Top 20 Best Medical Schools

Harvard is the most prestigious university in the world, and the Harvard Medical School is the best medical school in the nation. Harvard University is one of the very few medical schools across the nation that accept online credits for prerequisites. Harvard doesn’t have a strictly determined policy on accepting online undergraduate degrees, everyone’s academic experience is reviewed individually to determine if they are a good candidate for the MD program.

The MD program at Harvard Medical School is offered two different ways. The Pathways track is the traditional option that brings together theoretical teaching, clinical experience, and advanced research opportunities to prepare you for practice. The other track is the Health Sciences & Technology track which is offered in a partnership with MIT. This program emphasizes biomedical sciences and biotechnology; it is best-suited for aspiring doctors who plan to pursue a research career.

Harvard Medical School also provides some online classes. You may be able to use these to supplement your MD program curriculum. You can also take the online classes to earn a variety of certificates. There are courses available in Physiology, Biochemistry, Genetics, Pharmacology, and more. The online classes are designed to be incredibly dynamic and engaging despite being entirely online and self-paced.

This medical school accepts online courses, even for their basic science requirements. However, students must have taken their labs in person. As long as your undergraduate institution was properly accredited, UF has no problem accepting those credits to meet your basic requirements for admission into the medical school. Biochemistry is one of the mandatory courses for admission, and the university offers students who didn’t have access to the course to take it online prior to admission.

The MD program at the UF College of Medicine is an adaptive program that is always being improved to keep students at the forefront of medical innovation. The program relies on competency-based education, interactive learning, and extensive clinical experience. This is a typical four-year program. Students also have the option to earn a PhD at the same time through its MD-PhD program. This program combines research and technology with the same practical training students need to become successful physicians. This option is a good idea for anyone who wants to teach medicine later in life.

There are some distance learning opportunities at UF for those who want to complete some med school online. There are seven graduate certificates offered through the College of Medicine. These are Addiction and Recovery, Aging and Geriatric Practice, Biomedical Neuroscience, Health Outcomes and Policy, Medical Anatomy and Physiology, Medical Human Anatomy, Medical Physiology, and Medical Physiology with a specialization in Cardiovascular/Renal Physiology. These certificate options would allow you to gain extra expertise and credentialing that you could use to enhance your medical career.

The Geisel School of Medicine is everything you would expect from an Ivy League medical school. At Dartmouth, the belief that colors everything they do at the medical school is that there should be no barriers to becoming the physician that you aspire to be. Online credits are accepted at the school. Pre-med courses completed on campus are typically viewed as more competitive but completing some or all of your requirements through distance education will not disqualify you from attending.

The MD program has been designed to be flexible so that students can learn what they want to learn in order to cultivate a medical practice that is meaningful to them upon graduation. The four years that students will spend in medical school will see them experiencing small class sizes for personalized instruction, problem-based learning, independent research, and study, along with traditional classroom instruction and clinical experiences. Students can also opt to apply for the MD-PhD or MD/MBA programs. There are 19 different residencies and close to 30 fellowships to choose from as well.

Dartmouth wants to create a culture of lifelong learning, so there are a lot of online continuing education opportunities at the Geisel School of Medicine. None of the departments at the school currently offer any online courses that are part of the MD program curriculum. However, an online MPH program was recently implemented, and the college is continuing to find ways to expand learning opportunities for its students.

Northwestern University operates the Feinberg School of Medicine, which has been recognized as being among the best research-oriented medical schools in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. Online courses are accepted, and even entire online degrees. However, the school suggests that your specific pre-med required courses be taken in a traditional format. Labs must be completed in person regardless of the delivery format of your courses.

The MD program at Northwestern is a four-year program that is divided into phases. The first phase covers years one and two, where you will receive traditional classroom instruction, have clinical experiences, and complete a mentored research project. You will also begin your Area of Scholarly Concentration, which is a four-year formal project where you will work with a mentor to complete a research project. Phase two is the last half of the program will have more intense clinical experiences, and you will complete your core clerkships. You will also focus on your professional development, complete advanced rotations, and a capstone.

The Feinberg School of Medicine doesn’t have any online learning options for traditional students. However, there is a robust continuing medical education initiative that offers a lot of distance education classes that cover relevant topics in the field of medicine and can help you continue to grow academically even after you’ve entered the professional world. There are currently 24 courses, and the offerings are always changing.

