Top 20 Best Medical Schools in the U.S.

Why Choosing the Right Medical School Matters

For aspiring doctors, getting into medical school is just the beginning—choosing the right one can shape your entire career. Whether your passion lies in cutting-edge research, underserved populations, global health, or specialty medicine, the right program will align with your goals and values.

Each year, U.S. News & World Report ranks the best medical schools based on clinical medicine performance, research output, and other key academic factors. We've gathered the top 20 medical schools in the U.S. for 2025—highlighting their standout programs, rankings, and what makes each one exceptional.

And if you're looking to strengthen your application, consider participating in a global health internship through Go Elective. These experiences provide hands-on clinical exposure in Kenya or Tanzania—ideal for standing out among competitive applicants.

What Do These Rankings Measure?

U.S. News & World Report evaluates schools across categories like:

Clinical Medicine
Molecular Biology and Genetics
Public Health
Psychiatry and Psychology
Surgery and Oncology
Microbiology, Immunology, Pharmacology, and more

These rankings give students a sense of each program’s research strengths and medical impact.

The 20 Best U.S. Medical Schools in 2025

#20 — Vanderbilt University School of Medicine (Nashville, TN)

Known for: Interdisciplinary dual-degree programs and innovation in oncology and surgery
Top Rankings:

#10 Oncology
#31 Surgery
#50 Immunology
Notable Programs: MD/PhD, MD/MPH, MD/MBA, and MD/MA in Medicine, Health and Society

#19 — Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai (New York, NY)

Known for: Community medicine and specialty hospital affiliations
Top Rankings:

#3 Gastroenterology
#5 Cardiology
#27 Clinical Medicine
Notable Programs: Global Health Scholars, Primary Care Scholars, and Physician-Scientist Track

#18 — Weill Cornell Medical College (Cornell University, NY)

Known for: Strong research focus and global campus in Doha, Qatar
Top Rankings:

#3 Oncology
#6 Microbiology
#27 Surgery
Notable Programs: MD, MD/PhD, MD/MBA

#17 — Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine (Chicago, IL)

Known for: Research grants and interdisciplinary curriculum
Top Rankings:

#5 Chemistry
#15 Cardiology
#26 Clinical Medicine
Notable Programs: Early Admission, MD/MPH, MD/MS in Bioethics

#16 — UNC Chapel Hill School of Medicine (Chapel Hill, NC)

Known for: Accessibility and global public health research
Top Rankings:

#2 Pharmacology
#8 Endocrinology
#9 Social Sciences and Public Health
Notable Programs: MD/PhD, MD/MPH, MD/MBA

#15 — Emory University School of Medicine (Atlanta, GA)

Known for: Infectious disease research and community-based training
Top Rankings:

#9 Infectious Disease
#14 Surgery
#21 Clinical Medicine
Notable Programs: MD/MPH, MD/MA in Bioethics, MD/MBA

#14 — University of California San Diego (La Jolla, CA)

Known for: Global medicine, Pacific research influence
Top Rankings:

#1 Gastroenterology
#3 Pharmacology
#5 Microbiology
Notable Programs: MD/PhD, MSTP, Bioinformatics dual-degrees

#13 — University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine (Pittsburgh, PA)

Known for: Neuroscience and surgical excellence
Top Rankings:

#3 Surgery
#13 Infectious Disease
#18 Clinical Medicine
Notable Programs: Physician-Scientist Training, MD/MPH

#12 — MIT (Harvard-MIT Health Sciences and Technology Program, Cambridge, MA)

Known for: Tech-forward training and interdisciplinary research
Top Rankings:

#2 Cell Biology
#3 Clinical Medicine
#3 Immunology
Notable Programs: MD through HST program with Harvard

#11 — Yale School of Medicine (New Haven, CT)

Known for: Selectivity and unique student-directed curriculum
Top Rankings:

#4 Psychiatry
#10 Immunology
#13 Clinical Medicine
Notable Programs: MD/PhD, MD/MPH, MD/MBA

#10 — University of Michigan Medical School (Ann Arbor, MI)

Known for: Interdisciplinary programs and public health focus
Top Rankings:

#6 Public Health
#9 Oncology
#12 Clinical Medicine
Notable Programs: MD/MS in Clinical Research, MD/MPP

#9 — Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons (New York, NY)

Known for: Research funding and prestigious clinical affiliations
Top Rankings:

#4 Cardiology
#6 Public Health
#11 Clinical Medicine
Notable Programs: MD/PhD, Columbia-Bassett Rural Health Track

#8 — UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine (Los Angeles, CA)

Known for: Biomedical research and underserved community focus
Top Rankings:

#5 Oncology
#9 Psychiatry
#12 Cell Biology
Notable Programs: PRIME-LA, MSTP, Charles R. Drew Partnership

#7 — Duke University School of Medicine (Durham, NC)

Known for: Accelerated curriculum and research support
Top Rankings:

#3 Cardiology
#9 Clinical Medicine
#19 Oncology
Notable Programs: MSTP, Physician-Scientist Training

#6 — University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine (Philadelphia, PA)

Known for: Interdisciplinary collaboration and research institutes
Top Rankings:

#7 Clinical Medicine
#8 Gastroenterology
#10 Oncology
Notable Programs: MD/MBA, MD/MPH, MD/MHS

#5 — University of Washington School of Medicine (Seattle, WA)

Known for: Primary care and regional service
Top Rankings:

#6 Clinical Medicine
#6 Surgery
#7 Public Health
Notable Programs: WWAMI (multi-state rotation), Pathways in Indian Health, Global Health

#4 — UCSF School of Medicine (San Francisco, CA)

Known for: Public health impact and neuroscience
Top Rankings:

#2 Neuroscience
#3 Clinical Medicine
#5 Infectious Diseases
Notable Programs: MD/PhD, Global Health Sciences, Post-Baccs

#3 — Stanford University School of Medicine (Stanford, CA)

Known for: Research innovation and Nobel laureates
Top Rankings:

#3 Clinical Medicine
#3 Molecular Biology
#7 Pharmacology
Notable Programs: Bioengineering PhD, MSTP, Health Policy PhD

#2 — Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine (Baltimore, MD)

Known for: Medical research leadership and hospital system
Top Rankings:

#2 Clinical Medicine
#2 Infectious Diseases
#5 Molecular Biology
Notable Programs: MD/MBA, MD/PhD, Health Care Management

#1 — Harvard Medical School (Boston, MA)

Known for: Unparalleled prestige and excellence across disciplines
Top Rankings:

#1 Clinical Medicine
#1 Cardiology, Oncology, Pharmacology, Psychiatry, Cell Biology, and more
Notable Programs: MD, MD/PhD, Biomedical Sciences PhD Tracks

Boost Your Application With Clinical Experience Abroad

Getting into top medical schools requires more than just GPA and MCAT scores. Hands-on experience matters. Consider joining a Go Elective clinical internship in Kenya or Tanzania. You’ll shadow real doctors, learn in underserved hospital settings, and gain global health exposure that helps your application stand out

Final Thoughts: Aim High, Apply Smart

These are the top 20 medical schools in the U.S., but don’t limit your options to just elite programs. Create a balanced list of dream, match, and safety schools. Admissions are competitive—and showing initiative through unique experiences like international internships can give you the edge you need.

For more pre-med planning resources, clinical opportunities, and global health programs, explore Go Elective.

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