20 Best Medical Schools in US

Do you want to earn your medical degree at one of the best medical schools in the country? Your goal is the same as many other pre-med applicants. When combing through schools and programs, many applicants look at the U.S. News and World Report’s list of Best Global Universities for Clinical Medicine. These are considered the best medical schools in the US. There are good schools in other countries, but the United States dominates the list.

The best medical schools are ranked according to each school’s research performance in the clinical medicine field. Schools that focus on serving underserved communities are also considered for rankings. Highly populated suburban areas and scarcely populated rural regions need the same quality of health care. Unfortunately, suburban areas often have far better care than rural areas. Some medical programs have been created to help fill these gaps.

Research is another big factor for the top medical schools in the US because medical research has changed the world. Many of the vaccines and life-saving treatments we have today come from medical programs where professors and students came together and pioneered them. U.S. News and World Report knows how important these programs are.

The best medical schools in the US are ranked in the following categories:

So, without further ado, let’s look at the 20 best medical schools that U.S. News and World Report has ranked for the United States in 2021.

About Each School

#20 Vanderbilt University School of Medicine

Located in Nashville, Tennessee, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine was founded in 1873. The university is dedicated to “catalyzing the advancement of impactful discovery, servant leadership and lifelong learning.” The school trains students to become excellent doctors. Ranking in Oncology, Surgery, Immunology and more, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine is among the top 20 medical schools in the United States.

As one of the best medical schools in the US, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine ranks in the following categories:

#10 in Oncology
#31 in Surgery
#50 in Immunology
#50 in Cardiac and Cardiovascular Systems
#54 in Pharmacology and Toxicology
#67 in Biology and Biochemistry
#71 in Public, Environmental and Occupational Health
#74 in Neuroscience and Behavior
#82 Endocrinology and Metabolism
#98 in Social Sciences and Public Health

Vanderbilt University School of Medicine offers the following programs:

Doctor of Medicine
Doctor of Medicine / Doctor of Philosophy (Medical Scientist Training Program)
Medical Innovators Develop Program
Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery M.D. Program
Doctor of Medicine / Juris Doctorate
Doctor of Medicine / Master of Science in Biomedical Informatics
Doctor of Medicine / Master of Science in Divinity
Doctor of Medicine / Master of Education
Doctor of Medicine / Master of Public Health
Doctor of Medicine / Master of Business Administration
Doctor of Medicine / Master of Arts in Medicine, Health and Society
Doctor of Medicine / Master of Science in Clinical Investigation
Doctor of Medicine / Master of Education in International Education Policy and Management
Doctor of Medicine / Master of Arts in Latin American Studies

For detailed information on everything Vanderbilt has to offer, visit their website.

Top 20 Medical Schools in US-Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai

#19 Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai

Located in New York City, New York, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai is at the center of everything. You won’t find many quiet places on this campus. Icahn is the only medical school associated with the Mount Sinai Health System. “Intense collaborative learning, social concern and scholarly inquiry” are at the helm of the MD program.

To provide the best care and teaching opportunities, Icahn School of Medicine is associated with hospitals outside of the Mount Sinai Health System, including:

BronxCare Health System
The Brooklyn Hospital Center
Elmhurst Hospital Center
Queens Hospital Center
Veterans Administration Hospital
Holy Name Medical Center
Stony Brook Medical Center
Valley Health System

As one of the best medical schools in the US, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai ranks in the following categories:

#3 in Gastroenterology and Hepatology
#5 in Cardiac and Cardiovascular Systems
#15 in Immunology
#16 in Microbiology
#23 in Neuroscience and Behavior
#26 in Molecular Biology and Genetics
#27 in Clinical Medicine
#29 in Cell Biology
#33 in Radiology, Nuclear Medicine and Medical Imaging
#44 in Surgery
#48 in Pharmacology and Toxicology

Icahn School of Medicine offers the following programs to pre-med students:

Doctor of Medicine
Doctor of Medicine / Doctor of Philosophy
Doctor of Medicine / Master of Public Health
Doctor of Podiatric Medicine / Master of Public Health
Global Health Scholars Program
Physician Scholars Program
Primary Care Scholars Program

For more information on Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, visit its website.

