Best Medical Schools in the US and Canada (2026 Rankings) | BeMo®

Here are the best medical school rankings in the US and Canada so you can quickly compare top programs based on acceptance rates, GPA, and MCAT scores. This list highlights leading medical schools using both traditional admissions competitiveness and how actively they invest in improving medical education.

Use these rankings to identify top schools and compare programs side-by-side, then explore how each school’s curriculum and training approach aligns with your goals.

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Medical School Rankings: The Best Medical Schools in the US

Below are some of the best medical schools in the US, ranked using a combination of traditional admissions metrics and how actively each school invests in improving medical education.

Compare the top-ranked medical schools below based on selectivity and educational innovation.

#1 Harvard Medical School

Acceptance Rate: 2.09%
Average GPA: 3.97
Average MCAT: 521

→ Early leader in integrating systems-based training and longitudinal clinical experiences aligned with modern healthcare delivery.

#2 Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine

Acceptance Rate: 1.90%
Average GPA: 3.95
Average MCAT: 522

→ Pioneered patient-centered, team-based training environments that mirror real-world clinical systems.

#3 NYU Grossman School of Medicine

Acceptance Rate: 2.41%
Average GPA: 3.86
Average MCAT: 517

→ Implemented accelerated and competency-based pathways (including tuition-free model) to modernize access and training.

#4 University of California, San Francisco, School of Medicine

Acceptance Rate: 1.82%
Average GPA: 3.92
Average MCAT: 517

→ Active participant in large-scale medical education reform initiatives emphasizing health systems science and equity.

#5 University of Michigan Medical School

Acceptance Rate: 1.83%
Average GPA: 3.92
Average MCAT: 517

→ Recognized for competency-based curriculum redesign and integration of continuous clinical learning models.

#6 Vanderbilt University School of Medicine

Acceptance Rate: 1.5%
Average GPA: 3.97
Average MCAT: 522

→ Developed flexible, individualized curriculum pathways emphasizing lifelong learning and adaptability.

#7 University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine

Acceptance Rate: 1.42%
Average GPA: 3.94
Average MCAT: 520

→ Known for its scholarship-focused curriculum and emphasis on critical thinking, research integration, and individualized medical education pathways.

#8 Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine

Acceptance Rate: 2.55%
Average GPA: 3.93
Average MCAT: 518

→ Longstanding leader in integrated, organ-system-based curriculum and early clinical exposure.

#9 Emory University School of Medicine

Acceptance Rate: 1.16%
Average GPA: 3.88
Average MCAT: 516

→ Active in curriculum innovation focused on population health and interdisciplinary training.

#10 University of California Davis, School of Medicine

Acceptance Rate: 1.78%
Average GPA: 3.7
Average MCAT: 510

→ Strong emphasis on community-based training and addressing physician shortages in underserved areas.

#11 Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University

Acceptance Rate: 1.73%
Average GPA: 3.88
Average MCAT: 517

→ Open curriculum model promotes self-directed, competency-driven learning.

#12 Indiana University School of Medicine

Acceptance Rate: 5.74%
Average GPA: 3.92
Average MCAT: 513

→ Large-scale distributed campus model supports diverse clinical training environments and access expansion.

#13 Oregon Health & Science University School of Medicine

Acceptance Rate: 2.65%
Average GPA: 3.77
Average MCAT: 510

→ Participant in education reform initiatives focused on rural healthcare delivery and integrated clerkships.

#14 Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine

Acceptance Rate: 1.23%
Average GPA: 3.84
Average MCAT: 510

→ Early adopter of systems-based curriculum integrating humanities and patient-centered care.

#15 Dell Medical School at the University of Texas at Austin

Acceptance Rate: 0.95%
Average GPA: 3.93
Average MCAT: 517

→ Built from the ground up with a competency-based, innovation-focused curriculum.

#16 Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School

Acceptance Rate: 2.88%
Average GPA: 3.86
Average MCAT: 515

→ Involved in educational reform initiatives emphasizing population health and care delivery systems.

#17 Eastern Virginia Medical School

Acceptance Rate: 1.97%
Average GPA: 3.82
Average MCAT: 513

→ Known for community-focused training and primary care pipeline development.

#18 Florida International University Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine

Acceptance Rate: 1.98%
Average GPA: 3.92
Average MCAT: 511

→ Designed with a mission-driven, community-engaged curriculum targeting underserved populations.

#19 Morehouse School of Medicine

Acceptance Rate: 1.53%
Average GPA: 3.78
Average MCAT: 508

→ National leader in training physicians for underserved and minority communities (strong social accountability alignment).

#20 Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University

Acceptance Rate: 7.51%
Average GPA: 3.76
Average MCAT: 511

→ Explicit mission to address rural and primary care shortages through targeted admissions and training models.

Medical School Rankings: The Best Medical Schools in Canada

Here are some of the best medical schools in Canada, ranked using a similar approach adapted to the Canadian medical education system.

NOTE: Canadian medical schools use different admissions criteria than US schools. Some do not require the MCAT or do not publish average scores, so metrics may vary between programs.

#1 University of Toronto School of Medicine

Acceptance Rate: Not Reported
Average GPA: 3.95
MCAT: Required

→ Major driver of curriculum innovation and competency-based education across Canada.

#2 McGill University Faculty of Medicine

Acceptance Rate: 15.9%
Average GPA: Not Reported
MCAT: Not Required

→ Leader in global health integration and competency-based training frameworks.

#3 University of British Columbia School of Medicine

Acceptance Rate: 12.9%
Average GPA: Not Reported
MCAT: Required

→ Distributed medical education model delivering training across urban and rural settings.

