2025 Rankings: Best Medical Schools in the US
These rankings are based on a thorough evaluation of each university’s performance in medicine. Experts look at important factors like teaching quality, research strength, and international outlook to determine which schools stand out. The ranking system is designed by Times Higher Education’s own data team, and it’s widely trusted by students, professors, policymakers, and professionals around the world.
2025 Medicine Rankings: US & Global
Top US Medical Schools with Global Rankings
| US Rank | Global Rank | University | Overall Score | Research Quality | Industry Impact | International Outlook | Research Environment | Teaching Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | Harvard University | 94.8 | 91.9 | 92.6 | 87.4 | 100 | 95.7 |
| 2 | 5 | Johns Hopkins University | 90.8 | 88.9 | 99.9 | 76.7 | 94.3 | 92.6 |
| =3 | =6 | Stanford University | 90.4 | 91.8 | 98.2 | 73.5 | 93.4 | 89.1 |
| =3 | =6 | Yale University | 90.4 | 90 | 90.1 | 76.9 | 92.4 | 92.8 |
| 5 | 10 | University of Pennsylvania | 87.4 | 87.6 | 98.6 | 60.9 | 90.5 | 89.9 |
| 6 | 11 | University of California, Berkeley | 87 | 85.5 | 91.8 | 74.7 | 92.2 | 86.4 |
| 7 | 14 | University of California, Los Angeles | 86.2 | 86.2 | 89.5 | 60.8 | 89.2 | 90 |
| 8 | 16 | Columbia University | 85.8 | 88 | 71.2 | 71.8 | 87.5 | 87.4 |
| 9 | 18 | University of Michigan-Ann Arbor | 84.5 | 88.1 | 81.7 | 55.4 | 85.9 | 87 |
| 10 | 19 | University of Washington | 84 | 90.5 | 83 | 55. | 83.9 | 83.6 |
What You Should Know About the Top Medical Schools
- Harvard University is ranked #1 for medicine in the US, with an especially strong reputation for its research environment.
- The top 20 medical schools are spread across different states, including California, Pennsylvania, Maryland, New York, and Michigan, so students have great options no matter where they prefer to study.
- A total of 121 US universities made it into the Times Higher Education Ranking for Medicine, so there are plenty of excellent choices.
- The ranking doesn’t just cover general medicine—it also evaluates programs in dentistry, nursing, and public health, giving a full picture of the best places to study healthcare.
How to Pick the Right Medical School for You
Choosing where to study medicine is a big decision, and rankings like this can help you compare schools based on academic strength and career preparation.

The Times Higher Education Subject Rankings: Medicine judges universities on five key areas:
- Research Environment – How strong and supportive the research facilities and opportunities are.
- Teaching Quality – The level of education and student support provided.
- Research Quality – The impact and reputation of the university’s medical research.
- Industry Collaboration – How well the school works with hospitals, clinics, and healthcare companies.
- International Outlook – The diversity of students and faculty, plus global opportunities for learning.
These factors give students and families a clear, reliable way to compare schools and see which ones perform best in education, research, and real-world medical training.
How the Rankings Were Calculated
The list of the best US medical schools comes from the same data used for the THE World University Subject Rankings: Medicine. The results are based on 18 different performance indicators, all grouped under the five main categories mentioned above.
If you want to dive deeper into how the rankings work—like how each score is calculated—you can check out the full methodology breakdown on the Times Higher Education website.
Use the ranking table above to explore your options and find the perfect medical school for your future career!