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Best Medical Schools in the US (2025 Rankings & Top Choices)

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Finding the best medical school in the US is a key step for future doctors. In 2025, U.S. News & World Report named Baylor College of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Emory University, Hofstra/Northwell, and Mayo Clinic School of Medicine among the top for research excellence. But for aspiring specialists—especially surgeons or neurosurgeons—many other institutions shine. The top medical schools in the US offer world-class education, better research opportunities, and strong clinical training.

Best Medical Schools in the US (2025 Rankings)

The best medical schools in the US are ranked based on research, primary care, specialty training, and residency match rates. Here are the top medical schools in the US according to the latest rankings:

Top 10 Medical Schools in the US (2025)

Medical SchoolKnown For
Harvard Medical SchoolConsistently ranked #1 for research and prestige
Johns Hopkins University School of MedicineBest for surgery and biomedical research
Stanford University School of MedicineLeading in innovation and tech-driven medicine
University of Pennsylvania (Perelman)Strong in clinical training and residency placements
Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and SurgeonsTop for primary care and patient-centered learning
Mayo Clinic Alix School of MedicineElite for hands-on clinical experience
University of California—San Francisco (UCSF)Best for biomedical research and primary care
Washington University in St. LouisRenowned for research funding and NIH grants
Yale School of MedicineExcellent for medical humanities and patient care
Duke University School of MedicineStrong in both research and clinical rotations

Top 20 Medical Schools in the US

Medical SchoolKnown For
Harvard Medical SchoolConsistently ranked #1 for research and prestige
Johns Hopkins University School of MedicineBest for surgery and biomedical research
Stanford University School of MedicineLeading in innovation and tech-driven medicine
University of Pennsylvania (Perelman)Strong in clinical training and residency placements
Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and SurgeonsTop for primary care and patient-centered learning
Mayo Clinic Alix School of MedicineElite for hands-on clinical experience
University of California—San Francisco (UCSF)Best for biomedical research and primary care
Washington University in St. LouisRenowned for research funding and NIH grants
Yale School of MedicineExcellent for medical humanities and patient care
Duke University School of MedicineStrong in both research and clinical rotations
University of Chicago (Pritzker)High faculty-to-student ratio and strong mentorship
University of Michigan—Ann ArborLeading in public health and interdisciplinary education
Northwestern University (Feinberg)Integrated curriculum and robust research opportunities
Vanderbilt University School of MedicinePersonalized training and flexible curriculum
New York University (Grossman)Offers free tuition for all students
University of WashingtonBest for rural and underserved medicine
University of California—Los Angeles (Geffen)Top-ranked public med school with research excellence
Icahn School of Medicine at Mount SinaiStrong in innovation and urban health equity
University of PittsburghHighly ranked for research and clinical partnerships
Cornell University (Weill)Global partnerships and elite academic reputation

