10 min read

Best Medical Schools in the U.S. Ranked

Picture of Jessica Freedman, M.D. Jessica Freedman, M.D. : Updated April 8, 2026

1:10

Best Medical Schools in the U.S. Ranked

Ranking Methodology

MedEdits ranks U.S. medical schools using median MCAT scores as the primary metric, supplemented by outcomes data — including residency match list strength, specialty placement patterns, and MedEdits' internal acceptance data — to inform how the most elite schools are grouped.

The most selective schools are grouped into three tiers (Tier 1, Tier 2, Tier 3) rather than ranked numerically. Within each tier, schools demonstrate comparable competitiveness based on both MCAT scores and outcomes, even when median scores vary slightly. This tiered approach reflects the reality that at the highest level, school culture, match outcomes, and residency placement matter as much as a single data point.

Beginning at rank #1, schools are ranked numerically by median MCAT score. Schools with identical median scores share the same rank. Median GPA is included for reference but does not affect rankings.

Keep in mind: any U.S. medical school is an excellent choice. These rankings are designed to help applicants assess competitiveness — not to suggest that lower-ranked schools produce inferior physicians or training.

At MedEdits Medical Admissions, we specialize in helping students navigate every aspect of the medical school admissions process, from comprehensive admissions consulting to MCAT preparation.

523

Highest Median MCAT Score
(NYU Grossman)

498

Lowest Median MCAT Score
(San Juan Bautista)

