains a direct affiliation with several teaching hospitals located in the Boston area. This helps it distinguish itself from many other leading medical schools.

The school's full-time tuition fee is $66,284. Admission to HMS' MD program is highly competitive. They offer 165 spots for each incoming class, with 30 spots in the HST program and 135 in the Pathways curriculum. 227 candidates were admitted from the total applicants of 6,815 for the 2023 MD class.

• #2 in Research
• #92 in Primary Care
• Acceptance Rate: 8%
• Location: Baltimore, Maryland

A part of Johns Hopkins University, the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine (JHUSOM), was established in 1893. It employs the Genes to Society Curriculum, combining academic learning with hands-on clinical experience. Students can earn an M.D., Ph.D., or both in approximately eight years.

The medical school charges a full-time tuition fee of $59,700. Upon enrolling, medical students are divided into four colleges, named after renowned Hopkins faculty members. Within each incoming class, 30 students are assigned to each college, and each college is then divided into six groups, each consisting of five students.

• #3 in Research
• #34 in Primary Care
• Acceptance Rate: 3.8%
• Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

The Perelman School of Medicine (Penn Med) at the University of Pennsylvania, founded in 1765, is one of the oldest medical schools in the US. It also falls among the seven Ivy League medical schools. It offers various programs such as M.D., Ph.D., M.D.-Ph.D., master’s, M.D.-master’s, or post-doctoral degrees.

The school also offers seven graduate programs that lead to earning a Ph.D. in basic biomedical sciences. Additionally, Penn Med allows students to pursue double degrees at any school, including the highly ranked Wharton School. The school's full-time tuition fee is $61,586.

• #4 in Research 
• #92 in Primary Care
• Acceptance Rate: 3.6%
• Location: New York, New York

The first medical school in the Thirteen Colonies to offer the Doctor of Medicine (MD) degree, the College of Physicians and Surgeons (VP&S) at Columbia University was founded in 1767. It was also the first medical school in the US to hold a white coat ceremony.

In 2017, the school achieved a milestone by becoming the nation's first medical school to replace loans with scholarships for all financially eligible students, thanks to a $250 million donation from Roy and Diana Vagelos. This transformational change was implemented in 2018. The school's full-time tuition fee is $66,816. Additionally, the university has a faculty-student ratio of 4:1.

• #5 in Research
• #111 in Primary Care
• Acceptance Rate: 2.9%
• Location: Durham, North Carolina

Commonly referred to as Duke Med, the Duke University School of Medicine, was established in 1925 by James B. Duke. Today, it stands as an integral part of one of the world's leading institutions for patient care and biomedical research.

With over 7,500 candidates for around 115 openings every year, admission to the school's medical degree is highly competitive. Duke Med excels in the diversity of its medical student body, consistently ranking among the top institutions in this regard among its peers. Its full-time tuition fee is $63,310 and has maintained a faculty-student ratio of 2.7:1.

• #5 in Research
• #31 in Primary Care
• Acceptance Rate: 1.4%
• Location: Stanford, California

Stanford University School of Medicine originated from the Medical Department of the University of the Pacific, established in 1858 in San Francisco. Stanford acquired this institution in 1908 when it was known as Cooper Medical Colleges, and later moved to the Stanford campus near Palo Alto, California, in 1959.

The school's MD program is highly competitive. In 2019, a total of 6,894 individuals submitted applications, out of which 422 were granted interviews, and just 175 applicants secured a spot in the program. The full-time tuition fee in this school is $63,747, and the faculty-student ratio is 2.3:1.

• #5 in Research
• #5 in Primary Care
• Acceptance Rate: 2.6%
• Location: San Francisco, California

The UCSF School of Medicine at the University of California, San Francisco is the oldest medical school in California. The faculty here includes 6 Nobel Prize winners in Physiology or Medicine, along with five individuals who have been honored with the National Medal of Science.

For full-time students, tuition rates stand at $38,073 for in-state residents and $50,318 for out-of-state students. Notably, the university maintains a faculty-student ratio of 3.9:1. Within the School of Medicine alone, there are 2,640 full-time faculty members on staff.