Top 20 Medical Schools-Weill Cornell Medicine

#18 Cornell University

Cornell University was founded in 1865 in Ithaca, New York. Cornell also has campuses located in New York City and Doha, Qatar. The school has an abundance of undergraduate and graduate programs open to U.S. citizens and international students alike. The tuition is the same across the board. A student from New Zealand pays the same as a student from California. Additionally, Cornell University offers programs to help international students adapt to life in the United States and prepare for a career in the U.S. workforce.

So, how does Cornell University rank among other medical schools? There’s a reason it’s one of the top medical schools in the US.

#3 in Oncology
#5 in Cell Biology
#6 in Microbiology
#27 in Surgery
#31 in Radiology, Nuclear Medicine and Medical Imaging
#38 in Chemistry
#49 in Infectious Diseases
#72 in Pharmacology and Toxicology
#90 in Geosciences
#98 in Cardiac and Cardiovascular Systems

Weill Cornell Medicine at Cornell University offers the following programs:

Doctor of Medicine
Doctor of Medicine / Doctor of Philosophy
Doctor of Medicine / Master of Business Administration

As you can see, it’s a good medical school. For more information on Cornell’s program, visit its website.

Top Medical School - Northwestern Medicine - Feinberg School of Medicine

#17 Northwestern University

Northwestern University was founded in 1851 in Evanston, Illinois. Other campuses include one in Chicago and one in Doha, Qatar. Northwestern University is home to 12 programs and multiple research centers. Northwestern has received $650 million in grants for its research, making it an ideal university to attend if research is your passion.

The Feinberg School of Medicine at Northwestern University has received multiple awards from:

Albert Lasker Basic Medical Research Award
American Academy of Arts and Sciences
Howard Hughes Medical Institute
National Academy of Engineering
National Academy of Inventors
National Academy of Medicine
National Academy of Sciences

Famous graduates from Northwestern include John Eccles, Robert F. Furchgott and Ferid Murad.

The Feinberg School of Medicine has the following programs for interested pre-med students:

Doctor of Medicine
Doctor of Medicine / Doctor of Philosophy
Doctor of Medicine / Master of Public Health
Doctor of Medicine / Master of Science in Health Services and Outcomes Research
Doctor of Medicine / Master of Science in Healthcare Quality and Patient Safety
Doctor of Medicine / Master of Business Administration
Doctor of Medicine / Master of Arts in Medical Humanities and Bioethics
Master of Science in Clinical Investigation / Doctor of Philosophy
Master of Public Health / Doctor of Philosophy

Northwestern University also offers an Early Admissions Program and a Premedicine Linkage Program. For more information, visit Northwestern.edu.

One of the best medical schools in the US, Northwestern ranks in these categories:

#5 in Chemistry
#15 in Cardiac and Cardiovascular Systems
#24 in Gastroenterology and Hepatology
#26 in Clinical Medicine
#30 in Surgery
#34 in Psychiatry/Psychology
#35 in Neuroscience and Behavior
#38 in Oncology
#49 in Cell Biology
#51 in Biology and Biochemistry
#50 in Social Sciences and Public Health

#16 University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill

Founded in 1789, the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill is one of the oldest schools on our list. But don’t mistake age for being outdated. UNC Chapel Hill is one of the best medical schools in the US. The school is located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, and has just about everything for which a student could ask. Most students choose to live on campus and venture into town in their free time. The environment itself makes it a good medical school to attend.

UNC Chapel Hill has some amazing graduate programs.

