Top 20 Medical Schools In The US (Updated 2023)

“Top 20 medical schools in the US” is a term most candidates search for.

While there are other things to do, knowing the best medical colleges is an essential step towards admission.

Like Amelia Earhart said, “preparation towards anything in life is rightly two-thirds of that venture.”

In this guide, we at MedicsDomain will be dishing out the 20 best medical universities to study medicine in the US.

Asides that, we’ll also give you the tuition fee, location, and test scores acceptable by these universities to help in your decision.

In a hurry? Here’s the list of the best 20 medical schools in the US according to the US news Universities ranking;

1. Harvard University
2. Johns Hopkins University
3. University of Pennsylvania
4. New York University
5. Stanford University
6. Columbia University
7. Mayo Clinic School of Medicine
8. University of California- Los Angeles
9. University of California, San Francisco
10. Washington University, St Louis
11. Cornell University
12. Duke University
13. University of Washington
14. University of Pittsburgh
15. University of Michigan
16. Yale University
17. University of Chicago
18. Northwestern University
19. Vanderbilt University
20. Icahn School of medicine at Mount Sinai

Now, let’s go to Details!

Top 20 Medical Schools In The US 2021

1. Harvard University, Boston, Massachusetts

The most distinguished medical college in the United States of America is Harvard University. Since it got established in 1782, it has continued to churn out many brilliant doctors, academic gurus, and Nobel laureates winners.

There’s so much to enjoy from Harvard University. The school’s got some of the latest medical equipment, current medical school curriculum, and to top it all, a savvy environment to bring out the best doctor in you!

However, Harvard medical school does not operate with a single hospital. Instead, they’re directly affiliated with other teaching hospitals in Boston.

When you’re done with pre-clinical at Harvard, you’re free to take your clinical studies in any of the following teaching hospitals across the state;

 Boston’s Children hospital, Beth Israel Deaconess medical center.

Massachusetts General Hospital, Brigham, and women’s hospitals, Dana-Farber cancer institute, and Harvard Pilgrim Health care institute.

It also includes McLean hospital, Mount Auburn Hospital, Massachusetts Eye and Ear, VA Boston Health care System, and Cambridge health alliance.

To tickle your fantasy, here are some achievements associated with the Harvard medical school;

• First to introduce Insulin to tackle diabetes in the US
• Introducing the smallpox vaccine to the US
• First to use anesthesia to control pain during treatments
• First to have a successful human kidney Transplant
• Presently, Harvard medical students are filed into five academic societies, each teaching the essential mentoring systems needed to succeed in life asides medical school.

• Application Deadline: October 22
• Application fee: $100
• Full time Tuition: $63,400
• Quota: 712

2. Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore

Johns Hopkins University school of medicine has not failed to maintain its high reputation as one of the best universities in the country.

This school receives lots of research funding from the National Institutes of Health and many others, including the Institute of Genetic Medicine and the Brain Science Institute.

Asides that, it has a prestigious teaching hospital which has an excellent reputation in treating exceptional pediatric and eye trauma cases in Maryland.

When you’re in as a medical student, you will be filed into one of the four medical colleges, Sabin, Taussig, Nathans, and Thomas. This division is excellent as it fosters closer interaction between you and students of the same class.

Furthermore, specialized advisers are allocated to each college to guide you through medical school courses, research involvement, and career choice.

And don’t think the separation of college wouldn’t be fun, it actually is! The university has an annual bowl, race, tug-of-war, and other competitions between colleges to help chill out.

Another thing to enjoy is that the school allows students to run dual degrees for both Medicine and Masters of Public health or with an MBA using other departments.

Johns Hopkins also rank as #1 in Anesthesiology, #1 in Surgery, #1 in Radiology, #1 in Internal medicine, #2 in Obstetrics and Gynecology, #2 in Research, #3 in Pediatrics, #3 in Pediatrics, and #20 in primary care.

• Full-time tuition: $54,900
• Application fee: $100
• Application deadline: October 15
• Quota: 476

3. University of Pennsylvania

The third position is the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. This high-quality college is the first medical school and first teaching hospital in the United States.

For over 20 years, they’ve maintained their dignity as one of the 10 best schools for medical students in the US.

