Medical schools are established to educate future students aspiring to become doctors, preparing them to adapt to the health care system through modern education and clinical training. Missouri offers several options for students who want to pursue a medical degree or career. Its medical schools serve the educational needs of medical students and contribute to medical education, patient care, and research. Missouri is also home to A.T. Still University’s Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine, the first institution of osteopathic education in the world.
Missouri has six medical schools: four M.D.-granting allopathic schools and two D.O.-granting osteopathic schools. Two are public, and the rest are private, offering a good mix for resident and out-of-state students. In this article, let’s start by discussing four of the best-known medical schools in Missouri. Keep reading to learn more about these institutions!
Top Medical Schools in Missouri
1. Washington University in St. Louis
Founded in 1891, Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine has many accomplishments supporting the quality education offered here. Because WashU Medicine states that it no longer submits data to U.S. News & World Report’s M.D. program rankings due to methodology concerns, applicants should check the latest rankings directly rather than relying on older numerical rankings.
WUSM has many more programs besides the M.D. degree. Dual-degree programs include M.D./Ph.D., M.D./M.P.H. (Master of Public Health), M.D./M.S.C.I. (Master of Science in Clinical Investigation), M.D./M.P.H.S. (Master of Population Health Sciences), and M.D./M.B.A. (Master of Business Administration). There are also programs in physical therapy, occupational therapy, audiology and communication sciences, biomedical informatics, population health sciences, and other health-related fields.
For those who want to obtain a master’s or Ph.D. degree, this medical school in Missouri also offers programs in areas such as immunology, neuroscience, biostatistics, genetic counseling, and data science. Additionally, 19 Nobel laureates have been associated with WashU Medicine.
As for admissions, WashU Medicine’s entering Class of 2025 included 123 students, with 93 M.D. students and 30 M.D./Ph.D. students, selected from 6,138 applicants. The class had a mean GPA of 3.88 and a mean MCAT score of 520. International applicants are considered for merit scholarships, but they are not eligible for need-based financial aid and must show sufficient funding for visa purposes.
2. Saint Louis University
Saint Louis University School of Medicine is a private medical school founded in 1836. According to Saint Louis University, U.S. News & World Report has designated the School of Medicine as Tier 1 for primary care. SLUSOM is a pioneer in different research and medical fields. For example, the first heart transplant in Missouri was performed at Saint Louis University, and its Center for Vaccine Development has long supported vaccine research.
Students complete the M.D. program in modern facilities with clinical training, simulation, and small-group learning opportunities. They can also pursue dual-degree options that combine the M.D. with a Ph.D., Master of Public Health, or Master of Business Administration.
Admissions are competitive. In Saint Louis University School of Medicine’s latest annual report, the school reported 6,672 total applications, 5,198 completed applications, 732 interviewed applicants, and 174 students in the class. Applicants must complete at least 90 semester hours and the required premedical coursework. The school does not list a minimum GPA cutoff, but it states that applicants need an MCAT total score of 502 or higher to move forward in the screening process.
3. University of Missouri
The University of Missouri School of Medicine was founded in 1872 in Columbia. It should not be confused with the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Medicine, which is a separate medical school located in Kansas City, Missouri. UMKC also offers a six-year B.A./M.D. program for students entering from high school, while the Columbia-based University of Missouri School of Medicine enrolls students in a traditional four-year M.D. program.
Admissions at the University of Missouri School of Medicine are competitive. The Class of 2029 included 136 first-year medical students selected from more than 3,600 applicants. The school offers clerkship training on its Columbia and Springfield campuses. The Springfield Clinical Campus opened in 2016, and the University of Missouri System announced plans to expand the Springfield campus so that it can welcome its first class of first-year medical students in 2027.
Its M.D. program is divided into foundational coursework and clinical rotations. During the first two years, students focus on developing basic clinical skills through patient-based learning and small-group classes, which means lectures are only a limited part of the curriculum.
The third year consists of core clerkships in areas such as family medicine, internal medicine, neurology, obstetrics and gynecology, pediatrics, psychiatry, and surgery. The fourth year focuses on developing advanced clinical skills through rotations that include advanced clinical selectives, general electives, and an Advanced Biomedical Sciences course. The school also supports master’s and doctoral programs in areas such as biochemistry, health management and informatics, medical pharmacology and physiology, molecular microbiology and immunology, nutrition and exercise physiology, and pathology and anatomical sciences.
4. A. T. Still University Kirksville
A.T. Still University’s Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine was founded in 1892 by Andrew Taylor Still and is the founding college of osteopathic medical education. ATSU-KCOM combines modern technology, research, and a holistic approach to medical education. Its training tools include high-fidelity human patient simulators, simulated patient encounters, and point-of-care ultrasound.
The D.O. program is a four-year program focused on the osteopathic approach to medicine. During the first two years, students complete integrated coursework in basic and clinical sciences through patient-centered learning, labs, workshops, case presentations, team-based activities, and simulations. The last two years consist of clinical rotations across a national network of core rotation sites. In addition to the D.O. degree, the university also offers a Master of Science in Biomedical Sciences.
ATSU-KCOM’s recent fast facts report more than 4,060 applications received in 2023 and a class size of 172. The incoming class had an average cumulative GPA of 3.69, an average science GPA of 3.62, and an average MCAT score of 503. For applicants who meet initial screening requirements, ATSU-KCOM’s application process states that secondary applications are available to applicants with both a cumulative GPA and a science GPA of at least 2.80.
In conclusion, Missouri’s solid medical education system and comprehensive programs from established medical schools, such as the University of Missouri and Washington University in St. Louis, position the state as an excellent place for students aspiring to become doctors and health care professionals. These institutions provide diverse educational opportunities and modern facilities, making one’s future medical journey worthwhile. Consider these universities if you plan to study medicine in this state.
We hope this article on the top medical schools in Missouri was helpful. To learn more information on studying in the United States, check out our Study in the USA Page and the Available Courses for International Students!