School of Medicine
Kenan-Flagler Business School
School of Education
School of Law
Gilling School of Global Public Health
School of Social Work
Eshelman School of Pharmacy
School of Government

Check out how UNC ranks on the U.S. News list:

#2 in Pharmacology and Toxicology
#8 in Endocrinology and Metabolism
#9 in Social Sciences and Public Health
#11 in Gastroenterology and Hepatology
#11 in Infectious Diseases
#13 in Public, Environmental and Occupational Health
#14 in Microbiology
#19 in Psychiatry/Psychology
#25 in Clinical Medicine
#25 in Molecular Biology and Genetics
#29 in Oncology
#30 in Cell Biology
#32 in Radiology, Nuclear Medicine and Medical Imaging

These are the medical programs that UNC Chapel Hill offers:

Doctor of Medicine
Doctor of Medicine / Doctor of Philosophy
Doctor of Medicine / Master of Public Health
Doctor of Medicine / Master of Business Administration

Not only does UNC Chapel Hill rank, but it ranks very well. For more information about this school, visit its official website.

Top Medical School-Emory University School of Medicine

#15 Emory University

Emory University is well-known in the Southeastern part of the United States. The School of Medicine has been around since before the Civil War began. The Association of American Medical Colleges (the home of AMCAS) officially inducted Emory University into its family in 1917. Now, in 2021, the School of Medicine is part of the Robert W. Woodruff Health Sciences Center.

Check out how Emory ranks:

#9 in Infectious Diseases
#14 in Surgery
#14 in Public, Environmental and Occupational Health
#16 in Immunology
#20 in Cardiac and Cardiovascular Systems
#20 in Microbiology
#21 in Clinical Medicine
#27 in Neuroscience and Behavior
#28 in Oncology
#42 in Psychiatry/Psychology
#48 in Endocrinology and Metabolism
#53 in Molecular Biology and Genetics
#55 in Radiology, Nuclear Medicine and Medical Imaging
#56 in Gastroenterology and Hepatology

Emory University offers the following programs:

Doctor of Medicine
Doctor of Philosophy in Biological and Biomedical Sciences
Doctor of Medicine / Doctor of Philosophy
Doctor of Medicine / Master of Arts in Bioethics
Doctor of Medicine / Master of Public Health
Doctor of Medicine / Master of Business Administration
Doctor of Medicine / Master of Science in Clinical Research

The School of Medicine at Emory University is an excellent university to attend and has multiple degree options. For more information, visit the Emory University website.

#14 University of California-San Diego

UC San Diego functions with a specific purpose: to treat the underserved populations of Inland Southern California. If you like the ocean, you’ll enjoy UC San Diego’s closeness to the Pacific. Located in La Jolla, California, UC San Diego ranks as #21 for Best Global University.

UC San Diego has multiple degree options for pre-med students.

Doctor of Medicine
Medical Scientist Training Program
Doctor of Medicine in Bioengineering / Doctor of Philosophy
Multiple Master of Arts and Master of Sciences dual-degree options

UCSD also offers educational opportunities in Bioinformatics and Systems Biology, Biomedical Sciences, Biostatistics and Neurosciences, Drug Development and Project Management, and Leadership of Healthcare Organizations.

UC San Diego ranks finely among its colleagues as one of the top medical schools in the US:

#1 in Gastroenterology and Hepatology
#3 in Pharmacology and Toxicology
#5 in Microbiology
#6 in Cell Biology
#6 in Biotechnology and Applied Microbiology
#8 in Biology and Biochemistry
#9 in Molecular Biology and Genetics
#12 in Neuroscience and Behavior
#18 in Geosciences
#19 in Immunology
#19 in Clinical Medicine
#23 in Psychiatry/Psychology
#27 in Radiology, Nuclear Medicine and Medical Imaging
#30 in Endocrinology and Metabolism

For more information on the University of California-San Diego, check out our comprehensive guide. We cover the school’s medical programs in detail and provide useful information. You’ll be well-prepared to submit your application.

Top Med School - University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine

#13 University of Pittsburgh

Commonly coined “Pitt Med,” the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine has been around for nearly a century. The school’s mission is to “improve the health and well-being of individuals and populations through cutting-edge biomedical research, innovative educational programs … and leadership in academic medicine.” The school does this through multiple curricular offerings.