Tufts University School of Medicine defines some of their prerequisites in terms of competencies, and some of them are specific courses or coursework that must be completed. The school is one of the more open when it comes to online credits. Entire degrees are accepted, and there are no policies or additional requirements associated with the university’s acceptance of online, community college, and otherwise nontraditional academic experience.

The four-year MD program at the Tufts University School of Medicine is focused on fully equipping graduates to be skilled and professional in their practice. The curriculum is rigorous and continuously updated to ensure relevancy. Students will learn in small lectures, one-on-one instruction sessions, case studies, and state-of-the-art labs and simulations. Diverse rotations and a rich selection of electives also help students gain a unique perspective.

There are dual degree options with the MD program. You can take an accelerated MD/MPH program, an MD/PhD program with five optional concentrations, an MD/MA in International Relations, or an MD/MBA in Health Management. The MD/MBA is a hybrid program that is presented partially online. Outside of that, distance education at this medical school is reserved for continuing education. The Office of Continuing Education regularly offers courses that focus on professional development, health care improvements, current issues, and more.

The University of California, Davis School of Medicine is one of the leading medical schools in America. U.S. News & World Report ranked the school amongst the best medical schools nationwide in the areas of both primary care and research. It accepts both fully-online degrees and online course credits to fulfill the prerequisite requirements; no labs are required. The only note that it adds to this is that traditional courses with labs are viewed as more competitive.

The MD program at this medical school take a competency-based approach to education and is exceptionally integrative. Students will obtain essential skills to succeed in medicine but will learn these things through a multi-disciplinary approach that will better prepare them for professional practice. On top of traditional instruction in small classes, students will learn through diverse clinical and community service opportunities; the environment allows for in-depth independent research and career exploration as well.

Like many other cutting-edge medical schools, the Davis School of Medicine provides students with the opportunity to pursue dual degrees that will provide them with more career-specific training. The dual degree programs available include an MD/MBA, MD/PhD, and MD/MPH. UC Davis Health offers several online self-study modules for credit through the Continuing Medical Education Dept and the UC Learning Center.

The University of Maryland School of Medicine is ranked among the top ten medical schools in America for research productivity. The school heavily favors prerequisites the were completed as part of a face-to-face pre-med program; however, online course credits are accepted after review. The university offers an online preparatory course to help aspiring med students prepare for the MCAT.

The UMSOM MD program is divided into two parts, which are the Preclinical Curriculum and the Clinical Curriculum. The Preclinical component spans a student’s first two years in medical school During this time they will add depth to their skills in research and critical thinking and engage with the community through service learning initiatives. They will also start to learn more in-depth about biological science. The Clinical Component is when students will establish a background in clinical science, complete their rotations, and complete electives that suit their interests.

Medical students can also choose to pursue an MD/MPH or an MD/PhD in the following areas: anatomy, biochemistry, epidemiology and public health, human genetics, microbiology and immunology, molecular and cell biology, neuroscience, pathology, pharmacology, physiology, and toxicology. No parts of the MD program are online, but students may be able to supplement their course of study through other divisions at the university.

The College of Human Medicine at Michigan State University houses nationally ranked hospitals, award-winning faculty, and places emphasis on community-based medicine in order to produce a more well-rounded and diverse league of excellent physicians. The college asserts that there is no preference of where you complete your premedical courses. Whether you completed them online or at a community college, as long as the institution holds adequate accreditation, those prerequisites are honored.

This particular institution has a strong reputation when it comes to innovating medical education. The curriculum for the MD program is one example. As opposed to following the standard progression of preclinical courses and then clinical experience, the College of Human Medicine has pioneered a Shared Discovery Curriculum. This is an integrated curriculum that has students taking the science courses they need while gaining clinical experience starting in year one.

Another way that this medical school strives for innovation is by offering a number of special programs. Currently, students can pursue an MD-PH, MD/PhD, MD/MPH, or an MD/MBA. Components of the public health certificate, public health degree, and the business degree are online. However, the medical school curriculum itself is strictly face-to-face. Online courses in medicine can be taken through the Office of Continuing Medical Education as available.

