The United States has 163 LCME-accredited MD-granting medical schools. Readers can also review our guide to the top medical schools in the world.
Admission to U.S. medical schools can be academically and financially demanding. Policies for out-of-state and international applicants vary by school, so prospective students should review each institution’s official admissions page and current Medical School Admission Requirements (MSAR) reports. To learn more about higher education in the United States, explore our related guide. This article highlights top medical schools and related programs in the United States.
Top Medical Schools in the USA
1. Harvard University
Harvard University is home to Harvard Medical School. Readers can also explore our guide to the best educational institutions in the world.
The MD program at Harvard Medical School has two curricular tracks: Pathways and Health Sciences and Technology (HST). Applicants may apply to Pathways, HST, or both. Pathways emphasizes active, collaborative learning, while HST is offered through a partnership between Harvard Medical School and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
HST provides a science-focused medical education for students interested in the relationship between medicine, research, and technology. The track leading to the MD degree is administered through Harvard Medical School.
2. Stanford University
Stanford University School of Medicine offers the Discovery Curriculum, which is designed to provide students with flexibility in their medical education.
Students may complete the pre-clerkship curriculum in two or three years. The three-year pathway creates additional time for longitudinal scholarship, dual degrees, and independent research. Both pathways lead into clinical clerkship training.
3. Johns Hopkins University
Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine follows the Genes to Society curriculum. This curriculum considers biological, behavioral, environmental, and societal factors that can influence health and disease.
The Genes to Society course begins during the first year and uses a systems-based approach. Students also participate in a Longitudinal Ambulatory Clerkship for one half-day per week, gaining experience in an outpatient or community setting with a faculty preceptor.
4. University of California – Los Angeles
The David Geffen School of Medicine at the University of California, Los Angeles, uses the HEALS curriculum. It is designed to evolve alongside developments in science and medicine.
The HEALS curriculum replaces the traditional division between basic science and clinical practice with a three-phase approach. Its features include early clinical experiences, earlier clinical rotations, integrated basic science and clinical instruction, and longitudinal content threads across the MD program.
5. Yale University
Yale University was founded as Yale College in 1701. The Medical Institution of Yale College, now known as Yale School of Medicine, was chartered in 1810.
The Yale School of Medicine curriculum includes pre-clerkship education, clinical skills training, early clinical experiences, clerkships, and advanced training. Prospective students should review the school’s official curriculum pages for the current structure and academic calendar.
6. Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Massachusetts Institute of Technology does not independently award an MD degree. It collaborates with Harvard Medical School through the Harvard-MIT Health Sciences and Technology (HST) program.
HST students can work toward an MD degree from Harvard Medical School or a PhD in Medical Engineering and Medical Physics. HST MD students may also pursue the Harvard-MIT MD-PhD program. The MD curriculum combines medical training with research and access to laboratories and resources at Harvard, MIT, and local hospitals.
7. University of California – San Francisco
The School of Medicine at the University of California, San Francisco, uses the Bridges Curriculum.
The Bridges Curriculum is a fully integrated, three-phase curriculum delivered over four years. Its phases are Foundations 1, Foundations 2, and Career Launch. Students develop knowledge in basic and clinical sciences, participate in team-based clinical settings, and complete advanced clinical and scholarly work aligned with their career goals.
8. Columbia University
Columbia University is an Ivy League research university. Its Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons offers the MD program.
The MD curriculum is divided into three phases: Fundamentals, an 18-month preclinical phase; the Major Clinical Year, a 12-month clerkship phase; and Differentiation and Integration, a 14-month period that includes electives and a scholarly project.
Columbia’s Vagelos Scholarship Program provides need-based scholarship support. Medical students who submit complete financial aid applications are automatically considered. Once calculated financial need is determined, the support package offered to meet that need does not include loans.
9. University of Pennsylvania
The Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania was founded in 1765 and is the oldest medical school in what became the United States.
Pennsylvania Hospital was founded in 1751 as the first hospital in the Colonies and became an early site of clinical instruction for medical students. The Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania later opened in 1874 as the country’s first university-owned teaching hospital.
10. Duke University
The MD program at Duke University condenses traditionally structured medical training from four years into three, creating additional opportunities for independent interests.
Students learn core basic sciences during the first year, complete core clinical clerkships during the second year, devote the third year to scholarly investigation, and complete elective rotations during the fourth year. Duke states that students generally devote 9 to 12 months to scholarly investigation.
FAQs: Studying Medicine in the U.S.
Can International Students Enroll in U.S. Medical Schools?
Some U.S. medical schools accept applications from international students, while others do not. Policies vary by institution. Prospective applicants should review each school’s official admissions page before applying.
Public and private medical schools establish their own admissions policies. Applicants should verify eligibility, required coursework, testing requirements, and financial aid rules directly with each school before submitting an application.
What is the Medical Curriculum Like in U.S. Medical Schools?
Medical curricula vary by institution. Many U.S. MD programs include pre-clerkship coursework, clinical clerkships, electives, and advanced clinical training. As one example, students can review the medical curriculum at Harvard Medical School.
The United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) sequence includes Step 1, Step 2 Clinical Knowledge (CK), and Step 3. Eligible examinees may take Step 1 and Step 2 CK in either order. Step 3 may be taken only after passing Step 1 and Step 2 CK.
Step 3 is the final examination in the USMLE sequence. However, passing the examinations is not the only requirement for full, unrestricted medical licensure. Licensure is state-specific. According to the Federation of State Medical Boards, all state medical boards require at least one year of postgraduate training, and some jurisdictions require two or three years. Graduates planning to practice outside the United States should verify the separate licensing rules of their target jurisdiction.
The medical schools and related programs profiled above offer a range of educational, clinical, and research opportunities. Admission requirements, curricula, and financial aid policies can change, so prospective students should always review official university pages before applying.
We hope that this article on medical schools in the USA was helpful. If you’re interested in studying in the United States, make sure to check out the Study in the USA article and the Available Courses for International Students!