Asides that, they’re also #1 in pediatrics, #3 in Research, #4 in Radiology, #4 in Internal medicine, #4 in Obstetrics and Gynecology, #5 in Anesthesiology, #6 in Surgery and radiology, and #14 in Primary care.

They believe leadership and teamwork skills are pertinent for doctors, so they broke the course into six different small groups.

With this innovation, medical students getter better interaction with peer and direct experience with simulation equipment like the 76ers Surgery theatre.

In this college, you will be open to hundreds of student organizations to join like the Prison Health Interest. Asides that, there are also international opportunities like the Spanish language immersion program in Mexico.

After graduation, you’re sure to have garnered quality experience in leadership to give you an edge in your medical career.

Like Johns Hopkins, students at the University of Pennsylvania can earn dual medical degrees, be it master’s or post-doctoral. Furthermore, health programs like Aging, Women’s health, and Global Health come with certificates upon completion.

Fees

• Full-time tuition: $59,910
• Application fee: $90
• Application deadline: October 15
• Quota: 612

4. New York University

The NYU School of Medicine is another outstanding college to have your medical education. For over 20 years, the college has maintained its dignity as one of the top 10 schools for medical students.

One feature students love about the school is their speed of light schedule, which makes medical school to be completed in 3 years.

Asides that it has quality medical facilities, great teachers, and a favorable environment for medical school training.

The NYU medical college boasts of over 50 students clubs and projects like International Health program to spur students’ interest in academics, athletics, nation-building, and the clinic.

You can file into the School of Medicine Honors program if you want to go further into the medical field. This 18 weeks program, which involves scientific researches and thesis, helps to increase medical knowledge.  

Apart from academics, there are so many things to enjoy about NYU. Medical students get tickets at a discount price to different events like ballets, sports, operas, and movies.

Students can also earn dual degrees, including Ph.D. In all, the New York School of medicine ensures you’re properly trained not only in medicine but also in other spheres of life.

Fees

• Full-time tuition: $53,308
• Application fee: $110
• Application Deadline: October 15
• Quota: 430

5. Stanford University

Founded in 1908, the Stanford University School of Medicine has continued to train top-notch medical doctors all over the country. The school, which was formerly called Cooper medical college, is located in San Francisco.

This university boasts a well-developed medical college and a standard teaching hospital with state-of-art infrastructures and modern facilities for health care.

Asides that, the university ranks is prominent in the area of Research, ranking 4^th best in the nation. It’s also #5 in Radiology, #8 in Surgery, Psychiatry, Internal medicine and Anesthesiology, #9 in Pediatrics, and #30 in primary care.

Stanford medical school has also trained notable surgeons, Nobel laureates winners, scientists, and many doctors who’ve contributed positively to the health sector.

However, as expected, getting into Stanford is very competitive. In fact, in 2019, they interviewed 422, and accepted 175, out of 6,894 people who applied.

They’re also one of the first schools in the United States to use the multiple mini-interview systems to assess applicants. This system involves conducting many short assessments to get an aggregate of people’s soft skills.

Fees

• Full-time tuition: $60,234
• Application fee: $95
• Application deadline: October 1
• Quota: 489

6. Columbia University- Top 20 Medical Schools In The US

The number 6 position on this list of top 20 medical schools in the US is Vagelos College of physicians and surgeons.  

This excellent college isn’t only the best for medical students in US; it also ranks as #4 in Psychiatry, #5 in Obstetrics, and Gynecology. Also, #6 in Research, #7 in Internal medicine, #8 in Anesthesiology, #10 in Surgery, and #31 in primary care.

There are so many notable things to know about Columbia University. In 2018, it was the first to exchange student loans with scholarships for candidates worthy of financial aid.

According to the US News, Columbia University is one of the most preferred colleges for medal students in US based on average MCAT Score.

Asides that, the school has an excellent teaching hospital with modern equipment for enhanced medical education. It has also produced numerous Nobel laureates and medical innovators.

Fees

• Full-time tuition: $62,980
• Application fee: $110
• Application deadline: October 15

7. Mayo Clinic School of Medicine- Top 20 Medical Schools In The US

Mayo Clinic ALIX School of medicine ranks as the 7^th best schools for training medical doctors in the United States of America.

This institution has got many good reputations. It’s the most selective medical school in the nation. In 2017, medical students at this college had the highest USMLE Step 1 board test scores in the US.

