The first step on your journey to a notable medical career is to attend a notable medical program. 

While there are hundreds of medical schools in the United States, you will increase your chances of future success by attending a reputable school that offers the resources, instructors, and hands-on experience you need to jumpstart your career.

Although you will also want to consider which program best suits your personal needs regarding location, costs, and class sizes, you can’t go wrong when you at last explore the top schools in the country.

This guide will list the top 10 medical schools in the United States and provide tips for getting into these programs.

The top 10 medical schools in 2023

According to official rankings from U.S. News, here are the top 10 medical schools in the United States heading into 2023:

1. Harvard University

Harvard University, located in Boston, Massachusetts, is the top medical school in the country according to U.S. News. Their ranking is largely due to their prestigious research program. 

They are also ranked #1 in Anesthesiology, Obstetrics and Gynecology, and Surgery.

The average tuition cost is $66,284 for full time students, and there are roughly 699 students enrolled full time.

2. New York University (Grossman)

New York University (Grossman) is one of the most competitive medical schools in the US with an acceptance rate of just 2.1% and only approximately 400 full time students in their program.

In addition to their prestigious research program, NYU Grossman is also known for being tuition free, easing the financial burden on medical students.

3. Columbia University

Columbia University is well known for their highly ranked research and Psychiatry programs. 

Students like attending New York’s Columbia University due to its wealth of highly-qualified faculty members and ability to offer individualized attention to students. The faculty-student ratio at Columbia University is 4:1.

Tuition for Columbia University is roughly $66,816 for full time students, and their current full time enrollment is 577.

4. Johns Hopkins University

Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland, is unrivaled when it comes to offering students hands-on experience. Their Genes to Society Curriculum gives students the chance to gain clinical experience and take specialized courses during designated breaks between course sessions.

Their full time tuition is $58,000, and there are roughly 470 students enrolled full time.

5. University of California- San Francisco

With tuition costs of roughly $37,056, University of California- San Francisco is one of the more affordable medical schools in the country. However, their low costs do not translate to poor quality in education. They are ranked fifth in the country for research and second in the country for primary care. 

There are roughly 646 full-time students enrolled at University of California- San Francisco.

6. Duke University

Duke University Durham, NC is one of the top ranked research, surgery, and anesthesiology medical schools in the nation.

Students attend Duke for its highly competitive programs, high faculty to student ratio, and strong reputation. Duke currently has 507 full time students in their medical program, and its average tuition for full time students is approximately $63,310.

7. University of Pennsylvania

Many students choose to attend medical school at the University of Pennsylvania because it offers community and clinical experience that will boost their resumes and prepare them for a strong medical career.

The University of Pennsylvania partners with several hospitals in the area as well as surgery centers for the Philadelphia 76ers to give students real-world experience.

Tuition costs average $61,586, and there are roughly 626 full time students enrolled at the university.

8. Stanford University

Stanford University in Stanford, California has reputable research and anesthesiology programs, and the school has partnerships with local hospitals.

There are approximately 491 full time medical students enrolled at Stanford, and the average tuition cost is $63,747 for full time students.

9. University of Washington

Seattle’s University of Washington has partnerships with universities in other states to give students the opportunity to learn from other medical instructors and complete clerkships in Washington, Wyoming, Montana, Alaska, and Idaho.

The average in-state tuition is $39,906, and the average out-of-state tuition is $70,569. There are currently 1,092 full time students enrolled.

10. Yale University

Located in New Haven, Connecticut, Yale University is one of the most prestigious Ivy League schools in the nation, and their medical program is no different.

A major draw of attending Yale University for medical school is their affiliation with Yale-New Haven Hospital, which offers hands-on clinical experience for students.

There are currently 408 full time students enrolled at the medical school through Yale University, and the average tuition is $66,160.

Getting into a top medical school

While your preference will depend on how much you are willing to spend on tuition, the ratio of faculty to students, the enrollment size, and the location of the school, any of these options would be a great choice for your education.

Although these universities are highly competitive, you can increase your chances of acceptance by keeping the following tips in mind:

Gain hands-on experience

Take advantage of any opportunities you can find to gain some hands-on experience in the medical field. Whether this means doing an internship through your undergraduate program, shadowing a physician, or volunteering at a medical research center, these opportunities will help your resume stand out.

Medical school admissions committees want students who will excel both inside and outside of the classroom. Show these committee members that you are passionate about the field of medicine and already working toward your career goals by gaining experience whenever possible.

Participate in extracurricular activities

Likewise, you will want to show admission committees that you are dedicated to causes and organizations outside of school.

Taking on leadership roles in organizations available through your university will show medical school programs that you are well-rounded and will contribute to their community.

Don’t neglect your GPA

While your grades don’t say everything about you, they do say a lot. It will be difficult for you to get into a good medical program if your GPA is low.

Take challenging courses and strive to get A’s in each and every one of them.

Take on a useful minor

Doctors and other medical professionals use many skills other than the ones that they specifically gained in medical school. There are many skills that will help you become a better medical professional, and you should consider earning a minor that helps you develop these skills.

A foreign language minor can help improve your communication with patients. A psychology or counseling minor can help improve your bedside manner. An early childhood development minor can prepare you for a career in pediatrics.

See which minors will help support you with your desired speciality.

Study for the MCAT

Students who get into the top medical schools in the country need to have MCAT scores of 517 and above out of 528.

Work with a private tutor, take prep courses, and start studying as early as possible so that you can earn an impressive score.

Learn more about how you can prepare for the MCAT and other standardized tests when you visit Prep Expert.