11 Best Medical Schools in the US 2025 (Ranked)

The United States is the best country in the world to practice medicine.

In the nation, there are a lot of medical schools, both big and small. While some medical schools have a long history, others have only recently been founded.

The excellent medical education offered at these schools is a factor that unites them.

You’ve come to the right place if you’re an aspiring doctor looking for admission to a reputable medical school in the US.

In this article, I have listed the top 11 medical schools in the US. Along with the complete fee structure, I have also mentioned the important details about the school that will help you choose the best school. 

So, let’s find the Best Medical Schools in the US without wasting a minute.

11 Best Medical Schools in the US

If you are in a bit of a hurry, then you can refer to the table below, which will give you a quick overview of the best medical schools in the US.

Sr. No	Best Medical Schools in the US	Location	Rating
1	University of California	San Diego	4.9/5
2	Harvard University	Boston, MA	4.8/5
3	Duke University	Durham	4.6/5
4	University of Pennsylvania	Philadelphia	4.7/5
5	Standford University	California	4.7/5
6	Johns Hopkins University	Maryland	4.6/5
7	Yale University	New Haven	4.5/5
8	New York University	Langone	4.4/5
9	Mayo Clinic school of medicine	Minnesota	4.7/5
10	University of California	San Francisco	4.5/5
11	Columbia University	New York	4.5/5

1. University of California Los Angeles

Overview:

The David School of Medicine at the University of California, Los Angeles, is our top pick. It has a concrete learning system for its medical students.

The curriculum is divided into three phases. This includes Human Biology and Disease, core clinical Clerkship, and 4th-year colleges.

This school is affiliated with the top hospitals in the US, like Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Centre, Los Angeles County UCLA Medical Center, and Santa Monica UCLA Medical Center.

Students can complete a combined degree like an M.D. or Ph.D. by enrolling in the medical scientist training program provided by the David School of Medicine. Students can also go for combined degrees like an M.D/MBA or MD in Oral surgery residency with the UCLA Anderson School of Management.

There are also a few joint degrees available that are offered in conjunction with other institutes. 

This school also conducts several events, including annual events and ceremonies, banquets for second and fourth-year students, and many talent shows. There is also a hostel facility available from the university.

The application fee for this school is $95. It is also ranked 19th in the best medical schools: Research. The full-time faculty count is around 2,806, which is quite good.

Location	Los Angeles
QS World Ranking	44
Average Tuition Fees for International students	$105,300
Average MCAT score	517
Student Faculty Ratio	3.9:1
Acceptance Rate	2.4%
Total Enrollment	731

2. Harvard University, Boston, MA

Overview:

Harvard University is one of the oldest and top-rated universities in the US. Most of the students prefer to study at Harvard University among which 20% are international students.

There are altogether 10175 full-time faculty members at the medical school. It is also regarded as the top medical school for both primary care and research.

Internal medicine is a specialty at this institution. It is the most multicultural medical school in the United States. The majority of recent medical graduates work in underserved communities. Additionally, many students work in rural and primary care settings.

The college grants specialization PhD degrees, MDs, and master’s graduate degrees. The Harvard School’s MD program offers two academic tracks, namely Pathways and Health Science & Technology. They can thus customize their path to an MD degree based on their interests and strengths.

Additionally, HMS offers a staggering array of research opportunities overseen by the distinctive HMS synergy.

Location	Boston, MA
QS World Ranking	5
Average Tuition Fees for International students	$325,000
Average MCAT score	519
Student Faculty Ratio	14.6:1
Acceptance Rate	3.3%
Total Enrollment	699

3. Duke University

Overview:

Our next pick is Duck University, which provides executive, graduate, and doctoral programs.

In contrast to other medical universities, where students must complete 4 years of medical education, the Duke University curriculum is framed very differently.

Students study basic sciences in the first year, clinical rotations in the second year, scholarly research in the third year, and clinical electives in the fourth year.

The largest academic institution dedicated to medical research in the world, Duke University, conducts studies on various topics to advance the medical sector.

The Duke University research team conducts phase I to phase IV trials for unidentified diseases.

This school has close ties to neighborhood clinics and healthcare-related community initiatives.

It is ranked 78th for primary care and sixth among the best medical schools for research.