Doctor of Medicine
Doctor of Medicine / Doctor of Philosophy
Physician Scientist Training Program
Clinical Scientist Training Program
Multidisciplinary Master of Public Health Degree

Pitt Med ranks very well on U.S. News.

#3 in Surgery
#13 in Infectious Disease
#18 in Clinical Medicine
#20 in Psychiatry/Psychology
#22 in Oncology
#24 in Neuroscience and Behavior
#30 in Immunology
#35 in Endocrinology and Metabolism
#39 in Microbiology
#42 in Cell Biology
#43 in Pharmacology and Toxicology
#48 in Cardiac and Cardiovascular Systems

For more information on Pitt Med, check out their official website.

#12 Massachusetts Institute of Technology (Harvard-MIT Health Sciences and Technology)

The Massachusetts Institute of Technology is located in Cambridge, Massachusetts. The institute was founded in 1861 and has five schools:

Architecture and Planning
Engineering
Humanities
Arts and Social Sciences
Management
Science

The school operates with a unique 4-1-4 system. The “1” stands for an “Independent Activities Period,” which takes place in January. The IAP includes forums, lectures, recitals and more.

MIT is also home to the MIT Nuclear Reactor Laboratory and the Lincoln Laboratory. Additionally, MIT has conducted research with the Department of Defense. MIT partners with Harvard to bring students the Harvard-MIT Health Sciences and Technology Program. Students can earn their Doctor of Medicine degree here.

MIT is the #2 Best Global University. It ranks very well in medicinal categories:

#1 in Physics
#2 in Biology and Biochemistry
#2 in Biotechnology and Applied Microbiology
#2 in Cell Biology
#2 in Molecular Biology and Genetics
#3 in Chemistry
#3 in Immunology
#3 in Neuroscience and Behavior
#7 in Oncology
#7 in Geosciences
#9 in Pharmacology and Toxicology
#17 in Clinical Medicine
#24 in Psychiatry/Psychology

For more information on everything MIT has to offer, visit its official website.

#11 Yale University

New Haven, Connecticut, is home to Yale University. The university has been around since 1701. With over 1,000 applicants every year, the Yale Medicine admissions team works hard to choose the 40 best applicants for its program. That’s right. Yale only accepts 40 new students each year.

Yale offers quite a few curricular options:

Doctor of Medicine
Doctor of Medicine / Doctor of Philosophy
Doctor of Medicine / Juris Doctorate
Doctor of Medicine / Master of Business Administration
Doctor of Medicine / Master of Divinity
Doctor of Medicine / Master of Public Health
Doctor of Medicine / Master of Health Science

Yale is the #11 Best Global University in the world and one of the best medical schools out there.

#4 in Psychiatry/Psychology
#7 in Endocrinology and Metabolism
#10 in Immunology
#12 in Oncology
#13 in Clinical Medicine
#13 in Social Sciences and Public Health
#13 in Neuroscience and Behavior
#17 in Physics
#18 in Molecular Biology and Genetics
#20 in Biology and Biochemistry
#25 in Microbiology
#26 in Radiology, Nuclear Medicine and Medicinal Imaging
#29 in Public, Environmental and Occupational Health

For more detailed information on everything Yale University has to offer, check out our definitive guide.

#10 University of Michigan-Ann Arbor

The University of Michigan-Ann Arbor is a diverse university that’s home to international students from over 110 different countries. There are 19 schools and colleges under the University of Michigan umbrella. Undergrad and graduate opportunities abound. The University of Michigan-Ann Arbor ranks at #17 for Best Global University.

