In the heart of the Midwest, Iowa is a vibrant state known for its strong academic and healthcare institutions, making it a hub for medical education. Its downtown area and welcoming community create a supportive and engaging environment for students to live and learn. The state has approximately sixty colleges and universities, including 21 associate’s colleges, 19 baccalaureate colleges, nine master’s schools, and two research universities.
If you’d like to pursue a career in medicine and live in Iowa or are moving there soon, there are a couple of options for you here. There’s a public medical school in Iowa that grants M.D. degrees, ranked among the best in the U.S., and a private osteopathic medical school that grants O.D. degrees. To help you decide which is the best for you, we’ll cover everything they offer down below.
Top Medical Schools in Iowa
1. University of Iowa
The University of Iowa founded the Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine in 1870. In 2024, it was ranked Tier 2 as the best medical school in primary care and research by the U.S. News & World Report. Some of its departments have ranked higher. For example, in 2019, its physician assistant department ranked as the best, and its family medicine department ranked as the 19th best.
The M.D. curriculum was changed in 2014 and includes modifications like condensing the preclinical phase into 18 months. CCOM has some dual degree programs that combine the M.D. degree with a Master’s in Business Administration, a Master’s in Public Health, a Juris Doctor or J.D. degree (in partnership with the College of Law), or a Ph.D.
In 2018, 152 students were admitted to this medical school in Iowa. Their average GPA was 3.7, and their average MCAT score was 512. The majority of the students admitted are Iowa residents. During the selection process, prospective students are divided into in-state and out-of-state applicants. Seventy-one percent of the students accepted in 2018 were Iowa residents.
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2. Des Moines University
Des Moines University, founded in 1898 and wholly dedicated to health, has over a century of experience in the medical field. This institution is the second oldest medical school in the U.S. that grants D.O. degrees. The D.O. curriculum is divided into three phases. The first year is focused on foundational scientific knowledge. The second year follows an organ system, and students get clinical experiences through simulated and laboratory practices.
The last two years consist of clinical rotations to prepare students for residency and their professional lives. In addition to the D.O. degree, they have other programs. It also has two master’s programs in anatomy and biomedical sciences, two doctorate programs in physical therapy and podiatric medicine, and programs in physician assistance, health care administration, and public health. The last two are also available as online programs.
In 2018, 219 students enrolled at DMU. The admissions committee usually accepts many out-of-state students. In the same year, only 18% of the students were from Iowa. The average GPA of the admitted students was 3.6, and the average MCAT score was 507. Moreover, although the D.O. program does not accept international students, they can apply to any of the online programs.
While you have only two options for pursuing your medical degree, these institutions provide the best education and an excellent environment for both local and international students. Moreover, you can also pick more diverse programs, such as D.O. and dual-degree programs, that you may be interested in. Check out the schools listed above, and make sure you enroll as soon as possible!
We hope this article on the top medical schools in Iowa was helpful. Make sure also to check out our Study in the USA and the Available Programs for International Students in the USA for more information about studying in the country!