183

Medical Schools Ranked by MCAT

Rank	Medical School	Median MCAT	Median GPA
Tier 1	Baylor College of Medicine Houston, TX	519	3.96
Tier 1	Duke University School of Medicine Durham, NC	520	3.91
Tier 1	Harvard Medical School Boston, MA	521	3.97
Tier 1	NYU Grossman School of Medicine New York, NY	523	3.97
Tier 1	Stanford University School of Medicine Stanford, CA	520	3.95
Tier 1	University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine Philadelphia, PA	522	3.97
Tier 2	Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons New York, NY	522	3.95
Tier 2	Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine Baltimore, MD	521	3.97
Tier 2	Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine Chicago, IL	521	3.94
Tier 2	University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine Chicago, IL	520	3.94
Tier 3	Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine Rochester, MN	522	3.95
Tier 3	University of Virginia School of Medicine Charlottesville, VA	520	3.96
Tier 3	Vanderbilt University School of Medicine Nashville, TN	522	3.97
Tier 3	Weill Cornell Medicine New York, NY	519	3.94
Tier 3	Yale School of Medicine New Haven, CT	522	3.96
1	Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai New York, NY	520	3.95
2	Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine Saint Louis, MO	521	3.96
3	University of South Florida Morsani College of Medicine Tampa, FL	520	3.96
4	Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine Boston, MA	519	3.91
4	University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio Long School of Medicine San Antonio, TX	519	3.95
6	Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine Cleveland, OH	518	3.93
6	University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry Rochester, NY	518	3.91
6	Hofstra University Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine Hempstead, NY	518	3.90
9	Albert Einstein College of Medicine Bronx, NY	517	3.91
9	Brown University Warren Alpert Medical School Providence, RI	517	3.88
9	University of California, Irvine School of Medicine Irvine, CA	517	3.90
9	University of California, San Francisco School of Medicine San Francisco, CA	517	3.92
9	University of Iowa Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine Iowa City, IA	517	3.93
9	University of Michigan Medical School Ann Arbor, MI	517	3.92
9	University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine Pittsburgh, PA	517	3.90
9	University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine Los Angeles, CA	517	3.91
9	University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center Dallas, TX	517	3.95
9	University of Texas at Austin Dell Medical School Austin, TX	517	3.93
9	Stony Brook University Renaissance School of Medicine Stony Brook, NY	517	3.93
9	New York Medical College Valhalla, NY	517	3.86
22	Dartmouth College Geisel School of Medicine Hanover, NH	516	3.89
22	Emory University School of Medicine Atlanta, GA	516	3.88
22	Florida Atlantic University Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine Boca Raton, FL	516	3.93
22	Carle Illinois College of Medicine Urbana, IL	516	3.88
22	Tufts University School of Medicine Boston, MA	516	3.90
22	University of California, San Diego School of Medicine La Jolla, CA	516	3.90
22	University of Colorado School of Medicine Aurora, CO	516	3.89
29	Georgetown University School of Medicine Washington, DC	515	3.90
29	The Ohio State University College of Medicine Columbus, OH	515	3.90
29	Rutgers New Jersey Medical School Newark, NJ	515	3.87
29	Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School Piscataway, NJ	515	3.86
29	University of California, Los Angeles David Geffen School of Medicine Los Angeles, CA	515	3.86
29	University of Central Florida College of Medicine Orlando, FL	515	3.94
29	University of Cincinnati College of Medicine Cincinnati, OH	515	3.90
29	University of Connecticut School of Medicine Farmington, CT	515	3.87
29	University of Florida College of Medicine Gainesville, FL	515	3.93
29	University of Maryland School of Medicine Baltimore, MD	515	3.90
29	University of Miami Miller School of Medicine Miami, FL	515	3.90
29	University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine Chapel Hill, NC	515	3.87
29	Cooper Medical School of Rowan University Camden, NJ	515	3.91
29	Creighton University School of Medicine Omaha, NE	515	3.90
44	California Northstate University College of Medicine Elk Grove, CA	514	3.86
44	Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine Scranton, PA	514	3.89
44	George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences Washington, DC	514	3.88
44	Thomas Jefferson University Sidney Kimmel Medical College Philadelphia, PA	514	3.89
44	McGovern Medical School at UTHealth Houston Houston, TX	514	3.91
44	Northeast Ohio Medical University Rootstown, OH	514	3.88
44	Saint Louis University School of Medicine Saint Louis, MO	514	3.92
44	SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University College of Medicine Brooklyn, NY	514	3.84
44	University of Massachusetts Medical School Worcester, MA	514	3.85
44	Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine Richmond, VA	514	3.90
44	Western Michigan University Homer Stryker M.D. School of Medicine Kalamazoo, MI	514	3.86
44	Augusta University Medical College of Georgia Augusta, GA	514	3.89
56	Eastern Virginia Medical School Norfolk, VA	513	3.82
56	Indiana University School of Medicine Indianapolis, IN	513	3.92
56	Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine Maywood, IL	513	3.85