These are the medical programs that UM Ann Arbor offers:

Doctor of Medicine
Doctor of Medicine / Doctor of Philosophy
Doctor of Medicine / Master of Business Administration
Doctor of Medicine / Master of Education
Doctor of Medicine / Master of Science in Health Infrastructure and Learning Systems (HILS)
Doctor of Medicine / Master of Public Health
Doctor of Medicine / Master of Science in Health Sciences Administration
Doctor of Medicine / Master of Public Policy
Doctor of Medicine / Master of Science in Clinical Research
Doctor of Medicine / Master of Science in Information

The University of Michigan-Ann Arbor ranks at #17 for Best Global University. Here are its rankings for medicine.

#6 in Social Sciences and Public Health
#8 in Surgery
#9 in Oncology
#12 in Clinical Medicine
#12 in Infectious Disease
#13 in Psychiatry/Psychology
#13 in Biology and Biochemistry
#13 in Biology and Biochemistry
#14 in Cardiac and Cardiovascular Systems
#16 in Gastroenterology and Hepatology
#19 in Pharmacology and Toxicology
#20 Molecular Biology and Genetics
#23 in Endocrinology and Metabolism
#24 in Public, Environmental and Occupational Health
#27 in Physics
#38 in Radiology, Nuclear Medicine and Medicinal Imaging
#40 in Chemistry

For more information on everything the school has to offer, visit the official website.

#9 Columbia University

Less than four percent of all applicants get into Columbia University School of Medicine. The school was founded in 1754 on the Upper East Side of Manhattan. It has affiliations with Barnard College for women, the Union Theological Seminary and Jewish Theological Seminary. Columbia is home to the famous New York-Presbyterian University Hospital of Columbia and Cornell.

While Columbia University’s main campus is on the Upper East Side, it has multiple campuses all over the world, including:

Amman, Jordan
Beijing
Mumbai, India
Paris
Istanbul
Nairobi, Kenya
Santiago, Chile
Rio de Janeiro

Just like Columbia has worldwide campuses, International Medical Aid offers pre-medical internships all over the world, giving students an experience like no other. Pre-medical internships are a great way to boost your med school applications and help you get into some of the best medical schools out there. For more information, check out our website.

Columbia offers the following programs:

Doctor of Medicine
Three-year PhD-to-MD Program (for students who already have a PhD)
Medical Scientist Training Program
Columbia-Bassett MD Track for rural healthcare

U.S. News ranks Columbia as the #6 Best Global University. Its medical ratings are as follows:

#4 in Psychiatry/Psychology
#4 in Geosciences
#4 in Cardiac and Cardiovascular Systems
#6 in Public, Environmental and Occupational Health
#7 in Neuroscience and Behavior
#11 in Cell Biology
#11 in Clinical Medicine
#12 in Molecular Biology and Genetics
#14 in Biology and Biochemistry
#19 in Endocrinology and Medicine
#19 in Surgery
#23 in Microbiology
#27 in Immunology
#35 in Space Science
#35 in Oncology

For more information on Columbia University, check out our definitive guide. We’ve included everything you need to know to submit a top-notch application.

#8 University of California-Los Angeles

If you’ve ever heard of UCLA, you’ve heard of the University of California-Los Angeles. Better known by its nickname, the school was founded in Los Angeles, California, in 1919. Undergraduate students go into one of five different UCLA-branded schools or one of UCLA’s esteemed graduate programs. The Anderson School of Management, David Geffen School of Medicine and Henry Samueli School of Engineering and Applied Science are excellent programs for students interested in these fields.

As for the David Geffen School of Medicine, the following programs are offered:

Doctor of Medicine
Medical Scientist Training Program
UCLA PRIME
UCLA / Charles R. Drew Medical Education Program

U.S. News ranks UCLA as #13 for Best Global University. It’s one of the best medical schools you can attend. Here are its medical school rankings:

#5 in Oncology
#9 in Psychiatry/Psychology
#11 in Neuroscience and Behavior
#12 in Cell Biology
#13 in Radiology, Nuclear Medicine and Medicinal Imaging
#14 in Geosciences
#15 in Molecular Biology and Genetics
#15 in Social Sciences and Public Health
#16 in Nanoscience and Nanotechnology
#17 in Surgery
#18 in Biology and Biochemistry
#22 in Chemistry
#26 in Microbiology
#28 in Infectious Diseases
#34 in Physics
#36 in Public, Environmental and Occupational Health
#38 in Gastroenterology and Hepatology

For more information on UCLA, check out our definitive guide.