US Medical School Rankings 2025 – Expand to Top 100

Rank School Name Rank in USA World Rank
1Harvard University#1 in North America#1 in the World
2Johns Hopkins University#2 in North America#2 in the World
3University of California – San Francisco#3 in North America#3 in the World
4University of Michigan – Ann Arbor#4 in North America#5 in the World
5University of Washington – Seattle#6 in North America#7 in the World
6Stanford University#7 in North America#8 in the World
7University of Pennsylvania#8 in North America#9 in the World
8Yale University#9 in North America#10 in the World
9Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science#10 in North America#11 in the World
10University of California – Los Angeles#11 in North America#12 in the World
11Cornell University#12 in North America#13 in the World
12University of Pittsburgh#13 in North America#14 in the World
13Columbia University#14 in North America#15 in the World
14University of California-San Diego#15 in North America#17 in the World
15University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center#16 in North America#18 in the World
16University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill#17 in North America#19 in the World
17Washington University in St Louis#18 in North America#20 in the World
18University of Minnesota – Twin Cities#19 in North America#21 in the World
19Emory University#20 in North America#24 in the World
20University of Wisconsin – Madison#21 in North America#25 in the World
21Baylor College of Medicine#22 in North America#26 in the World
22Northwestern University#23 in North America#27 in the World
23University of Southern California#25 in North America#29 in the World
24University of Chicago#26 in North America#30 in the World
25University of Florida#27 in North America#32 in the World
26New York University#28 in North America#33 in the World
27University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center#29 in North America#34 in the World
28Boston University#30 in North America#35 in the World
29Ohio State University#31 in North America#38 in the World
30Duke University#33 in North America#42 in the World
31University of Alabama at Birmingham#34 in North America#43 in the World
32Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai#35 in North America#46 in the World
33University of California – Davis#36 in North America#48 in the World
34Case Western Reserve University#37 in North America#51 in the World
35University of Iowa#38 in North America#54 in the World
36University of Utah#39 in North America#55 in the World
37University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz#40 in North America#56 in the World
38University of Miami#41 in North America#59 in the World
39Indiana University – Purdue University#43 in North America#61 in the World
40University of Maryland, Baltimore#45 in North America#66 in the World
41University of California – Berkeley#46 in North America#69 in the World
42Vanderbilt University#47 in North America#70 in the World
43Rutgers University – New Brunswick#48 in North America#72 in the World
44University of Illinois at Chicago#49 in North America#73 in the World
45Massachusetts Institute of Technology#50 in North America#76 in the World
46Oregon Health & Science University#51 in North America#79 in the World
47University of Arizona#52 in North America#82 in the World
48Pennsylvania State University#53 in North America#83 in the World
49University of Virginia#54 in North America#84 in the World
50Tufts University#56 in North America#88 in the World
51University of Illinois at Urbana – Champaign#57 in North America#92 in the World
52University of California – Irvine#59 in North America#97 in the World
53Wayne State University#60 in North America#102 in the World
54University of Rochester#63 in North America#106 in the World
55Brown University#64 in North America#108 in the World
56Wake Forest University#65 in North America#112 in the World
57University of Kentucky#66 in North America#117 in the World
58Medical College of Wisconsin#67 in North America#121 in the World
59Medical University of South Carolina#68 in North America#122 in the World
60Michigan State University#69 in North America#123 in the World
61University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio#70 in North America#124 in the World
62University of Texas at Austin#71 in North America#132 in the World
63Georgetown University#72 in North America#133 in the World
64University of South Florida#73 in North America#140 in the World
65University at Buffalo#74 in North America#144 in the World
66University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston#75 in North America#145 in the World
67University of Cincinnati#76 in North America#146 in the World
68Thomas Jefferson University#77 in North America#147 in the World
69University of Massachusetts Medical School Worcester#78 in North America#152 in the World
70University of Missouri – Columbia#79 in North America#154 in the World
71University of Georgia#80 in North America#160 in the World
72University of Texas Medical Branch#81 in North America#166 in the World
73George Washington University#82 in North America#168 in the World
74Texas A&M University – College Station#84 in North America#171 in the World
75Virginia Commonwealth University#86 in North America#176 in the World
76Purdue University#87 in North America#177 in the World
77University of Louisville#88 in North America#182 in the World
78Tulane University of Louisiana#89 in North America#184 in the World
79Temple University#92 in North America#192 in the World
80Stony Brook University#93 in North America#193 in the World
81University of Connecticut#94 in North America#194 in the World
82University of New Mexico#95 in North America#200 in the World
83Rockefeller University#96 in North America#206 in the World
84Florida College#97 in North America#207 in the World
85University of Maryland – College Park#98 in North America#208 in the World
86University of Tennessee Health Science Center#99 in North America#219 in the World
87University of Nebraska Medical Center#100 in North America#221 in the World
88University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences#101 in North America#223 in the World
89Arizona State University – Tempe#102 in North America#225 in the World
90Louisiana State University#103 in North America#226 in the World
91University of Tennessee – Knoxville#104 in North America#227 in the World
92University of Vermont#105 in North America#233 in the World
93Princeton University#106 in North America#234 in the World
94North Carolina State University at Raleigh#107 in North America#241 in the World
95Iowa State University#108 in North America#244 in the World
96Saint Louis University#109 in North America#251 in the World
97Colorado State University – Fort Collins#110 in North America#252 in the World
98University of Kansas#111 in North America#254 in the World
99University of Colorado Boulder#112 in North America#255 in the World
100University of South Carolina – Columbia#113 in North America#257 in the World