The UConn School of Medicine offers programs that start as young as middle school that help support and prepare pre-med students. This is a school that genuinely cares about getting its students in the door and seeing them succeed. It has no standard pre-medical curriculum and has few requirements beyond the standard chemistry, English, physics, and biology that every med school requires. The School of Medicine at UConn welcomes online credits and may consider innovative and less traditional preparations on an individual basis.

Over the next few years, the MD program at UConn is going through a full transformation in terms of curriculum delivery. In what will be called the M Delta curriculum, students will learn in a more collaborative and active environment. Clinical medicine will be taught alongside the basic sciences from early stages in the program. Students will be exposed to real-world and virtual lab experiences, simulation exercises, group and individualized education, and more. This medical school uses a pass-fail model as opposed to a traditional grading and ranking system.

Students can opt to pursue a dual degree if they’d like. UConn’s School of Medicine has established partnerships with other divisions to provide an MD/MBA, MD/MPH, and an MD/PhD. There are no online courses associated with the Doctor of Medicine program; all continuing education is conducted on campus. The only online options at this medical school are the following graduate certificates: Certificate in Addiction Science, Graduate Certificate in Foundations of Public Health, and Certificate of Interdisciplinary Disability Studies in Public Health.

The University of Southern California is home to the Keck School of Medicine, which features the least stringent list of requirements for admittance in this ranking, and possibly in medical schools overall. U.S. News & World Report consider it to be among the top 50 graduate schools in the country. Applicants must have a baccalaureate degree and take the MCAT to be eligible. Outside of that, there are no required courses or labs. Students only have to show evidence of competency in the physical, biological and social sciences.

USC’s Doctor of Medicine offers a program of study in which students can gain proficiency in medical science that will serve as a strong foundation for studying in a specialty field or entering general practice. Students receive individualized attention that encourages them to solve problems, study independently, understand the multidisciplinary nature of medicine, and more. Students will obtain hands-on clinical experience as they study, complete a variety of clerkships, pursue electives that suit their goals, and complete their own scholarly research throughout this comprehensive med school program.

Combined degrees are also an option to consider at Keck. The MD/MPH allows for the public health courses to be completed online. There are six concentrations for the MPH that you can choose from. The MD/PhD program allows students to earn both degrees at once while working closely with a personalized mentor to make the most of their education. The MD/MBA also includes online classes and allows you to tailor your MBA according to your needs through electives. Continuing Medical Education courses are periodically available for distance learners.

The Florida State University College of Medicine is one of the institutions that regards traditional courses taken on-campus to be more competitive and favorable during the application process. However, online course credits can fulfill the requirements for prerequisite courses in some cases. FSU COM also allows dual enrollment, AP, and CLEP credit to cover prerequisites in some cases.

This medical school just went through a renovation within its program, creating an entirely new curriculum to create a more modern and comprehensive medical curriculum to fit into the changing scope of the field. Students will still study all of the basic and medical sciences, but there will be additional activities that focus on professionalism, wellness, and the role of medicine in society. Lectures will be reduced in favor of small group learning and interactive guided discovery activities. Clinical experiences will permeate the entire four years.

On top of the fresh approach to medical education, the FSU College of Medicine also provides students with a range of different residency and fellowship opportunities to prepare them in-depth for their dream role as a physician. None of the classes are available online; however, a lot of the classes use web-based modules to enhance independent learning.

The University of Alabama School of Medicine accepts online credits in physics, mathematics, and English. All of the other prerequisites must be completed in residence at a four-year institution. The UAB School of Medicine was established well over a century ago and is home to one of the largest academic hospitals in the country. Students will be able to earn their degree and explore innovative centers and programs to enhance their learning.

The MD program begins with a Pre-Clerkship phase that takes students through organ-based modules and gives them background knowledge in the fundamentals and medicine and evidence-based care that they will continue to expand upon as they study. The Clerkship phase takes students through a variety of clerkships at the different regional campuses. Students will conduct research and participate in service learning, internships, specialized electives, and more throughout the duration of the program.

The UAB School of Medicine offers a specialized Primary Care Track as well as several dual degree programs. There is an MD/PhD, MD/MPH, MD/MSPH, and MD/MBA option. The public health and business courses that students must take as part of these dual degrees are available as online courses. Students can also pursue graduate certificates online. Industry-relevant certificates offered include Clinical Informatics, Healthcare Quality and Safety, and Public Health. Students will also have access to online continuing education courses.