#7 Duke University

Duke University is one of the best medical schools in the U.S. It’s known for its broad medical offerings. Have you ever seen a nuclear magnetic resonance machine? You might get to if you attend Duke University! The university is located in Durham, North Carolina, and has East, West and Central campuses. Nearly 15,000 students study at Duke every year.

The university has 10 colleges:

Arts and Sciences
Law
Medicine
Nursing
Engineering
Business
Public Policy
Environment
Divinity
Graduate Studies

Duke University offers two programs:

Doctor of Medicine
Medical Scientist Training Program

Duke ranks as #23 for Best Global University.

#3 in Cardiac and Cardiovascular Systems
#9 in Clinical Medicine
#12 in Microbiology
#14 in Endocrinology and Metabolism
#16 in Surgery
#16 in Psychiatry/Psychology
#18 in Social Sciences and Public Health
#19 in Oncology
#23 in Biology and Biochemistry
#26 in Pharmacology and Toxicology
#29 Molecular Biology and Genetics
#32 in Immunology
#35 in Infectious Diseases
#39 in Cell Biology
#48 in Public, Environmental and Occupational Health

Interested in applying to Duke University? We covered Duke on our admissions consulting blog.

#6 University of Pennsylvania

The University of Pennsylvania stands strong among the Ivy Leagues schools of America. It’s one of the best medical schools in the US. Located in Philadelphia, the university has a dozen different schools that cover every subject imaginable. There are also 12 different graduate-level programs that the University of Pennsylvania offers. The school devotes $875 million to research every year. UPenn’s Center for Undergraduate Research and Fellowships helps students find research projects that interest them and satisfy degree requirements.

The University of Pennsylvania has over 130 research institutes, which include:

Center for Cognitive Neuroscience
Leonard Davis Institute of Health Economics
Penn Institute for Urban Research

The University of Pennsylvania is ranked as the #13 Best Global University. Here are its top medical school rankings:

#7 in Clinical Medicine
#7 in Surgery
#7 in Microbiology
#7 in Neuroscience and Behavior
#8 in Immunology
#8 in Gastroenterology and Hepatology
#9 in Cell Biology
#9 in Endocrinology and Metabolism
#10 in Cardiac and Cardiovascular Systems
#10 in Oncology
#12 in Psychiatry/Psychology
#12 in Radiology, Nuclear Medicine and Medical Imaging
#19 in Biology and Biochemistry
#21 in Social Sciences and Public Health
#23 in Biotechnology and Applied Microbiology
#29 in Infectious Disease
#36 in Pharmacology and Toxicology

For more information on the University of Pennsylvania, visit the school’s official website.

George Washington University School of Medicine

#5 University of Washington

The University of Washington has its main campus in Seattle, with smaller campuses in Bothell and Tacoma. The university is home to students studying subjects at one of its 16 colleges or 370 graduate-level programs. UW has been awarded over $1 billion in research funds. This money has gone to the West Coast Poverty Center, the Polar Science Center and the Center for Emerging and Re-emerging Infectious Diseases, among others. UW also has its students complete clinical rotations in Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Washington and Wyoming.

UW offers the following programs:

Doctor of Medicine
Pathways in
– Indian Health
– Global Health
– Hispanic Health
– LGBTQ Health
– Underserved Communities

UW ranks as the #8 Best Global University and is one of the best medical schools in the US.

#6 in Infectious Disease
#6 in Clinical Medicine
#6 in Molecular Biology and Genetics
#6 in Immunology
#6 in Surgery
#7 in Social Sciences and Public Health
#8 in Pharmacology and Toxicology
#11 in Public, Environmental and Occupational Health
#12 in Cardiac and Cardiovascular Systems
#17 in Physics
#17 in Biology and Biochemistry
#20 in Endocrinology and Metabolism
#22 in Cell Biology
#28 in Radiology, Nuclear Medicine and Medical Imaging
#29 in Psychiatry/Psychology

For more information on the University of Washington, visit the school’s official website.