#4 Michael G. DeGroote School of Medicine at McMaster University

Acceptance Rate: Not Reported
Average GPA: 3.90
MCAT: CARS Only

→ Pioneer of problem-based learning, now widely adopted globally.

#5 University of Alberta Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry

Acceptance Rate: 13.4%
Average GPA: Not Reported
MCAT: Required

→ Strong integration of research, clinical innovation, and competency-based education.

#6 University of Ottawa Faculty of Medicine

Acceptance Rate: 5.4%
Average GPA: 3.93
MCAT: Not Required

→ Leader in bilingual medical education and patient-centered curriculum design.

#7 Dalhousie University Faculty of Medicine

Acceptance Rate: 9.9%
Average GPA: 3.8
MCAT: Required

→ Emphasis on maritime and rural healthcare delivery training.

#8 Cumming School of Medicine

Acceptance Rate: 14.9%
Average GPA: 3.9
MCAT: Required

→ Accelerated 3-year MD program with intensive clinical immersion.

#9 Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry at Western University

Acceptance Rate: Not Reported
Average GPA: 3.7
MCAT: Required

→ Strong focus on distributed education and regional healthcare needs.

#10 Northern Ontario School of Medicine

Acceptance Rate: Not Reported
Average GPA: 3.76
MCAT: Not Required

→ Built entirely around social accountability and rural/Indigenous healthcare training.

#11 University of Saskatchewan College of Medicine

Acceptance Rate: 11.7%
Average GPA: Not Reported
MCAT: Required

→ Focus on serving regional populations through community-based clinical education.

Disclaimer: BeMo does not endorse or affiliate with any universities, colleges, or official test administrators. The content has been developed based on the most recent publicly available data provided from the official university website. However, you should always check the statistics/requirements with the official school website for the most up to date information. You are responsible for your own results.

How We Ranked These Medical Schools

Traditional medical school rankings tend to prioritize metrics like selectivity, research output, and institutional reputation. While these factors are important, they don’t always reflect what your actual experience as a medical student will be.

To build this list, we considered both traditional admissions competitiveness, including acceptance rates, GPA, and MCAT scores, and how actively each school invests in improving medical education.

One indicator we considered was whether a school has participated in major medical education innovation initiatives, such as the AMA’s ChangeMedEd Initiative and the earlier Accelerating Change in Medical Education Consortium. Schools involved in these efforts are actively working to evolve their curricula, expand clinical training models, and improve how future physicians are trained.

For Canadian medical schools, we applied a similar lens by evaluating how programs incorporate social accountability, community-based training, and accessibility into their educational models.

This approach allows us to go beyond traditional rankings and highlight schools that are not only competitive to get into, but also forward-thinking in how they prepare students for modern healthcare environments.

If you’re evaluating these rankings as part of your application strategy, your next step is understanding how to become a competitive applicant. Learn how your GPA, MCAT score, essays, and interview performance satisfy medical school requirements and play a major role in your chances of acceptance by following the links.

Medical School Rankings: How to Use Them Effectively

Medical school rankings can help you compare programs quickly, but they are only one part of choosing the right school. Traditional rankings tend to emphasize metrics like selectivity, research output, and reputation, which don’t always reflect the quality of your day-to-day experience as a student.

That’s why this list also considers how actively schools invest in improving medical education, supporting students, and adapting to changes in healthcare. These factors can have a direct impact on your training, opportunities, and long-term career outcomes.

As you review these medical school rankings, focus on identifying programs that align with your goals, learning preferences, and career direction and not just their position on a list. The most effective way to use rankings is as a starting point for deeper research into each school’s curriculum, culture, and support systems.

FAQs

1. Are medical school rankings useful?

Yes and no. They can provide a (somewhat) objective picture of certain characteristics of a medical school, but those characteristics do not often speak to a student’s actual learning experience. To do that, you’d have to go to the school or speak with current or former students.

2. Which medical school should I go to?

You should go to the medical school that best aligns with what kind of doctor you want to be, where you want to practice, what medical specialty you want to specialize in, and many other factors, including cost and location.

3. What is the best medical school in the US?

According to this and many other medical school rankings, Harvard Medical School and Mayo School of Medicine are among the best. But many of the other schools listed here offer a high-quality medical education.

4. What is the best medical school in Canada?

The University of Toronto, and McGill University are often at the top of most other medical school rankings, but based on quality of education, the Northern Ontario School of Medicine is one of Canada’s newer medical schools and has a unique, purpose-driven curriculum and mission.

5. How are medical school rankings determined?

Medical school rankings are typically based on factors like selectivity (GPA, MCAT, acceptance rates), research output, and institutional reputation. Some rankings also consider faculty resources and funding. This list combines traditional admissions competitiveness with how actively schools invest in improving medical education, including curriculum innovation, clinical training models, and student support systems.

6. What factors matter most in medical school rankings?

The most important factors in medical school rankings include acceptance rates, average GPA and MCAT scores, research opportunities, and overall reputation. However, these metrics don’t always reflect the quality of the student experience. Factors like curriculum structure, clinical exposure, and support systems can have a significant impact on your training and long-term career outcomes.

7. Are US and Canadian medical school rankings comparable?

US and Canadian medical school rankings are not directly comparable because admissions criteria differ significantly. US schools typically rely on standardized metrics like GPA and MCAT scores, while Canadian schools may use different grading systems, emphasize regional applicants, or not require the MCAT at all. As a result, rankings should be interpreted within the context of each country’s admissions system.

8. Do medical school rankings affect residency placement?

Medical school rankings can influence residency placement, but they are not the most important factor. Residency programs consider your academic performance, clinical evaluations, research experience, and interview performance more heavily. Attending a highly ranked school may provide more opportunities, but your individual performance plays a much larger role in securing a residency position.

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