Location	Durham, NC
QS World Ranking	52
Average Tuition Fees for International students	$248,000
Average MCAT score	–
Student Faculty Ratio	2.7:1
Acceptance Rate	9%
Total Enrollment	507

4. University of Pennsylvania

Overview:

The University of Pennsylvania is the US’s oldest medical school and teaching hospital. It is now known as the Perelman School of Medicine.

The school has the most evidence-based curriculum that covers concrete medicine education.

Students study in small groups, which increases their interaction and self-directed learning. This school also offers many combined degree programs for MD. 

This medical school has over 36 free-standing, interdisciplinary clinics for immunotherapy, Oncology, Diabetes, Cardiology, geriatric, neurology, cardiology, and organ transplant. 

Six acute care facilities at the school support various research initiatives, and students gain experience working in free community clinics and other outreach initiatives.

In addition, UPenn serves as the hub of the University of Pennsylvania Health System, a significant multi-hospital healthcare system made up of 13 hospitals in Philadelphia.

Location	Philadelphia, USA
QS World Ranking	13
Average Tuition Fees for International students	$240,000
Average MCAT score	522
Student Faculty Ratio	4.3:1
Acceptance Rate	4.4%
Total Enrollment	612

5. Standford University

Overview:

Finding a medical school that can compete with Stanford University’s research, procedures development, and ground-breaking diagnostic therapies would be difficult if cutting-edge research is your passion.

The first heart transplant in the United States and the first successful heart-lung transplant worldwide are among the impressive list of medical breakthroughs for this medical school.

Seven dual degree programs, including master’s degrees in public health, medical science, business, law, and other fields, are offered by this institution.

The 15 core competencies in the four domains of science, intrapersonal, interpersonal, thinking, and reasoning, are used to evaluate applicants holistically to medical school.

The research at Stanford receives the highest NIH funding per researcher in the nation due to its facilities and affiliated institutes.

Basic science studies and clinical trials for particular diseases are all included in the research. Additionally, Stanford University provides public health, global research, innovative design, and community-based training and research.

Location	Standford, USA
QS World Ranking	3
Average Tuition Fees for International students	$482,000
Average MCAT score	519
Student Faculty Ratio	2.2:1
Acceptance Rate	2.3%
Total Enrollment	489

6. Johns Hopkins University

Overview:

Some degrees allow students to specialize in public health, medical science, or the business side of running a medical practice.

Residency and fellowship programs are offered by the medical school’s Graduate Medical Education in various clinical specialties. The Medical School has a dedicated Office of Medical Student Diversity and is committed to inclusivity.

The learning community created by JHUSOM is modeled after Hogwarts’ houses. Four colleges — Nathans, Sabin, Taussig, and Thomas — bearing the names of important Hopkins faculty members are where students are assigned.

Each cluster’s advisors assist students in choosing courses, research topics, and careers. The program aims to promote friendship among students over their four years of medical school.

Additionally, the curriculum is organized in a novel way that emphasizes health and diseases as it adapts to the environment rather than the conventional dichotomy of normal and abnormal.

You can conduct research in various fields with JHMS-affiliated institutes, including genetics, cell engineering, biomedical sciences, and brain science.

Location	Baltimore
QS World Ranking	25
Average Tuition Fees for International students	$214,000
Average MCAT score	521
Student Faculty Ratio	5.0:1
Acceptance Rate	6.0%
Total Enrollment	476

7. Yale University

Overview:

The medical school at Yale is renowned for its excellence in research and care. The Yale School of Medicine provides each of its students with a personal research librarian who guides them through the school’s extensive library of resources so they can graduate with a top-notch thesis.

The university is renowned for the wide variety of resources available to students right in the library.

The school educates students in various medical specialties, including public health, medicine, and biomedical science.

Yale has a strong commitment to clinical trials and was at the forefront of trials for the COVID-19 vaccine in both adults and children. The educational divisions cover every specialty, from anesthesiology to urology.

Students receive no ranks or grades during the first two years of medical school. The exams are also short, leaving students with little time for research.

For medical students, the foundational course lasts four years. However, students pay tuition for an additional year of study to conduct in-depth research.

Medical students can complete their degrees in various other programs offered by the university, depending on their areas of interest.