Top Med School - UCSF Medical School Requirements — UCSF Medical School Requirements

#4 University of California-San Francisco

The University of California-San Francisco was founded in 1864 and has grown into multiple campuses across San Francisco, including Parnassus, Mission Bay and Mount Zion. The school offers the traditional, four-year Doctor of Medicine degree, as well as multiple post-baccalaureate and graduate-level programs.

Anesthesia and Perioperative Care
Dermatology
Emergency Medicine
Family and Community Medicine
Neurological Surgery
Obstetrics and Gynecology
And more

For a complete listing of graduate-level programs, check out this page.

UCSF ranks as #15 for Best Global University and also ranks in the following categories:

#2 in Neuroscience and Behavior
#3 in Cell Biology
#3 in Clinical Medicine
#3 in Microbiology
#4 in Molecular Biology and Genetics
#5 in Surgery
#5 in Infectious Diseases
#6 Biology and Biochemistry
#10 in Public, Environmental and Occupational Health
#13 in Pharmacology and Toxicology
#15 in Gastroenterology and Hepatology
#16 in Radiology, Nuclear Medicine and Medical Imaging
#17 in Endocrinology and Metabolism
#18 in Cardiac and Cardiovascular Systems

For more information on what the University of California-San Francisco offers, check out the school’s official website.

Top Med School in US-Stanford School of Medicine — Stanford School of Medicine

#3 Stanford University

Stanford University is an Ivy League medical school, providing students with a world-class education and rigorous research opportunities. It’s one of the best medical schools in the US. Eight members of the university’s faculty have been awarded Nobel prizes for their research. Stanford’s curriculum challenges students to think outside the box by presenting them with situations that memorized knowledge can’t solve. Stanford’s methods have won the school great recognition.

Here are the programs that Stanford offers:

Doctor of Medicine
Medical Scientist Training Program
Physician-Scientist Training Program
Doctor of Philosophy in Bioengineering
Doctor of Philosophy in Biosciences
Doctor of Philosophy in Biomedical Physics
Doctor of Philosophy in Epidemiology and Clinical Research
Doctor of Philosophy in Health Policy

Stanford currently ranks as the #3 Best Global University. Here are the rest of the school’s medical school rankings:

#2 in Physics
#3 in Biology and Biochemistry
#3 in Clinical Medicine
#3 in Molecular Biology and Genetics
#3 in Social Sciences and Public Health
#4 in Neuroscience and Behavior
#7 in Immunology
#7 in Pharmacology and Toxicology
#7 in Cardiac and Cardiovascular Systems
#10 in Surgery
#20 in Endocrinology and Metabolism

We’ve written a comprehensive guide on Stanford University. It’s an excellent resource if you’re thinking of applying to Stanford. It is an elite school that’s hard to get into, but it’s well worth the effort for what it offers.

Top Medical Schools-Johns Hopkins Medicine - Baltimore, MD

#2 Johns Hopkins University

Johns Hopkins University is the #10 Best Global University and the #2 Best University for Clinical Medicine. It’s clearly one of the best medical schools in the US. Johns Hopkins firmly believes in training its students to become leaders in the medical field. There are nine academic divisions, ranging from engineering to international studies. Johns Hopkins also has its own hospital, which is highly ranked for several of its specialties.

Johns Hopkins offers students the following programs:

Doctor of Medicine
Doctor of Medicine / Master of Business Administration
Doctor of Medicine / Doctor of Philosophy
Doctor of Medicine / Master of Science in Health Care Management

Here are the U.S. News and World Report medical school rankings for Johns Hopkins University.

