Nebraska Medical Schools 2025 Guide: UNMC and Creighton Admissions and Strategy

Why consider Nebraska for medical school

Nebraska offers two strong MD options in one metro area, giving you urban clinical variety, close-knit teaching environments, and access to regional health systems. With small cohorts and mission-driven training, you can find a program that matches your goals in primary care, specialty practice, research, or service.

Nebraska’s medical school landscape

You have two MD programs, both based in Omaha:

• University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC) College of Medicine
• Creighton University School of Medicine

Each school has its own culture, curriculum design, and clinical network. The key is mission fit, not brand.

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#1. University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC) — Snapshot

What stands out: 

A patient-centered curriculum that integrates early clinical exposure, simulation, and organ-systems learning across a major academic health system. Opportunities span tertiary care, community sites, and public health collaborations.

Curriculum notes: 

Strong emphasis on clinical reasoning, interprofessional teamwork, and research or scholarly activity. Dual-degree pathways are available for students interested in public health, research, or management.

Good fit for: 

Applicants who want a large academic center with community reach, a structured path into clinical practice, and options to add public health, research, or leadership training.

#2. Creighton University School of Medicine — Snapshot

What stands out: 

Jesuit values with a focus on service, leadership, and care of the whole person. Omaha is the home campus, and Creighton also offers a full four-year campus in Phoenix, Arizona.

Curriculum notes: 

Early patient contact, reflection, and service-learning are built in. Students rotate across academic and community partners that expose them to diverse patient populations.

Good fit for: 

Students who want a mission-driven education, strong community engagement, and the option to train in either Omaha or Phoenix.

Choosing between UNMC and Creighton

Mission and values

Read each school’s mission statements and identify where your story aligns. If you have consistent community service, leadership, or rural health exposure, make that connection explicit in your essays.

Curriculum and clinical sites

Compare how early you enter the clinic, where core clerkships occur, and what scholarly or service tracks exist. If Phoenix appeals, note Creighton’s Arizona campus. If public health or research is central, note UNMC’s integrated options.

Cost of attendance and lifestyle

Review tuition, fees, insurance, and Omaha living costs on each program’s financial pages. Focus on total cost of attendance and available aid, not just tuition.

Nebraska-focused application strategy

#1. Build credible clinical experience

Prioritize roles with meaningful patient interaction and teamwork. Keep a reflection log so your secondaries and interviews include concrete stories and outcomes.

#2. Show service and cultural readiness

Long-term commitments in clinics, shelters, schools, or public health programs demonstrate reliability and empathy. Nebraska programs value readiness to serve diverse and underserved communities.

#3. Plan testing and timing

Schedule the MCAT with enough buffer for a retake if needed. Submit AMCAS early and return secondaries within one to two weeks. Request letters well in advance.

#4. Tell a cohesive story

Use your personal statement for your motivation and arc. Use each school’s secondaries to show specific program fit. Avoid generic claims. Tie every point to an experience and a result.

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Structured, mentored hospital experience in resource-limited settings helps you communicate clearly, adapt quickly, and work across cultures. These skills translate directly to Nebraska’s patient populations and make for powerful essays and interviews.

• Pre-meds and pre-health: Pre-Health and Pre-Med Internships
• Medical students: Medical Electives and Residency Electives
• Considering PA routes too. Explore Physician Assistant Internships and Pre-PA Internships

FAQs: Nebraska medical schools

I. How many medical schools are in Nebraska

Two, both awarding the MD degree: UNMC and Creighton, each based in Omaha.

II. Is one school “better” than the other

The better choice is the one that fits your mission and learning style. Compare curriculum structure, campus options, clinical sites, advising culture, research or public health pathways, and total cost.

III. Does Creighton’s Phoenix campus change my application strategy

It can. If you prefer training in the Southwest, Phoenix is a strong option. Be explicit about your campus preference and why its clinical network matches your goals.

IV. How can I stand out

Pair solid academics with reflective clinical experience, sustained service, and school-specific essays that demonstrate genuine mission alignment.

Next steps

• Apply for upcoming cohorts in Kenya or Tanzania to strengthen your clinical exposure and reflections.
• Have questions about placements, housing, or timing. 
  Inquire here

Note: Go Elective does not provide admissions advising. Always verify current prerequisites, deadlines, tuition, and fees on each medical school’s official website and in AMCAS.

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Recent Articles , Pre-health, Medical Electives, Med Schools,

Author: Go-Elective Abroad

Date Published: Sep 13, 2025