Best Medical Schools in the US for Specialties

Best Medical Schools for Neurosurgery

If you want to specialize in neurosurgery, these are the best medical schools in the US for neurosurgery:

Medical SchoolWhy It’s Best for Neurosurgery
Johns Hopkins University School of MedicineWorld-renowned neurosurgery department and cutting-edge research
Harvard Medical SchoolPrestigious program with elite neurosurgery training hospitals
University of California—San Francisco (UCSF)Top-ranked in neurosurgery and neuroscience research
Stanford University School of MedicineInnovative neurosurgical techniques and advanced technology
New York University (Grossman School of Medicine)Strong neurosurgery residency and high surgical case volume

Best Medical Schools for Surgery

For aspiring surgeons, the best medical schools in the US for surgery include:

Medical SchoolWhy It’s Best for Surgery
Harvard Medical SchoolPremier surgical training at top hospitals like Mass General
Johns Hopkins University School of MedicineCutting-edge surgical innovation and world-class faculty
Mayo Clinic Alix School of MedicineExceptional hands-on surgical experience with expert mentorship
Duke University School of MedicineHighly ranked surgical residency programs and advanced techniques
University of Michigan Medical SchoolStrong general surgery program with robust research opportunities

Best Pre-Medical Schools in the US

Before applying to med school, strong undergraduate preparation is key. The best pre-medical schools in the US include:

UniversityWhy It’s Great for Pre-Med
Harvard UniversityRigorous science programs and top medical school acceptance rates
Johns Hopkins UniversityRenowned for biology and pre-health advising; strong medical school pipeline
Stanford UniversityExcellent research opportunities and flexible pre-med curriculum
Duke UniversityStrong undergraduate research and personalized pre-med support
University of North Carolina—Chapel HillAffordable in-state tuition, top public health program, strong med placement

Conclusion

Whether you’re searching for the best medical school in the US, the top 10 best medical schools in the US, or the best medical schools in the US for neurosurgery or surgery, these institutions represent the pinnacle of medical education and research. Use this guide to help you find the right fit for your medical career ambitions, and remember to consider factors like location, specialty strengths, and admission requirements as you apply.

FAQs About the Best Medical Schools in the US

What are the Top Medical Schools in the US?

The top medical schools in the US include Harvard, Johns Hopkins, Stanford, and UPenn.

What is the #1 Best Medical School in the US?

Harvard Medical School is often ranked as the best medical school in the US.

What are the Best Pre-Med Schools in the US?

Top pre-med schools include Harvard, Johns Hopkins, and Duke.

Which Medical School is Best for Surgery?

Johns Hopkins and Harvard are among the best medical schools in the US for surgery.

What are the Top 20 Medical Schools in the US?

See our list above, including Harvard, Stanford, Mayo Clinic, and NYU.

Author

  • Rajesh Kumar Sharma

    Rajesh Kumar Sharma is the founder of SchoolsFinders, a platform dedicated to helping parents and students make smarter education choices across Australia. With a strong focus on school rankings, academic resources, and insightful comparisons, Rajesh aims to simplify the process of finding the best-fit schools. His passion for education and commitment to accuracy ensure that SchoolsFinders remains a trusted source for families navigating their educational journey.

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