Washington, D.C., the capital of the United States, is known for its history, museums, arts, politics, and culture. It is also one of the world’s major diplomatic centers, with foreign missions representing approximately 185 countries. From an educational perspective, the city has a strong higher education sector, with more than 11 colleges and universities serving as major employers and innovation centers.
The District’s AAMC-listed medical schools include the George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Georgetown University School of Medicine, and Howard University College of Medicine. These schools offer Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) programs and related graduate or dual-degree options, such as M.D./Ph.D., master’s, Ph.D., and public-health-linked programs.
The city and surrounding region also give medical students access to major hospitals and research resources, including MedStar Washington Hospital Center, Children’s National Hospital, and the nearby National Institutes of Health main campus in Bethesda, Maryland. For students looking for medical education in a city with active clinical, research, and public-service opportunities, these medical schools are strong options. Now, let’s look at some information about these institutions below!
Top Medical Schools in Washington, D.C.
1. Georgetown University
Georgetown University School of Medicine opened in 1851 as a department of Georgetown College and is now located on Reservoir Road, near the university’s main campus. The school offers a four-year M.D. program, M.D./Ph.D. and other dual-degree options, and certificate, master’s, and doctoral programs through its Biomedical Graduate Education unit.
Georgetown’s medical education and research environment includes six basic science departments, 19 clinical science departments, and Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, the only National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center in Washington, D.C. The university is also home to neuroscience and neurology research focused on areas such as brain health, neurodegenerative disease, seizures, and recovery from traumatic brain injury.
Clinical education at Georgetown is supported by a long-standing partnership with MedStar Health, including MedStar Georgetown University Hospital and MedStar Washington Hospital Center. Georgetown researchers also contributed to the technology behind the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine, including Gardasil, which helps prevent HPV-related cervical and other cancers.
2. George Washington University
Founded in 1824, George Washington University‘s School of Medicine and Health Sciences is the 11th oldest medical school in the United States and the first in the nation’s capital. Its location in Foggy Bottom places students near major hospitals, federal agencies, and health organizations.
This institution provides professional education through programs such as the M.D. program, physician assistant studies, Doctor of Physical Therapy, health sciences, Ph.D. programs, graduate medical education, and international medicine programs.
Its research and clinical environment includes resources such as the Dr. Cyrus and Myrtle Katzen Cancer Research Center, the GW Heart & Vascular Institute, and neuroscience-related research and clinical programs. GW also has notable Nobel Prize connections, including Julius Axelrod, who earned his Ph.D. in pharmacology from GW and later received the 1970 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine, and Ferid Murad, a Nobel laureate who joined the GW faculty in 2011.
3. Howard University
Howard University‘s College of Medicine first opened as a medical department in 1868, just three years after the Civil War. Its founding mission was closely tied to training physicians to serve communities with urgent health care needs, and the college continues to emphasize service to medically underserved communities. Howard also later supported medical service work in Haiti after the 2010 earthquake through a College of Medicine-led project.
The traditional M.D. program at this medical school in Washington, D.C., is a four-year program. HUCM also offers dual-degree pathways and M.S. and/or Ph.D. training programs in anatomy, genetics and human genetics, microbiology, biochemistry, pharmacology, and physiology and biophysics.
Students learn through Howard University Hospital and other clinical or educational collaborations, including MedStar Washington Hospital Center, Winchester Medical Center, the VA Medical Center, Children’s National Medical Center, and Georgetown University Hospital.
Howard’s Simulation & Clinical Skills Center provides hands-on training with standardized patients, high-fidelity mannequins, and immersive clinical scenarios. The center earned full accreditation in human medical simulation from the Association of Standardized Patient Educators in 2026 and has held accreditation from the American College of Surgeons as a Comprehensive Education Institute since 2016.
Howard University College of Medicine reports more than 4,000 living alumni and remains focused on preparing physicians and health professionals to serve diverse and underserved populations.
Indeed, medical students in Washington, D.C., can access quality education, major clinical facilities, and research opportunities at the District’s well-known medical institutions. International students may also find D.C. appealing because of its global community and the presence of many diplomatic and international organizations. Consider the schools listed above when planning to pursue a medical degree there!
We hope this article on the best medical schools in Washington, D.C., was helpful! If you are interested in studying in the United States, check out our Study in the USA Page and the Available Programs for International Students!
