Columbus, Ohio, is the 15th largest city in the United States and continues to post notable population growth, ranking among the top 15 U.S. cities for numeric population gains from July 2024 to July 2025. It has an active arts and culture scene, including COSI, a major science center, as well as many neighborhoods, restaurants, and events. Living in Columbus is also generally less expensive than the national average.
By studying medicine in Columbus, you will have access to major medical facilities and hospital systems for clinical exposure, along with public transportation through the Central Ohio Transit Authority (COTA). This article will list your best options for medical schools in and near Ohio’s capital, so read carefully!
Top Medical Schools in Columbus
1. Ohio State University
Ohio State University is well-known for its competency-based curriculum and research opportunities. The Ohio State University ranked No. 15 among public universities and No. 41 nationally in the 2026 U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges rankings. At the Ohio State College of Medicine, you can work toward an MD through the traditional four-year program or options such as the accelerated three-year Primary Care Track, Community Medicine MD Track, and dual-degree programs.
Ohio State medical students match with residencies about 98% of the time on average. The college is connected with The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, which was ranked the No. 1 adult hospital in Columbus and No. 2 in Ohio in the 2025-2026 U.S. News & World Report Best Hospitals list, with nine nationally ranked specialties.
By enrolling at Ohio State, you will also have access to the main campus resources, including interdisciplinary study and research opportunities. However, there is a range of academic prerequisites for admission to medical school, so you should review them on the college’s website. Applicants must take the MCAT within three years of applying and submit at least two letters of recommendation, including at least one letter from a professor in a Biology, Chemistry, Physics, or Math course. The 2025 entering class profile lists a class GPA of 3.83, a science GPA of 3.79, and an MCAT composite of 514.
You can study here for an MD degree, and the college also offers MD-granting options, seven dual degrees, PhD and graduate programs, and undergraduate programs such as Biomedical Science, Health Information Management and Systems, Health Sciences, Medical Laboratory Science, Radiologic Sciences and Therapy, and Respiratory Therapy. As a student at this medical school in Columbus, you can also take part in campus events and student organizations.
In terms of costs, an Ohio resident can expect estimated tuition and fees of $32,008 for MED 1 and MED 2, which are nine-month years, and $48,009 for MED 3 and MED 4, which are twelve-month years. Non-residents can expect estimated tuition and fees of $56,928 for MED 1 and MED 2 and $58,008 for MED 3 and MED 4. These figures are tuition and fees only; the total cost of attendance is higher once books, housing, food, transportation, and personal expenses are included.
2. Wright State University
Located in Dayton, Ohio, approximately 70 miles west of Columbus, Wright State University’s Boonshoft School of Medicine offers medical education leading to the MD, MD/PhD, MD/MBA, or MD/MPH degree for about 460 medical students. Its educational programs also include 12 residencies and 16 fellowship programs, master’s programs in pharmacology/toxicology and public health, and continuing medical education programs.
In addition to the traditional MD program, Boonshoft offers an MD in Three option for students who want to earn their medical degree faster and progress into a Boonshoft residency program, as well as dual-degree options such as the MD/PhD and physician leadership pathways.
Instead of operating a university-based hospital, Wright State is affiliated with eight major teaching hospitals in the region and has formal affiliation agreements with more than 25 other health care institutions in the Miami Valley. This model exposes medical students and resident physicians to a diverse range of patients and health care facilities.
Academically, the school’s basic science departments are primarily located on the Wright State University campus, while clinical departments are based throughout the community. The school lists almost 485 full-time faculty members and more than 1,280 voluntary faculty members, including physicians in private practice and other health care professionals from the community.
Wright State is not a Columbus-based medical school, but it is a nearby option for students considering Central and Southwest Ohio. The university reports 11,924 students across its Dayton and Lake campuses, while Boonshoft serves about 460 medical students. Students can benefit from a community-based medical education model, a supportive campus environment, and the resources of Wright State’s broader degree offerings.
Boonshoft School of Medicine tuition is listed by term at $24,465 for Ohio residents and $40,761 for non-residents for M1, M2, and M4, and $32,619 for Ohio residents and $48,915 for non-residents for M3. For first-year students, Wright State’s medical school financial aid page lists annual tuition and fees of $52,174 for Ohio residents and $79,517 for non-residents. Financial aid options include federal loans, institutional need-based scholarships, and Boonshoft School of Medicine scholarships for which students are automatically considered.
Even though there are not many medical schools located directly in Columbus, studying medicine in the area can still be beneficial because Central Ohio has major hospitals and health care organizations where students can get real-world exposure. The smaller number of medical schools may also help students find closer mentorship opportunities and a close-knit community of peers and faculty, making the region a strong place to learn for people who want to work in medicine and health care.
We hope this article on the best medical schools in Columbus was helpful. If you are interested in studying in the United States, check out our Study in the USA Page and the Available Programs for International Students!