The University of Colorado School of Medicine features programs that have been nationally ranked in primary care, research, and faculty excellence. The medical campus of the university is the largest in its region and is home to two of the country’s best hospitals. Students can receive a world-class education, conduct research, and go on to make a difference as doctors. Courses that were taken online or even at a community college are regarded the same way as traditional university courses as long as the providing institution is duly accredited.

The Doctor of Medicine degree program features a comprehensive curriculum that is divided into four phases. The Essentials core will present science in a medical context and prepares students for the rest of their courses. The Clinical Core features competency-based clerkships and integrates courses that enhance those skills. The final phase is the Advanced Studies Curriculum. Students will complete Mentored Scholarly Activity throughout their entire course of study. MD students can select areas of interest like Global Health, Leadership, Education and Advocacy Development Scholarship, Research, Rural Medicine, and Urban Underserved Medicine.

Students can also supplement their MD degree with a dual degree that they earn at the same time. Options are an MPH with seven optional areas of focus, a Master of Science in Bioengineering, and an MBA. Some of the courses in the additional degree program you select will be presented online. Continuing and Professional Education is also available at a distance. Graduate certificates in Health Care Informatics, Clinical Leadership, Health Information Management and more are part of the current selection.

The University of Kansas School of Medicine is nationally ranked for research funding and has had several centers designated by the National Institutes of Health. It is the only medical school in Kansas and has a history of revolutionary contributions to the field of medicine. This medical school allows all prerequisites to be completed online and even accepts online degrees. The only exception is that all labs must be completed in person.

The curriculum of the Doctor of Medicine offered by the KU School of Medicine is a competency-based curriculum that relies heavily on active learning. The first two years explore essential areas of medical science and culminate in a medicine capstone. The third year is when students will gain clinical experience in diverse core disciplines. The final year is when students will personalize their course of study with a subinternship, critical care specialization, and several electives.

Med students can also add a secondary degree. There are eight options for an MD/PhD, an MD/MPH, and an MD/MHSA. None of the classes or certificates offered can be taken online. However, the entire curriculum of the MD program is very technology intensive. Students will participate in online discussions, study using digital course materials, complete assignments, and more in many of the MD courses.

The UAMS College of Medicine is part of the only medical sciences university in the state of Arkansas. It is part of the world-renowned University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, a member of the University of Arkansas System. The college accepts online credits and recognizes them as being equal to traditional courses. The only prerequisite that must be completed in person in Organic Chemistry with labs.

UAMS was founded as a medical college over a century ago, and it brings all of that history with it while featuring an adaptive curriculum. Biomedical research and technological innovation continually improve the medical profession, and the MD program at this school is designed to reflect that. Your foundational courses in medical science are immersive and integrative; courses all include active learning experience. You will also have opportunities for research, mastering clinical skills in diverse settings and cutting-edge simulations, and career advising that helps you grow into the best physician you can be.

Students can also pursue an MD/MPH or an MD/PhD. Both of these programs can be customized to suit your needs through a variety of available electives. UAMS has a robust eLearning program. The Doctor of Medicine does not feature any online courses; however, there are several different certificates that can be earned online as well as continuing education courses and programs for medical students.

The College of Medicine at the University of Arizona does have prerequisite courses, but the primary focus is on competencies in several different areas. Online courses, online undergraduate degrees, AP courses, CLEP testing, community college courses, and IB courses are all acceptable ways to meet your prerequisite requirements. International undergraduate credit is not accepted.

The MD program at the College of Medicine-Tucson prides itself on being progressive and flexible to meet the needs of aspiring doctors in a dynamic medical field. Instead of being broken up into individual components, clinical training and basic science education are provided together over the course of the four years. On top of choosing relevant electives, students can tailor this medical degree to their needs by selecting a Distinction Track. Currently, you have the option to focus in Bilingual Medical Spanish, Community Service, Global Health, Integrative Medicine, Leadership and Innovation in Healthcare, Medical Education, Research, or Rural Health.