• #5 in Research
• #82 in Primary Care
• Acceptance Rate: 4.7%
• Location: Nashville, Tennessee

Vanderbilt University School of Medicine (VUSM) proudly boasts several Nobel prize winners in the field of medicine. Its huge network includes connecting with over 60 hospitals and 5,000 clinicians across Tennessee and five neighboring states, overseeing more than 2 million patient visits annually.

As of 2022, the medical school offers 10 single professional degrees -MDE, MGC, MPH, MSCI, MSMP, MS-SLP, AuD, DMP, MS-ACI, and MD. In the 2023-34 academic year, the school will be adding a new degree program, a Master of Imaging Science. With a full-time tuition fee of $64,882 and a faculty-student ratio of 6.9:1, it offers a tough academic experience.

• #5 in Research
• #82 in Primary Care
• Acceptance Rate: 7.5%
• Location: St. Louis, Missouri

Washington University School of Medicine (WUSM) was founded in 1891. Based on the number of research grants/funds awarded by the esteemed National Institutes of Health (NIH), it has persistently ranked among the top medical schools in the US.

The WUSM students have various options to customize their medical education. They also receive practical experience in affiliated hospitals, such as Barnes-Jewish Hospital and St. Louis Children’s Hospital. The school maintains a faculty-student ratio of 5.5:1 and has a full-time tuition fee of $65,001.

• #10 in Research
• #61 in Primary Care
• Acceptance Rate: 3.4%
• Location: New York City, New York

Weill Cornell Medicine, Cornell University's medical school and biomedical research unit in NYC was founded in 1898. The school admits around 100 students in each class from a pool of over 6,000 applicants, with interviews conducted for around 700-750 candidates.

For the class of 2022, successful applicants had strong academic backgrounds, with an average undergraduate GPA of 3.85 and MCAT scores averaging 518. Additionally, the medical school maintains a faculty-student ratio of 4.1:1 while charging a full-time tuition fee of $62,650.

• #10 in Research
• #67 in Primary Care
• Acceptance Rate: 2.45%
• Location: New York, New York

New York University Grossman School of Medicine, founded in 1841, is one of the two medical schools of New York University, with the other being the Long Island School of Medicine. The medical school has 29 academic departments comprising of nationally and internationally known faculty in clinical and basic sections.

The school provides a 5-year joint degree program, which can also be completed in 4 years if desired. For scientists and physician-scientists, the School of Medicine offers Ph.D., MD/PhD, and postdoctoral programs at the Vilcek Institute of Graduate Biomedical Sciences. The faculty-student ratio here is 2.5:1.

• #10 in Research
• #108 in Primary Care
• Acceptance Rate: 4.8%
• Location: New Haven, Connecticut

The Yale School of Medicine, established in 1810 as the Medical Institute of Yale College formally opened in 1813. The school's primary teaching hospital is Yale New Haven Hospital. Yale houses one of the largest modern medical libraries, the Harvey Cushing/John Hay Whitney Medical Library.

In 2022, the medical school received a total of 4,968 applications from candidates competing for just 104 available seats. The incoming class stands out with a median GPA of 3.98 and a median MCAT score of 521. Yale charges $67,484 as its full-time tuition fee and has a faculty-student ratio of 4.2:1.

• #13 in Research
• #34 in Primary Care
• Acceptance Rate: 4%
• Location: Rochester, Minnesota

Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine, the teaching branch of Mayo Clinic is located in Rochester but offers students opportunities to study and do rotations at its campuses in Jacksonville, Florida, and Phoenix. They can also learn at various other locations of the affiliated Mayo Clinic Health System.

Aside from the studies, Mayo medical students can embark on governance issues or in Mayo chapters of national organizations. More than 20 percent of graduates secure jobs at Mayo medical institutions. The school maintains a faculty-student ratio of 2.1:1 with a full-time tuition fee of $62,500.

