According to the 2015 Association of American Medical Colleges State Physician Workforce Data Book, Mississippi had the lowest active primary care physician rate in the U.S., with 64.5 primary care physicians per 100,000 people. Physician shortages remain a concern in Mississippi; current AAMC workforce data identifies Mississippi as one of the states with the lowest direct patient care physician densities, and HRSA data show many primary care Health Professional Shortage Area designations in the state. This makes Mississippi an important place to consider if you want to pursue a medical career, although job placement depends on your specialty, training, licensing, and residency outcomes.
Mississippi has two accredited medical schools: the University of Mississippi School of Medicine, which grants the M.D. degree, and William Carey University College of Osteopathic Medicine, which grants the D.O. degree. That’s why we summarized their most essential aspects below to help you choose the best one. Please read to learn more!
Top Medical Schools in Mississippi
1. University of Mississippi
The University of Mississippi School of Medicine was founded in 1903 as a two-year school on the university’s Oxford campus. In 1955, it moved to the new University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson and became a four-year medical school. UMMC now includes six health science schools: medicine, nursing, dentistry, health related professions, graduate studies, and population health.
Besides the four-year M.D. program, UMMC also offers a seven-year M.D./Ph.D. dual degree program. The M.D./Ph.D. program consists of the first three years of medical school, followed by three years of graduate study and the final year of medical school. During the medical school years, students complete laboratory rotations with graduate faculty, choose an area for graduate study during the third year, and maintain contact with clinical faculty mentors during graduate study.
Initial applications to this medical school in Mississippi are made through AMCAS. Applicants must take the MCAT, complete prerequisite coursework, submit required faculty evaluation letters and secondary materials, and document relevant experiences, including physician shadowing. UMMC states that the School of Medicine gives preference to Mississippi legal residents and that, in recent years, it has not been possible to admit nonresidents.
There is also an M1-M2 buddy list, in which incoming first-year medical students are paired with second-year students who can provide advice and resources. UMMC also lists virtual tour resources, including a School of Medicine tour.
2. William Carey University
William Carey University College of Osteopathic Medicine, located on the university’s Hattiesburg campus, is a private college of osteopathic medicine. William Carey began establishing the college in the late 2000s, and WCUCOM enrolled its inaugural class in 2010. The college was created to help address physician shortages in Mississippi and surrounding states, especially in rural and underserved communities. WCUCOM accepts out-of-state and international applicants, but it gives preference to qualified applicants from Mississippi, the Gulf South, and rural or medically underserved areas. AACOM reports 175 first-year matriculants for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Admissions are handled through AACOMAS. Applicants must submit a verified AACOMAS application with official MCAT scores, complete the WCUCOM secondary application if invited, submit required letters of evaluation, and complete CASPer and Duet for the current application cycle. Selected competitive applicants are invited to interview. Along with the D.O. degree, WCUCOM lists master’s programs in Anatomy Education and Biomedical Science.
The D.O. curriculum begins with pre-clerkship training in the first two years, including basic science, anatomy, histology, medical physiology, physical examination, doctor-patient interaction, osteopathic principles, simulations, surrogate and standardized patient encounters, and case-based learning. In the third and fourth years, students work with clinical faculty at regional hub sites throughout the Gulf South. Third-year students complete 10 rotations, including eight core rotations at their assigned hub site and two electives, while fourth-year rotations may be completed at approved sites around the United States.
The state’s medical schools, the University of Mississippi School of Medicine and William Carey University College of Osteopathic Medicine, provide academic programs and practical training that can help prepare students for careers in healthcare. Make sure to review each school’s current admissions requirements, residency policies, costs, and program details before applying.
We hope this article on the best medical schools in Mississippi was helpful. For more information on studying in the United States, check out the Study in the USA Page and Available Courses for International Students!
