New York State is not just home to New York City; it is also home to about 20 million residents, making it the fourth most populated state in the US. Much of the state’s population is concentrated in and around the New York City region, creating strong demand for medical care. However, the state’s other cities and regions are also notable for medical centers and schools.
Studying medicine in New York can vary from the highly metropolitan, fast-paced world of Manhattan to other cities such as Albany and Rochester, as well as Long Island and Brooklyn. It is a strong mix of opportunities and home to some of the best-known medical schools in the US.
Here are seven notable medical schools in New York State.
Best Medical Schools in New York
1. Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons
- Website
- Admissions
- Admission Stats:
- Applicants: 7,291
- Interviewed: 757
- New students: 140
- GPA range: 3.39–4.00
- MCAT range: 508–528
Established in 1767, the medical school of Columbia University is located at Columbia University Irving Medical Center in the Washington Heights neighborhood of Manhattan. It is affiliated with NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital. Columbia’s medical school was the first medical school in the American colonies to grant the MD degree, which it first awarded in 1770. NewYork-Presbyterian is currently ranked No. 1 in New York and is listed on the 2025–2026 U.S. News & World Report Best Hospitals Honor Roll.
The curriculum is designed so that students progress through an 18-month preclinical phase, followed by a 12-month Major Clinical Year, and then a final phase that includes electives, a scholarly project, and preparation for residency. The scholarly project is required for graduation, and students can use the later part of the curriculum to explore individual academic and career interests.
2. Weill Cornell Graduate School of Medical Sciences
- Website
- Admissions
- Admission Stats:
- Applicants: 7,345
- Interviewed: 801
- Entering students: 106
- Median undergraduate GPA: 3.90
- Median MCAT: 518
Weill Cornell Medicine was founded in 1898 as Cornell University Medical College and is based in New York City. The Weill Cornell Graduate School of Medical Sciences was established in 1952 and was originally known as Cornell University Graduate School of Medical Sciences. Along with Rockefeller University and the Sloan Kettering Institute, Weill Cornell is involved in the Tri-Institutional MD-PhD Program, which combines medical and doctoral training through major biomedical institutions on Manhattan’s Upper East Side.
York Avenue, where Weill Cornell is based, is known as the “corridor of science” in New York City. The area includes partnerships and collaborations with institutions such as Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, the Hospital for Special Surgery, and Rockefeller University.
The small class of approximately 106 students each year enjoys an innovative curriculum and the opportunity to pursue dual degrees and additional research-focused education. Beyond its strong reputation and major clinical partnerships, Weill Cornell Medicine also offers global health opportunities, including international learning experiences and clinical electives.
3. Albany Medical College
- Website
- Admissions
- Admission Stats:
- Average undergraduate GPA: 3.77
- Average science GPA: 3.71
- Average MCAT: 512
- Approximate MD class size: 145 students
Located in the state capital, Albany Medical College is smaller than Columbia and Cornell but has a long history. It has educated physicians since 1839 and is part of Albany Med Health System.
Albany Medical College is one of the notable medical schools in New York. Its MD program offers a relatively small class environment, clinical training, research opportunities, and pathways for students who want to pursue focused areas of interest during medical school.
4. New York University Grossman School of Medicine
- Website
- Admissions
- Admission Stats:
- Median GPA: 3.98
- GPA range: 3.79–4.00
- Median MCAT: 523
- MCAT range: 516–527
The Grossman School of Medicine at New York University has more than 220 laboratories dedicated to biomedical research. A major attraction of this medical school is its research environment, especially for students who want to combine clinical training with focused scientific inquiry. Another notable fact is that all students admitted to the MD program receive a full-tuition scholarship, regardless of financial need. Along with the traditional four-year MD program, NYU Grossman offers an accelerated three-year MD pathway, dual MD/master’s degrees, and flexible curriculum options.
NYU Grossman School of Medicine is committed to diversity and innovation. Its tuition scholarship program is designed to reduce the burden of medical school debt and allow students to focus more fully on the course of study and career path they are most passionate about.
5. University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry
- Website
- Admissions
- Admission Stats:
- Class size: 104
- GPA range: 3.00–4.00
- MCAT range: 503–528
Next in our list of best medical schools in New York is the University of Rochester. This medical school offers MD students the Double Helix Curriculum—Translations and Transitions, which integrates clinical and basic science and emphasizes the biopsychosocial model. The goal is to develop physicians who understand disease and the whole person.
The school’s approach has led it to describe itself as the “liberal arts school of medicine,” with a tight-knit, collaborative, humanities-focused educational environment housed within a research institution.
At Rochester, there are multiple opportunities to become involved in the community, both within and beyond clinical experiences. One example is UR Well, a student-run clinic program that provides free preventive and health maintenance services to uninsured and underserved people in the Rochester community.
6. Stony Brook University Renaissance School of Medicine
- Website
- Admissions
- Admission Stats:
- Applications for the Fall 2025 class: 5,689
- Students in the Fall 2025 class: 141
- Average cumulative GPA: 3.89
- Average MCAT percentile: 89th percentile
Founded in 1971, the Renaissance School of Medicine is located on Long Island and is part of Stony Brook Medicine. Stony Brook Medicine includes the university’s health sciences schools, Stony Brook University Hospital, Stony Brook Southampton Hospital, Stony Brook Eastern Long Island Hospital, Stony Brook Children’s Hospital, and a wide network of community-based health care settings.
The school also has a significant focus on research. Its current name dates back to 2018, when the Stony Brook University School of Medicine was renamed the Renaissance School of Medicine in recognition of more than $1 billion in philanthropic investments by more than 100 Renaissance Technologies families in Stony Brook University, including the medical school.
7. State University of New York Downstate Health Sciences University
- Website
- Admissions
- Admission Stats:
- Approximate entering MD class size: 200 students
- Recent applicant volume: more than 6,000 applicants annually
- Recent entering classes: 199–207 positions
- Mean MCAT and GPA: slightly above the national mean for admitted medical students
We end our list of best medical schools in New York with the State University of New York Downstate Health Sciences University. SUNY Downstate is the only SUNY academic medical center in New York City and the only academic medical center in Brooklyn.
Brooklyn is home to about 2.3 million people, which places great pressure on SUNY Downstate to help meet the health needs of the population it serves.
The university is affiliated with University Hospital at Downstate. Its medical school traces its roots to 1860, when the Long Island College Hospital-Collegiate Division began instruction. Today, SUNY Downstate’s College of Medicine offers an Integrated Pathways Curriculum, which builds knowledge, skills, and professional values across all four years of the MD program.
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