• #13 in Research
• #71 in Primary Care
• Acceptance Rate: 5.6%
• Location: Chicago, Illinois

Established in 1859, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine offers a full-time Doctor of Medicine (MD) degree program, several joint degree programs, continuing medical education, and graduate medical education. Apart from offering programs, it is also dedicated to patient care and community service.

The medical school has 4,766 faculty members and 666 medical students. For the 2022 incoming class, 8,073 applications were received for 150 seats. Feinberg charges $67,880 as its full-time tuition fee and maintains a faculty-student ratio of 3.2:1. Noteworthy alumni of the school include orthopedic surgeon Debi Thomas and Charles Mayo, founder of the Mayo Clinic.

• #13 in Research
• #26 in Primary Care
• Acceptance Rate: 3.5%
• Location: Ann Arbor, Michigan

Establishing its medical school in 1850, the University of Michigan was the first institution in the West to acquire professional education. Currently, around 708 medical students, 588 graduate students, 604 postdoctoral research fellows, and 1100 house officers are training at the medical school.

Moreover, 15,000 plus practicing health professionals and physicians participate in continuing medical education through U-M Medical School courses each year. The school has accredited residency and fellowship programs in 105 disciplines. With a faculty-student ratio of 4.1:1, the school charges a full-time tuition fee of $50,265.

• #13 in Research
• #11 in Primary Care
• Acceptance Rate: 1.84%
• Location: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

The University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine is consistently ranked among the top medical schools by the U.S. News & Report for its research and primary care. The school offers MD, PhD, and master's degree programs.

Admission to Pitt Med is highly competitive. In 2017, a total of 6,151 applications were received for 148 spots, with only 796 applicants called for the interview. The institution maintains a faculty-student ratio of 4.4:1 and has a full-time tuition fee of $61,194.

• #13 in Research
• #1 in Primary Care
• Acceptance Rate: 3.7%
• Location: Seattle, Washington

The University of Washington School of Medicine (UWSOM) is affiliated with the University of Washington. It is renowned as the first public medical school in the states of Washington, Alaska, Montana, Idaho, and Alaska. It has an expanded network of teaching facilities in over 100 towns and cities across the five-state regions.

Established in 1946 as the 76th medical school in the nation, UW School of Medicine is a leader in primary care, experimental therapy, family medicine, biomedical research, academic medicine, and clinical treatments. The school has 3,363 full-time faculty members and charges $53,112 as a full-time tuition fee.

• #18 in Research
• #98 in Primary Care
• Acceptance Rate: 3.4%
• Location: New York City, New York

The Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai (ISMMS or Mount Sinai) is the academic teaching branch of the Mount Sinai Health System. This system oversees eight hospital campuses in the New York metropolitan area, including the New York Eye and Ear Infirmary and Mount Sinai Hospital.

As one of the most competitive medical schools in the US, it received a total of 8,276 applications for around 140 MD and MD/PhD seats for the 2021-22 academic year. The median undergraduate GPA for enrollment is 3.84 and the median MCAT score is in the 95th percentile. Its full-time tuition fee is $58,685.

• #18 in Research
• #10 in Primary Care
• Acceptance Rate: 2.2%
• Location: Los Angeles, California

Founded in 1951, the University of California, Los Angeles School of Medicine, commonly known as the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA (DGSOM) is the second medical school in the University of California system.

The School of Medicine is affiliated with the renowned Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center. Its curriculum is structured into three distinct phases: Human Biology and Disease, Core Clinical Clerkship, and 4th Year Colleges. Tuition fees for full-time students stand at $40,562 for in-state residents and $52,807 for out-of-state students.

• #18 in Research
• #61 in Primary Care
• Acceptance Rate: 1.22%
• Location: Chicago, Illinois

An integral part of the Biological Sciences Division at the University of Chicago, the Pritzker School of Medicine is the institution for granting M.D. degrees. The school provides a full-time Doctor of Medicine degree program, joint degree programs, continuing medical education, and graduate medical education.

Pritzker stands as one of the most highly selective institutions in the nation. In 2023, out of 6,564 applications, only 629 were called for an interview, and a final selection of 90 individuals was done (79 MD and 11 MD/PhD students). The school's full-time tuition fee is $57,681.