Dual-degree programs are also another way that students can pursue specific goals. The College of Medicine-Tucson features an MD-MBA, an MD-PhD in a variety of interdisciplinary fields, and an MD-MPH. There are no specific courses that are described as being online, but many of the courses you will take as you earn your MD will have online components. The Office of Continuing Medical Education also offers online classes in medical education and professional development.

FIU’s Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine is one of the more strict medical schools in this ranking. The college asserts that it has a strong preference for graded, advanced courses completed at a four-year university; however, online courses for prerequisites are considered individually and accepted on a case by case basis. All of your labs must have been completed in person in order to meet the minimum requirements.

The medical school at Florida International University is home to an innovative Doctor of Medicine degree program. Clinical training starts at the beginning of the program. Students will gain clinical experience through community-based care, simulation training, and traditional clinical rotations. Students will also take classes that equip them with an in-depth and applicable understanding of Human Biology; Disease, Illness, and Injury; Clinical Medicine; Medicine and Society and; Professional Development. Academic support and extensive research opportunities also help students to succeed.

There is a combined MD/Professional MBA in Healthcare Management program. The MBA coursework is blended so that you will take some of those classes online. The Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine also offers an online Certificate in Molecular and Biomedical Sciences. The only other distance-learning options at this medical school are the various Continuing Medical Education opportunities.

The U of L School of Medicine is one of the largest medical schools in its region and features cutting-edge research facilities and a history of medical breakthroughs, academic excellence, and more. The university does not distinguish between online and in-person courses, which gives you an advantage as many universities don’t regard them the same. In some cases, you may need to complete some additional coursework for online courses you want to use to fulfill your prerequisite requirements.

The U of L School of Medicine’s MD program curriculum is divided into phases like most other programs. The first two years that you’re enrolled, you will take all of your basic science courses that will familiarize you with the various systems in the body, how disease works, medical genetics, and more. You will also take Clinical Medicine courses at that time the will equip you with skills in interviewing patients, medical system structure, healthcare law, and more. The final two years consist of your Core Clerkships, Clinical Rotations, an internship, and your chosen elective courses.

In addition to the Medical Doctorate degree, the school also offers an MD/PhD program for those who are interested. There is also an MD/MBA program and an MD/Master of Arts in Bioethics and Medical Humanities program. The customizability of the dual degree programs will allow you to complete some of those courses online. Online Continuing Medical Education & Professional Development is available for medical school graduates.

Central Michigan University’s College of Medicine encourages students to ensure that they take their classes at four-year institutions, but openly welcomes online undergraduate study as an adequate prerequisite. The university is committed to increasing access to both quality medical training, and health care nationwide. These principles are imparted on students to help them to care for underserved populations, and commit to lifelong learning.

The College of Medicine’s MD program combines team-based learning, small group learning, labs, and more to maintain a curriculum that actively engages students and encourages collaboration. The first part of the program introduces students to the body’s systems and the foundational topics in medical science. Clinical simulation case experiences help students process and apply what they learn right away. The other part of the program is when students complete clerkships and clinical rotations. This is also when students will take electives, explore career options, and conduct research.

There aren’t any dual degree options available at CMU’s medical school. Online courses are not offered by the College of Medicine, but there are online Continuing Medical Education courses that are offered periodically. CMU Online, the university’s distance learning initiative does offer several certificates that are entirely online. Some industry-relevant certificates you could use to supplement your medical degree include Health Services Administration, Health Systems Leadership, or International Health.

Quinnipiac University’s medical school prides itself on having an innovative and student-focused curriculum. It puts your education and success first before you even apply. You can apply for an MCAT immersion program to help you prepare for the exam, and you can use online courses to satisfy all of your prerequisites as long as they came from an accredited institution.

The Frank H. Netter MD School of Medicine Doctor of Medicine curriculum was expertly designed to give students the best preparation possible. The program is divided into three phases. Phase one will establish a comprehensive foundation upon which you will build your medical knowledge and eventually your career. Phase two is where you will complete the required clerkships in several different areas of practice. Phase three is comprised of clinical rotations and your personalized electives to prepare you for your practice as a physician.

Quinnipiac University doesn’t offer any dual degree programs that result in a Doctor of Medicine. There are not many opportunities for online learning when you attend this medical school; however, the university does have online programs. Certificates in Long-Term Care Administration and Health Care Compliance are both offered online if you would be interested in adding either of them to your MD.