List of Undergraduate Medical Schools in the U.S.
Medical students often go on to pursue careers as physicians, surgeons, researchers and administrators in the medical profession. At the undergraduate level, medical students complete pre-med courses, which prepare them for the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) and for medical school.
How to Select an Undergraduate Medical School
In the American medical school system, students are usually required to earn their bachelor's degree and then attend undergraduate medical school for an additional period, in order to earn their Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) or Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.) degree. Doctors then enter residency programs, which are considered graduate medical education. They can also enter into fellowship programs and pursue additional postgraduate specializations.
Bachelor-level pre-medicine programs exist to prepare students to succeed on the MCAT and to do well in medical school. Students should evaluate schools on the basis of their graduates' success rates in this area and on the strength of the science curriculum offered. Students choosing an undergraduate pre-medical school should make sure that the science curriculum is strong, laboratories are up-to-date and clinical or research work is available.
A pre-medical program should be designed to fulfill medical school prerequisites. Although 'pre-med' is not generally offered as a major, a related science major should include some of the medical school prerequisites, while other prerequisites can be taken as electives. There is no precisely-defined curriculum for admission to a medical school; however, the MCAT scores and science GPA are especially important. It is for this reason that most, though not all, students applying to medical schools major in a physical science, such as biology or chemistry.
In addition to GPA and MCAT scores, medical schools often look for relevant life experience when evaluating the applicants. Therefore, it is recommended that students going into undergraduate medical schooling find a college with internship and research opportunities. Students will seek out schools that offer training hospital environments or a strong integration with the local hospitals and clinics. Working at an internship or research position can count toward acceptance into medical school, as can a letter of recommendation from a researcher or licensed physician.
Similarly, undergraduate medical schools are evaluated based upon student opportunities and options for clinical studies. Medical students seek out top schools with the most modern equipment and cutting-edge research. Medical schools that include teaching hospitals and affiliations with clinics are valued.
Program Overviews
Pre-Medicine Programs
An undergraduate pre-medical school curriculum is based on the Association of American Medical Colleges' standards, although each school may add classes to their particular program. This curriculum includes two semesters of biology, two semesters of chemistry, two semesters of organic chemistry, two semesters of physics, calculus or statistics, a semester of biochemistry and writing.
The more competitive medical schools may favor applicants who have taken more advanced undergraduate coursework. Areas to consider include physiology, genetics, anatomy, microbiology, neurobiology and immunology, among others.
Undergraduate Medical School Programs
'Undergraduate' here refers to students who hold a Bachelor's degree, but have not yet earned their M.D. or D.O. degree. Some universities offer combined B.S./M.D. programs that can be completed in as few as six years of study. Students may also opt for a dual M.D./Ph.D. program in their preferred area of specialization. An additional three to four years will be required, and options include subjects such as:
- Biochemistry
- Neuroscience
- Genetics
- Molecular Cell Biology
- Physiology
- Immunology
- Microbiology
- Pharmacology
Undergraduate Medical Schools with the Largest Overall Student Enrollment
| Name | Student population | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Ohio State University-Main Campus | 56064 | 4-year, Public |
| University of Minnesota-Twin Cities | 51721 | 4-year, Public |
| University of Florida | 49827 | 4-year, Public |
| Michigan State University | 46985 | 4-year, Public |
| Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus | 45233 | 4-year, Public |
| New York University | 43797 | 4-year, Private not-for-profit |
| University of Washington-Seattle Campus | 42451 | 4-year, Public |
| University of Wisconsin-Madison | 42180 | 4-year, Public |
| University of Michigan-Ann Arbor | 41924 | 4-year, Public |
| University of South Florida-Main Campus | 40431 | 4-year, Public |
| Florida State University | 40416 | 4-year, Public |
| University of Arizona | 39086 | 4-year, Public |
| University of California-Los Angeles | 38157 | 4-year, Public |
| Temple University | 37367 | 4-year, Public |
| University of Southern California | 36896 | 4-year, Private not-for-profit |
| University of Missouri-Columbia | 32341 | 4-year, Public |
| University of Cincinnati-Main Campus | 32283 | 4-year, Public |
| Boston University | 32179 | 4-year, Private not-for-profit |
| Virginia Commonwealth University | 32027 | 4-year, Public |
| Wayne State University | 31505 | 4-year, Public |
| University of California-Davis | 31392 | 4-year, Public |
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17 Popular Schools
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Minimum eligibility requirements:
- Must be a high school graduate or have completed GED
School locations:
- California (1 campus)
- Minnesota (1 campus)
- Texas (1)
Classroom-Based Programs
- Bachelor
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Minimum eligibility requirements:
- Must be a high school graduate or have completed GED
School locations:
- Online Learning
Online Programs
- Bachelor
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Minimum eligibility requirements:
- Must be 21 years of age or older and have completed some college or 24 years of age or older and a high school graduate for a Bachelor's degree
- Masters degree applicants must have a Bachelors degree
- Doctorate degree applicants must have a Masters degree
School locations:
- Online Learning
Online Programs
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Bachelor
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- BS in Health Studies - General
- BS in Health Studies - Health Management
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Minimum eligibility requirements:
- Must be a high school graduate or have completed GED
School locations:
- Online Learning
Online Programs
- Bachelor
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Minimum eligibility requirements:
- Must be a high school graduate or have completed GED
School locations:
- Online Learning
- Arizona (5 campuses)
- California (19)
- Colorado (2)
- Florida (4)
- Hawaii (2)
- Louisiana (1)
- Michigan (1)
- Ohio (1)
- Tennessee (1)
- Texas (4)
- Virginia (1)
Online and Classroom-Based Programs
- Bachelor
- Associate
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Minimum eligibility requirements:
- Must be a high school graduate or have completed GED
School locations:
- Online Learning
Online Programs
- Bachelor
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Minimum eligibility requirements:
- Must have either two or more years of college or active military status if you are under 24 years of age
School locations:
- Online Learning
Online Programs
- Bachelor
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Minimum eligibility requirements:
- Must be a high school graduate or have completed GED
School locations:
- Online Learning
Online Programs
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Minimum eligibility requirements:
- Must be a high school graduate or have completed GED
School locations:
- Online Learning
Online Programs
- Associate
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Minimum eligibility requirements:
- Must live within close proximity to school locations
- Must be graduated from high school by 2011
School locations:
- Florida (1 campus)
Classroom-Based Programs
- Associate
