Located in the Midwestern United States, Indiana is home to cities, towns, cultural institutions, and two medical schools that educate future physicians.
Indiana offers two options for students who want to pursue a medical degree: Indiana University School of Medicine, the state’s public MD-granting medical school, and Marian University’s Tom and Julie Wood College of Osteopathic Medicine (MU-WCOM), a private DO-granting medical school. IU School of Medicine’s MD program is the largest undergraduate medical education program in the United States.
Medical school admissions are highly competitive, so prospective students should review each program’s mission and requirements carefully. The sections below summarize the schools and their current program details.
Top Medical Schools in Indiana
1. Indiana University
Established in 1903, Indiana University School of Medicine has a long history of medical education, research, and clinical care. Its four-year MD curriculum is divided into three phases.
Phase 1 covers the first two years and develops foundational science knowledge integrated with clinical skills. Phase 2 takes place during the third year and centers on clinical clerkships. Phase 3 takes place during the fourth year and includes advanced clinical training and career preparation as students continue their journey toward becoming a doctor in the U.S.
The MD curriculum also offers an optional Scholarly Concentrations Program. Students can personalize their education and develop skills in areas of interest. Available concentrations include public health, business of medicine, health care integration and healthy aging, genetics in medicine, care of Hispanic and Latino patients, and rural health, among others.
Indiana University School of Medicine has nine campuses across Indiana. After acceptance, applicants rank their campus preferences from 1 to 9, and assignments are determined by a computerized lottery based on applicant rankings and campus capacity. Students can remain at a campus for all four years, subject to space availability, or request a campus change for their third and fourth years. Students also participate in clinical rotations at hospitals and physician offices throughout the state during the third and fourth years. The Stone Family Center for Health Sciences, which houses IU School of Medicine-Evansville in downtown Evansville, opened in 2018. For the Class of 2029, IU School of Medicine reports 7,822 MD applicants and 366 first-year medical students. The MD program currently has 1,459 students.
2. Marian University
Marian University’s Tom and Julie Wood College of Osteopathic Medicine (MU-WCOM) is Indiana’s private DO-granting medical school. Marian University’s Board of Trustees approved the development of the college in 2010, and its inaugural class began in August 2013. MU-WCOM was the nation’s first osteopathic medical school at a Catholic university. Its curriculum spans four years. During the first two years, students complete preclinical coursework and receive early clinical exposure. The third and fourth years focus on clinical training. The fourth-year curriculum includes a sub-internship, selective rotations, and elective rotations aligned with students’ career goals and desired specialties.
MU-WCOM also offers a master’s degree in biomedical sciences. The college is housed with the Alan and Sue Leighton School of Nursing in the Michael A. Evans Center for Health Sciences. Its facilities include classrooms, laboratories, study areas, and a simulation center. Marian University’s Class of 2029 profile reports 762 candidates interviewed and 162 students enrolled, with an average cumulative GPA of 3.76 and an average MCAT score of 501. Sixty-two percent of the class is from Indiana, while the remaining students represent 13 states and two countries. MU-WCOM accepts international applicants who meet its requirements. Due to the integrated nature of the curriculum, transfer applicants are accepted only in rare circumstances.
Although Indiana has only two medical schools, students can choose between an MD pathway at IU School of Medicine and a DO pathway at Marian University. Prospective applicants should review each school’s official program and admissions pages before applying.
We hope this list of the best medical schools in Indiana was helpful. For more information about where you can study in the United States, check out the Available Courses for International Students!