56	Nova Southeastern University Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Allopathic Medicine Davie, FL	513	3.87
56	SUNY Upstate Medical University Syracuse, NY	513	3.82
56	Temple University Lewis Katz School of Medicine Philadelphia, PA	513	3.83
56	Texas A&M University School of Medicine Bryan, TX	513	3.91
56	Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center Paul L. Foster School of Medicine El Paso, TX	513	3.94
56	University of Hawaii John A. Burns School of Medicine Honolulu, HI	513	3.88
56	University of Minnesota Medical School Minneapolis, MN	513	3.86
56	University of Nebraska Medical Center Omaha, NE	513	3.92
56	University of Vermont Larner College of Medicine Burlington, VT	513	3.81
56	University of Texas Medical Branch Galveston, TX	513	3.86
56	Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine Roanoke, VA	513	3.80
70	Drexel University College of Medicine Philadelphia, PA	512	3.82
70	Loma Linda University School of Medicine Loma Linda, CA	512	3.92
70	Quinnipiac University Frank H. Netter MD School of Medicine North Haven, CT	512	3.83
70	Tulane University School of Medicine New Orleans, LA	512	3.81
70	University of Illinois College of Medicine Chicago, IL	512	3.80
70	University of Tennessee Health Science Center College of Medicine Memphis, TN	512	3.90
70	West Virginia University School of Medicine Morgantown, WV	512	3.89
70	West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine Lewisburg, WV	512	3.89
78	Medical College of Wisconsin Milwaukee, WI	511	3.86
78	Medical University of South Carolina College of Medicine Charleston, SC	511	3.91
78	Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science Chicago, IL	511	3.80
78	University of Arizona College of Medicine - Tucson Tucson, AZ	511	3.87
78	University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine Reno, NV	511	3.85
78	University of Oklahoma College of Medicine Oklahoma City, OK	511	3.88
78	University of Toledo College of Medicine and Life Sciences Toledo, OH	511	3.87
78	University of Utah School of Medicine Salt Lake City, UT	511	3.88
78	University of Washington School of Medicine Seattle, WA	511	3.81
78	University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health Madison, WI	511	3.84
78	Albany Medical College Albany, NY	511	3.80
78	East Carolina University Brody School of Medicine Greenville, NC	511	3.76
78	East Tennessee State University James H. Quillen College of Medicine Johnson City, TN	511	3.87
78	Florida International University Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine Miami, FL	511	3.92
78	University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Medicine Kansas City, MO	511	3.88
78	Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center School of Medicine Lubbock, TX	511	3.95
78	Wake Forest University School of Medicine Winston Salem, NC	511	3.88
78	Washington State University Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine Spokane, WA	511	3.73
78	Wayne State University School of Medicine Detroit, MI	511	3.86
109	Oregon Health & Science University School of Medicine Portland, OR	510	3.77
109	University at Buffalo Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences Buffalo, NY	510	3.79
109	University of California, Riverside School of Medicine Riverside, CA	510	3.77
109	University of Missouri School of Medicine Columbia, MO	510	3.90
109	Florida State University College of Medicine Tallahassee, FL	510	3.87
109	Louisiana State University School of Medicine in New Orleans New Orleans, LA	510	3.85
109	University of Kansas School of Medicine Kansas City, KS	510	3.92
109	Penn State College of Medicine State College, PA	510	3.84
109	University of Texas Rio Grande Valley School of Medicine Edinburg, TX	510	3.92
109	Rush University Medical College Chicago, IL	510	3.74
109	University of Nevada, Las Vegas School of Medicine Las Vegas, NV	510	3.77
109	Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences College of Osteopathic Medicine Stillwater, OK	510	3.94
109	Wright State University Boonshoft School of Medicine Dayton, OH	510	3.87
109	University of Alabama School of Medicine Birmingham, AL	510	3.88
109	University of California, Davis School of Medicine Sacramento, CA	510	3.70
109	University of South Carolina School of Medicine Columbia Columbia, SC	510	3.88
125	University of Louisville School of Medicine Louisville, KY	509	3.84
125	Michigan State University College of Human Medicine East Lansing, MI	509	3.84
125	University of South Dakota Sanford School of Medicine Vermillion, SD	509	3.84
125	Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine - Harlem New York, NY	509	3.56
125	University of North Texas Health Science Center Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine Fort Worth, TX	509	3.86
125	Belmont University College of Medicine Nashville, TN	509	3.76
131	Morehouse School of Medicine Atlanta, GA	508	3.78
131	University of South Alabama Frederick P. Whiddon College of Medicine Mobile, AL	508	3.93
131	University of North Dakota School of Medicine and Health Sciences Grand Forks, ND	508	3.86
131	Central Michigan University College of Medicine Mount Pleasant, MI	508	3.84
131	University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences College of Medicine Little Rock, AR	508	3.91
131	Southern Illinois University School of Medicine Springfield, IL	508	3.89
137	Howard University College of Medicine Washington, DC	507	3.67
137	University of Kentucky College of Medicine Lexington, KY	507	3.87