#2 in Infectious Diseases
#2 in Oncology
#2 in Surgery
#2 in Clinical Medicine
#2 in Public, Environmental and Occupational Health
#3 in Radiology, Nuclear Medicine and Medical Imaging
#4 in Immunology
#5 in Pharmacology and Toxicology
#5 in Molecular Biology and Genetics
#6 in Neuroscience and Behavior
#7 in Cell Biology
#8 in Cardiac and Cardiovascular Systems
#9 in Biology and Biochemistry
#10 in Gastroenterology and Hepatology

As you can see, Johns Hopkins University ranks among the top ten in most fields. If you want to learn more about Johns Hopkins, we’ve covered everything there is to know about the university.

#1 Harvard University

Harvard University is the most prestigious medical school you can attend. It ranks as the #1 Best Global University and the #1 Best Global University in Clinical Medicine. It truly is the best medical school in the US! It was founded in 1636, making it the oldest university in the United States. Harvard has multiple schools, including the renowned Business School, Graduate School of Education, Law School and the John F. Kennedy School of Government.

Harvard offers the following medical programs:

Doctor of Medicine Program
Doctor of Philosophy in Bioinformatics and Integrative Genomes
Doctor of Philosophy in Biological and Biomedical Sciences
Doctor of Philosophy in Biophysics
Doctor of Philosophy in Chemical Biology
Doctor of Philosophy in Immunology
Doctor of Philosophy in Neuroscience
Doctor of Philosophy in Speech and Hearing Bioscience and Technology
Doctor of Philosophy in Systems Biology
Doctor of Philosophy in Virology

Ready for the U.S. News rankings? They’re incredible.

#1 in Infectious Diseases
#1 in Biology and Biochemistry
#1 in Biotechnology and Applied Microbiology
#1 in Cardiac and Cardiovascular Systems
#1 in Cell Biology
#1 in Endocrinology and Metabolism
#1 in Microbiology
#1 in Molecular Biology and Genetics
#1 in Neuroscience and Behavior
#1 in Oncology
#1 in Pharmacology and Toxicology
#1 in Psychiatry/Psychology
#1 in Surgery
#1 in Public, Environmental and Occupational Health
#1 in Radiology, Nuclear Medicine and Medicinal Imaging
#1 in Social Sciences and Public Health
#2 in Gastroenterology and Hepatology
#4 in Physics

Harvard Medical School dominates the U.S. News and World Report for its outstanding programs. It’s no wonder that the school’s acceptance rate is less than four percent. Harvard is another school we’ve covered on our blog. Our post is full of tips and tricks to submitting an application worthy of attention.

Medical School Admissions & Pre-Medicine Additional Reading

Choosing a career in medicine is a long-term commitment that goes far beyond academic excellence. The path to becoming a physician includes understanding admissions strategies, gaining relevant experience, exploring specialties, and making smart decisions about where and how to apply. The following articles are curated to support students at various stages of the pre-med journey—from early high school planning to reapplying after rejection. Use these resources as additional reading to better prepare for medical school admissions and to deepen your understanding of what lies ahead.

Conclusion

So, there you have it. According to U.S. News and World Report, those are the 20 best medical schools in the United States. Medical school rankings tell the story. Every university is outstanding. Getting into even one of these schools would be a massive accomplishment and would guarantee you a world-class education. However, we don’t recommend only applying to the top 20 schools in the country. You should also have a list of safety schools. This will greatly increase your chances of getting into a good medical school. If you only apply to the best in the nation, you’ll limit your chances of getting in.

Don’t forget about our pre-medical internships. Sometimes, when choosing between the top applicants for a program, the student with the unique internship is picked over the student with a more ordinary internship. Going on a pre-medical internship in a developing country will provide you with valuable insights and experiences that you’ll be hard-pressed to find anywhere else.

Do you need help with your medical school applications? Our medical school admissions consulting team is here for you! We help students with everything from their personal statements to mock interviews. We offer several tiers of medical school admissions consulting. Reach out to us today to get started.

Not sure which medical schools you want to apply to? Check out our comprehensive list of good medical schools to attend in the United States.

Good luck on your journey to medical school!