Top Medical Schools in the United States

Last Updated : 05 Apr, 2024

The United States leads the world in healthcare and medical technology. American medical schools consistently rank among the top MBBS institutions globally. With top-tier faculty, innovative curricula, and exceptional teaching methods, MBBS programs in the USA continue to produce highly skilled medical professionals.

If studying MBBS abroad is your aspiration, you won’t find a better option than one of the premier medical schools in the USA. Here, we present a detailed list of the finest MBBS institutions in the USA, along with their key attributes to consider before making your college selection.

Table of Content

Why Study Medical in the United States?
Course Curriculum of Medical Schools in the United States
Admission Requirements and Eligibility Criteria for Studying Medical in the United States
List of Medical Colleges in the USA
Documents Required to Study Medical in the United States
Admission Process for Medical in the United States
Conclusion
Top Medical Schools in the United States – FAQs

Why Study Medical in the United States?

The USA is medically advanced and has highly developed technology in every field. The nation is always in the news getting accolades for medical miracles with cutting-edge experiments and research. Studying medicine is a costly affair in every country, but its return of interest in the United States is very satisfying, so a pool of medical aspirants. Listed below are a few benefits of studying medicine in the United States of America:

Globally acknowledged MBBS degree

In the United States, it takes ten to fifteen years in order to become a doctor, which includes residency and practice. The course is rigorous and tough and so recognised all over the world.

Best medical schools around the world

The medical schools in the United States of America have an infrastructure. The college faculties have decades of industry experience and teach candidates to become top-notch medical professionals.

Easier to practice medicine in India

The Medical Council of India recognizes the United States medical degree. The mentorship received in the medical schools to nail the United States Medical Licensing Examination prepares candidates to clear the MCI examination easily.

Course Curriculum of Medical Schools in the United States

The American course structure is different from the Indian curriculum. In the first case, MBBS is offered for the degree of Doctor of Medicine (MD). This is a post-secondary program, as students must complete a first degree, which is a bachelor’s degree in chemistry, physics, or other science-related fields.

A Bachelor of Medicine, or Pre-Med as people call it, is a must to enrol in a medical degree. After completing MBBS, students apply for a speciality residency program. Here is a complex course structure to help you understand the process of studying medicine in the United States:

Bachelor of Science (BS) Course: The BS degree teaches students the basics of medicine. In the USA, students study in B.Sc after Class 10, while in India, it is in 10+2 format. Since Indian students have already studied half of the course, they only need to complete four semesters of the BS degree. If a student already has a bachelor’s degree, they can be exempted from the US pre-med degree and enrol directly in medical school. In such a situation, it is best to discuss the situation with the university.

MBBS/MD degree: After completing the BS degree, students can enrol for the MD degree. The MBBS program is divided into two parts –

Theory: In this phase, students learn the theory of medicine. Topics covered include anatomy, medical ethics, histology, biochemistry, clinical science, physiology, neuroscience, and pathology.
Practical: Also known as externship, students in this phase get hands-on training on the practical aspects of MBBS. The student learns to treat patients in hospitals. Please note that students must complete USMLE 1 to enter the practical phase.

Residency Program: To qualify for the residency program, students must pass the USMLE 2. The residency program lasts three to five years. Students must choose a major at this stage. After that, students must appear for the USMLE 3 to get their licence. Once he or she passes, they can practise as a qualified doctor anywhere.

Admission Requirements and Eligibility Criteria for Studying Medical in the United States

For admission to medical schools in the USA, foreign students need excellent academic qualifications.

The admitted candidates have an average GPA of 3.7/4.0 (90-92%) or more.
TOEFL score of 90 to 100 or IELTS score of 6.0 to 7.5.
One needs to demonstrate a minimum one year of pre-medical coursework in the USA or Canada in order to secure admission to MD/MBBS in the USA.
One must have completed a 4-year bachelor’s degree from a reputable university with majors in chemistry, biology, and physics, which is considered eligible for medical schools in the US.

Several other requirements for medical school admission in the US include:

English Language Exam: You must have successfully completed the English language competence examination. Based on the university, you might be required to sit for one of the three standardised examinations: PTE or IELTS. The grading pattern and structure for each of the 3 assessments are distinct. Check the official website of the medical college in order to certify what percentile is needed and which language examinations are accepted before applying.

MCAT (The Medical College Admission Test) Score: The MCAT test assesses an applicant’s skills in several areas. In the US, it is a prerequisite for studying MBBS. Multiple-choice questions on the computer-based test examine the thinking, aptitude, and knowledge of potential medical candidates. The exam lasts 7.5 hours and can be taken three times a year. The maximum score for all six sections is 528, and the median score is 511.

NEET: Indian candidates need to clear the National Eligibility Examination with qualifying marks in order to pursue an MBBS in the United States of America.

List of Medical Colleges in the USA

Studying medical in the US is competitive, given the huge volume of candidates and the reliability of medical schools. Here is the list of best medical schools in the United States:

Name of the College	Courses Offered	Average Annual Fees	Name of the City	Official Website
Harvard University	MD	$69,300/year ₹57,76,193/year	Massachusetts	https://www.harvard.edu/
John Hopkins University	MD	$62,850/year 52,38,792/year	Baltimore	https://www.jhu.edu/
Stanford University	MD	$21,781/semester ₹18,15,531/semester	California	https://www.stanford.edu/
University of California	MD	$57,369/year ₹47,82,000/year	San Francisco	https://www.ucsf.edu/
University of Pennsylvania	MD	$71,935/year ₹59,96,062/year	Philadelphia	https://www.upenn.edu/
Yale University	MD	$35,654/year ₹29,71,751/year	Connecticut	https://www.yale.edu/
University of Chicago	MD	$19,227/semester ₹16,02,565/semester	Illinois	https://www.uchicago.edu/en
Columbia University	MD	$66,816 (full course)	New York	https://www.columbia.edu/
Duke University	MD	$48,745/year	Durham	https://duke.edu/
Vanderbilt University	MD	$66,828/year	Nashville	https://www.vanderbilt.edu/

Documents Required to Study Medical in the United States

Outline below are the documents required to study medical in the US:

Academic and transcript records
Medical College Admission Test
Letter of recommendation.
NEET scoreboard (if applicable)
Life experience.
The application should be submitted through American Medical College Application Service®.
Interview (if applicable)
Visa for students
An investigation of the candidate’s criminal history is conducted
Photocopies in passport size

Admission Process for Medical in the United States

Below is the admission procedure for studying medical in the USA:

Complete one or more medical school admission application forms over the web.
Appear for the MCAT (Medical College Admission Test)
After you clear the MCAT exam with good marks, you may apply to medical schools for admission to the MD course in the United States of America.
Affix the Letter of Recommendation together with the other requested documents to your medical school application form
After it is approved, you must apply for the relevant United States visa.
Indian medical candidates need to fulfil the other admission processes.
After completing all the admission procedures, a student can fly for medical studies in the United States.

Conclusion

In this blog, we have learned about the top medical schools in the United States of America for Indian candidates. It puts forward a unique journey if you wish to become a medical professional. The US medical education system is reputable for its comprehensive curriculum, state-of-the-art facilities, and extensive experience in the field.

Although a medical degree from the United States has some rigorous admissions standards and maybe a higher cost of living, the US is no doubt one of the finest destinations to pursue a medical degree. The medical course curriculum leads to a payoff of a well-paying, stable, and satisfying career route.