137	Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center Shreveport Shreveport, LA	507	3.82
137	Des Moines University College of Osteopathic Medicine Des Moines, IA	507	3.66
137	Campbell University Jerry M. Wallace School of Osteopathic Medicine Lillington, NC	507	3.66
137	Idaho College of Osteopathic Medicine Meridian, ID	507	3.57
137	Midwestern University Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine Downers Grove, IL	507	3.53
137	Rowan University School of Osteopathic Medicine Stratford, NJ	507	3.65
137	Touro University California College of Osteopathic Medicine Vallejo, CA	507	3.51
137	Western University of Health Sciences College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific Pomona, CA	507	3.67
147	University of Texas at Tyler School of Medicine Tyler, TX	506	3.73
147	Meharry Medical College Nashville, TN	506	3.65
147	Sam Houston State University College of Osteopathic Medicine Conroe, TX	506	3.69
147	University of Houston College of Medicine Houston, TX	506	3.85
147	California Health Sciences University College of Osteopathic Medicine Clovis, CA	506	3.40
152	University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine Biddeford, ME	505	3.61
152	University of New Mexico School of Medicine Albuquerque, NM	505	3.79
152	University of Mississippi Medical Center Jackson, MS	505	3.90
152	Marshall University Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine Huntington, WV	505	3.84
152	Kansas City University College of Osteopathic Medicine Kansas City, MO	505	3.62
152	New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine New York, NY	505	3.60
152	Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine Philadelphia, PA	505	3.41
152	Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine Erie, PA	505	3.74
152	Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine at Bradenton Bradenton, FL	505	3.74
161	Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science Los Angeles, CA	504	3.54
161	Liberty University College of Osteopathic Medicine Lynchburg, VA	504	3.40
161	Rocky Vista University College of Osteopathic Medicine Meridian, CO	504	3.54
161	University of Puerto Rico School of Medicine San Juan, PR	504	3.83
161	Alabama College of Osteopathic Medicine Dothan, AL	504	3.38
161	Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences College of Osteopathic Medicine Terrace Heights, WA	504	3.60
161	Marian University College of Osteopathic Medicine Indianapolis, IN	504	3.65
161	Noorda College of Osteopathic Medicine Provo, UT	504	3.47
161	A.T. Still University School of Osteopathic Medicine in Arizona Mesa, AZ	504	3.46
161	William Carey University College of Osteopathic Medicine Pascagoula, MS	504	3.56
171	Mercer University School of Medicine Macon, GA	503	3.79
171	Nova Southeastern University Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Osteopathic Medicine Fort Lauderdale, FL	503	3.60
171	A.T. Still University Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine Kirksville, MO	503	3.71
171	University of the Incarnate Word School of Osteopathic Medicine San Antonio, TX	503	3.60
175	Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine Blacksburg, VA	502	3.70
175	University of Pikeville Kentucky College of Osteopathic Medicine Pikeville, KY	502	3.63
175	Kansas Health Science Center College of Osteopathic Medicine Wichita, KS	502	3.42
178	Burrell College of Osteopathic Medicine University Park, NM	501	3.48
179	Arkansas College of Osteopathic Medicine Fort Smith, AR	500	3.50
179	Lincoln Memorial University DeBusk College of Osteopathic Medicine Harrogate, TN	500	3.50
181	Universidad Central del Caribe School of Medicine Bayamón, PR	499	3.72
181	Ponce Health Sciences University School of Medicine Ponce, PR	499	3.67
183	San Juan Bautista School of Medicine Caguas, PR	498	3.68

Essential Resources for Medical School Applicants

Achieving competitive MCAT scores is just one component of a successful medical school application. Explore these resources to strengthen your entire application:

MedEdits Services

Official AAMC Resources

Understanding the Rankings

About These MCAT-Based Rankings

These rankings use median MCAT scores as the primary metric to provide a clear, standardized view of academic competitiveness across U.S. medical schools. The MCAT is scored on a scale from 472 to 528, with a median score of approximately 500 for all test-takers.

MCAT scores are a significant factor in admissions, but medical schools use holistic review processes that also weigh GPA, clinical experience, research, personal statements, letters of recommendation, and extracurricular activities.

The "best" medical school for you depends on many factors beyond MCAT scores — including location, program strengths, teaching philosophy, research opportunities, and fit with your career goals. For personalized guidance, contact MedEdits to schedule a consultation.

Jessica Freedman, M.D.

Jessica Freedman, M.D., is a board-certified emergency physician, former faculty member, medical school admissions committee member, and Associate Residency Director at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. She is the founder and chair of MedEdits Medical Admissions. Since 2007, she has helped thousands of students navigate the medical school admissions and residency match processes, with more than 95% of comprehensive clients gaining acceptance. She is the author of four books on medical admissions and host of The Oath podcast.