Finding a medical school that matches your interests can take time and effort. New Jersey offers programs that award Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) and Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.) degrees, along with different curricular pathways.
New Jersey’s proximity to major urban centers such as New York City and Philadelphia can broaden students’ access to healthcare networks and research opportunities. The state also has a strong life sciences sector that supports medical research and innovation.
Admissions policies vary by school. Some programs welcome out-of-state applicants, while policies for international applicants are school-specific. Always review the official admissions page for the program you plan to apply to. The list below provides an updated overview of medical schools in New Jersey.
Top Medical Schools in New Jersey
1. New Jersey Medical School
Rutgers New Jersey Medical School is one of the two medical schools affiliated with Rutgers University. Its campus is in Newark. Rutgers currently lists NJMS as the No. 1 medical school in New Jersey and a Tier 2 medical school nationwide for research in U.S. News & World Report. NJMS offers a traditional four-year M.D. program and an Accelerated Three-Year M.D. Program. The curriculum is organized into three phases that progress from foundational science and integrated organ-system learning to clerkships, electives, and career exploration.
The Accelerated Three-Year M.D. Program is available to students who have already been accepted to the traditional four-year M.D. program. It is designed for students committed to primary care and includes conditional acceptance into Rutgers-sponsored primary care residency programs. Students select a track in internal medicine, combined internal medicine and pediatrics, obstetrics and gynecology, pediatrics, or psychiatry.
NJMS also offers M.D./Ph.D., M.D./M.P.H., M.D./M.B.A., and M.D. with Thesis programs. Its Summer Student Research Program provides an eight-week research experience for eligible first- and second-year medical students and students in the combined B.S./M.D. program.
2. Robert Wood Johnson Medical School
Aside from Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School is another medical school affiliated with Rutgers University. It has campuses in New Brunswick and Piscataway, and its principal teaching hospital is Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick. Rutgers currently lists RWJMS and NJMS as the No. 1 medical schools in New Jersey and Tier 2 medical schools nationwide for research in U.S. News & World Report.
RWJMS offers a competency-based M.D. program. Its block curriculum integrates basic sciences and clinical medicine around multidisciplinary themes and common clinical presentations. Its dual-degree options include M.D./Ph.D., M.D./M.B.A., M.D./M.P.H., and M.D./M.S.C.T.S.
Applicants apply through the American Medical College Application Service (AMCAS). They must submit an MCAT score, complete the required college coursework, and earn a bachelor’s degree by the time of matriculation. Applicants should review the school’s official admissions page for the current requirements and deadlines.
3. Cooper Medical School
Cooper Medical School of Rowan University is a public medical school in Camden. A partnership between Rowan University and the Cooper Health System, CMSRU opened in summer 2012 and is the only four-year, M.D.-granting medical school in South Jersey. In the 2026 U.S. News & World Report medical school rankings, CMSRU received a Tier 2 rating in primary care and a Tier 3 rating in research.
CMSRU’s core focus is its four-year M.D. curriculum, which integrates basic scientific concepts, early clinical experience, and patient care. The coursework is divided into two phases: Foundation and Integration, followed by Application, Exploration, and Advancement. CMSRU also offers an M.D./Ph.D. program in biomedical engineering, an M.D./M.B.A. program, and an accelerated three-year primary care track for students pursuing family medicine, primary care internal medicine, or primary care pediatrics.
CMSRU welcomes in-state and out-of-state applicants, and approximately two-thirds of matriculating students are New Jersey residents. International applicants are not accepted; applicants must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents.
4. Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine
Rowan University has another medical school that awards D.O. degrees. Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine was created in 1976 as the first four-year medical school in South Jersey. In the 2026 U.S. News & World Report medical school rankings, Rowan-Virtua SOM received Tier 3 ratings in both primary care and research.
Rowan-Virtua SOM offers two pre-clerkship curriculum tracks: Synergistic Guided Learning (SGL) and Problem-Based Learning (PBL). Both tracks include system blocks, intersessions, osteopathic clinical skills, and longitudinal project-based courses. SGL uses a single-pass, system-based design, while PBL is a student-centered, double-pass model that uses clinical cases to develop scientific knowledge and clinical reasoning.
The school’s dual-degree options include D.O./M.P.H., D.O./M.B.A., D.O./J.D., D.O./M.S., and D.O./Ph.D. programs. Applicants apply through the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine Application Service (AACOMAS). The school’s admissions FAQ states that competitive candidates should have a science GPA of at least 3.50, an MCAT score of at least 505, and an MCAT Biological and Biochemical Foundations of Living Systems subscore of at least 126.
5. Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine
Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine offers an M.D. program with a 3+1 curriculum. Students complete a three-year core curriculum and then pursue a highly individualized fourth-year experience. Applicants must earn a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university by the time of matriculation. Applicants who earned a degree from a foreign institution must submit a World Education Services evaluation for prerequisite courses completed abroad.
To practice medicine in New Jersey, physicians must apply for licensure through the New Jersey State Board of Medical Examiners. Applicants should review the Board’s current requirements for their degree and training pathway.
New Jersey offers several M.D.- and D.O.-granting medical schools, including Rutgers University‘s New Jersey Medical School. The overview above can help you compare the programs and identify the medical school that best fits your goals. You can also explore other cheap medical schools in the USA.
We hope this article on the best medical schools in New Jersey was helpful. For more information about studying in the United States, check out our Study in the USA guide and the Available Courses for International Students!