Asides that, about 70% of their medical graduates get matched into the residency of their choice.

They’ve got some of the latest medical equipment, standard facilities, and an excellent environment for grooming future doctors who will impact the world.

According to the US News & Reports, Mayo Clinic hospital ranks as the best hospital in the US. Since they’ve got the best hospital, you expect that their students will get the best from their education.

Furthermore, it has an excellent environment for learning. One of its campus at Rochester is the largest medical school in the US. Apart from that, they’ve got the biggest medical libraries in the world. What else won’t you love about this school?

Another exciting feature about the Mayo clinic is that it offers selective like acquiring surgical skills to improve student productivity and enthusiasm for Research.

• Tuition Fees: $57,170
• Application Fees: $120
• Application Deadline: October 1
• Quota: 362

8. University of California, Los Angeles- Best Medical Schools In California  

The Medical in at the University of California is among the best. Still, it is also #5 in Psychiatry, #8 in Surgery, #6 in Research, and #10 in anesthesiology.

The school has excellent medical facilities and a suitable environment for training medical students in the USA. Furthermore, students in this college are allowed to combine with degrees such as MBA, and the UCLA Anderson School of management.

• Tuition fees: $48,619
• Application fees: $95
• Application deadline: October 1
• Quota: 731

9. University of California, San Francisco

The University of California at San Francisco arrives on this list as one of the top medical schools in the US. It is another fantastic school to enroll in if you want to enjoy your medical school education.

Their motto is “let there be light.” And indeed, they are a light in the nation as they attract some of the best students.

The University of California boasts of a well developed medical center. According to the US News & Report, the UCSF 2^nd best hospital in California, and the 7^Th best in the United States.

Asides that, UCSF ranks #1 in Obstetrics and Gynecology, #2 in Surgery, Internal medicine, and primary care, #3 in Radiology and Anesthesiology, #4 in Pediatrics, #5 in family medicine, and #6 in Research.

• Tuition fees: $47,894
• Application fees: $80
• Application deadline: October 15
• Quota: 643

10. Washington University in St. Louis

The medical institution at Washington University in St. Louis makes it to this list as the 10^th best in the United States of America.

Medical students at Washington can begin to plan their medical careers right from day one. This is thanks to the numerous electives available.

During summer breaks, medical students can involve in research opportunities. They can also get hands-on-experience in top-notch hospitals related to them like the St. Louis children’s hospital.

Asides from being one of the best generally, they are also #5 in Radiology, #6 in anesthesiology, #6 in Research, #7 in Obstetrics and Gynecology, #7 in Surgery, and #9 in Internal medicine.

• Tuition: $62,664
• Application fees: $100
• Application deadline: December 1
• Quota: 470

Top 11-20 Medical Schools in the US (Overview)

11. Cornell University

• Tuition: $58,760
• Application fees: $100
• Application deadline: October 15
• Quota: 442

12. Duke University

• Tuition: $61,170
• Application fees: $95
• Application deadline: October 15
• Quota:

13. University of Washington

• Tuition: $67,830
• Application fees: $35
• Application deadline: October 15
• Quota: 1,113

14. University of Pittsburgh

• Tuition: $59,930
• Application fees: $100
• Application deadline: October 15
• Quota: 597

15. University of Michigan

• Tuition: $59,390
• Application fees: $85
• Application deadline: October 15
• Quota: 689

16. Yale University

• Tuition: $62,974
• Application fees: $95
• Application deadline: October 15
• Quota: 421

17. University of Chicago, Pritzker

• Tuition: $56,550
• Application fees: $85
• Application deadline: November 16
• Quota: 358

18. Northwestern University

• Tuition: $62,088
• Application fees: $95
• Application deadline: November 1
• Quota: 632

• Tuition: $658,249
• Application fees: $85
• Application deadline: November 1
• Quota: 398

20. Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai

• Tuition: $55,316
• Application fees: $110
• Application deadline: October 15
• Quota: 578

Final Words on Top 20 Medical Schools In The US

You’ve come to know the top 20 medical schools in the US 2021. Asides that, you’ve identified their tuition, location, and application fees for this year. After knowing how long medical school is in the US, go ahead to plan which schools to attend to.

We do hope this post will help select that whole medical school to begin your journey!

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