Location	New Haven
QS World Ranking	14
Average Tuition Fees for International students	$252,000
Average MCAT score	521
Student Faculty Ratio	6.7:1
Acceptance Rate	–
Total Enrollment	408

8. New York University, Langone

Overview:

Perhaps NYU is best known for eliminating tuition for all current and future medical students, a change that changed lives and started in 2018.

Additionally, NYU provides various dual degree programs that pair an MD with a master’s in clinical research, global health, general management, or bioethics.

There is also a three-year accelerated MD program based at McMaster University Medical School in Canada.

To uphold the school’s commitment to tuition-free medical education, the NYU Grossman School of Medicine MD program offers full-tuition scholarships to every student enrolled.

This translated into an annual scholarship amount of $58,226 for each student with good academic standing in 2020–21.

The McMaster University Medical School in Canada has a 3-year accelerated MD track, which is another program offered by the NYU School of Medicine.

There are more than 50 student clubs and initiatives at the school. In order to increase the students’ interest in athletics, academics, nation-building, and clinics, one of these programs promotes international health.

Location	Langone
QS World Ranking	–
Average Tuition Fees for International students	–
Average MCAT score	522
Student Faculty Ratio	2.4:1
Acceptance Rate	2.4%
Total Enrollment	430

9. Mayo Clinic School of Medicine

Overview:

The Mayo Clinic has treated 1.5 million patients from all 50 states while being committed to the education of medical professionals.

The Alix School of Medicine at the Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science is well known for its research initiatives. This medical school is among the top 15 research-producing institutions in the country.

The university provides more than 400 programs that cover every aspect of medicine in the fields of health sciences, medicine, and surgery.

First- and second-year students are permitted to enroll in “selective,” which are one- to two-week courses chosen by them and intended to expand their clinical knowledge and experiences beyond what is taught in the core curriculum.

Students in their third year produce a scientific research paper, which they frequently submit for publication. In a peer-reviewed journal, more than 80% of Mayo students leave with a published research manuscript.

Location	Alix
QS World Ranking	–
Average Tuition Fees for International students	–
Average MCAT score	520
Student Faculty Ratio	2.3:1
Acceptance Rate	2.4%
Total Enrollment	362

10. University of California, San Francisco

Overview:

The Bridges Curriculum, developed by UCSF SOM, prepares doctors for the twenty-first century. Medical knowledge, patient care, evidence-based learning, systems-based practice, communication skills, professionalism, and professional collaboration are the seven competencies that make up the MD program’s cutting-edge curriculum.

You will be expected to meet competency goals as you advance through the program. Doctor of Physical Therapy and a PhD in Rehabilitation Science with a research focus are two other specialty curricula.

Additionally, it specializes on serving San Francisco’s underserved communities. The Center for Community Engagement, Population Health & Health Equity, and the Benioff Homelessness & Housing Initiative collaborate closely to address healthcare disparities.

Their goal is to equalize UCSF’s community accessibility with that of the local library.

Location	San Francisco
QS World Ranking	–
Average Tuition Fees for International students	$187,100
Average MCAT score	518
Student Faculty Ratio	4.3:1
Acceptance Rate	3.8%
Total Enrollment	643

11. Columbia University

Overview:

Columbia University of Medicine is the third-best medical school for research and primary care.

The narrative medicine concept is developed by this school with a patient-centered approach, emphasizing the patient’s story as an essential component of the diagnosis and treatment process.

The NIH provides over $622 million in funding for its research and development, which is another reason for its fame.

The curriculum at Columbia has been reorganized into three major categories: Fundamentals, Major Clinical Year, and Differentiation and Integration. In order to receive their degree, students must also finish a scholarly research project.

Location	New York
QS World Ranking	19
Average Tuition Fees for International students	$73,800
Average MCAT score	521
Student Faculty Ratio	3.7:1
Acceptance Rate	3.5%
Total Enrollment	580

Conclusion: Standford & Harvard Has The Top QS World Ranking of 3 and 5 Respectively.

Here is our ranking of the top US medical schools for 2025. These medical schools have been ranked based on factors such as academic standing, curriculum variety, and educational quality.

Before deciding to apply for admission, be sure to get in touch with the administrative office of the medical school of your choice and ask about crucial details.

What are your thoughts on this? Let us know in the comment section below.