See Who Made This Year's List of Top Medical Schools

— The latest rankings from U.S. News & World Report

MedicalToday
A photo of Harvard Medical School in spring time.

For prospective medical school students, U.S. News & World Report in research and primary care each year in March.

Harvard and New York University took the top two spots, respectively, on the "" list, according to U.S. News. They were followed by Columbia University, Johns Hopkins University, and the University of California San Francisco, in a tie for third place.

As for the "" list, the University of Washington, the University of California San Francisco, and the University of Minnesota took the top three spots, respectively.

Both lists evaluate schools on faculty resources, the academic achievements of entering students, and qualitative assessments by other schools and residency directors, U.S. News said. However, research activity comprised 40% of each school's overall rank on the "Best Medical Schools for Research" list, and primary care production comprised 40% of each school's overall rank on the "Best Medical Schools for Primary Care list."

This year, U.S. News said that it reallocated its research activity indicators to place greater emphasis on research data than faculty counts. Total federal research activity increased from 25% to 30% of each school's overall rank, and average federal research activity per faculty member decreased from 15% to 10%.

Primary care production indicators were medical school graduates practicing in primary care specialties (30%) and medical school graduates going into primary care residencies (10%).

Below are the lists of the top 10 medical schools for research and primary care.

1. Harvard University (MA)

Overall score: 100/100

2021 median undergrad grade point average (GPA): 4.0

2021 median total MCAT score: 520

2021 acceptance rate: 2.8%

2021 out-of-state tuition and fees: $68,123

2021 total enrollment: 699

2. New York University (Grossman)

Overall score: 76/100

2021 median undergrad grade point average (GPA): 4.0

2021 median total MCAT score: 522

2021 acceptance rate: 2.1%

2021 out-of-state tuition and fees: $3,950

2021 total enrollment: 409

3. Columbia University (NY) (tie)

Overall score: 70/100

2021 median undergrad grade point average (GPA): 3.9

2021 median total MCAT score: 521

2021 acceptance rate: 3.6%

2021 out-of-state tuition and fees: $73,275

2021 total enrollment: 577

3. Johns Hopkins University (MD) (tie)

Overall score: 70/100

2021 median undergrad grade point average (GPA): 3.9

2021 median total MCAT score: 521

2021 acceptance rate: 5.1%

2021 out-of-state tuition and fees: $64,293

2021 total enrollment: 470

3. University of California San Francisco (tie)

Overall score: 70/100

2021 median undergrad grade point average (GPA): 3.9

2021 median total MCAT score: 516

2021 acceptance rate: 2.6%

2021 out-of-state tuition and fees: $55,878

2021 total enrollment: 646

6. Duke University (NC)

Overall score: 69/100

2021 median undergrad grade point average (GPA): 3.9

2021 median total MCAT score: 518

2021 acceptance rate: 2.9%

2021 out-of-state tuition and fees: $67,226

2021 total enrollment: 507

6. University of Pennsylvania (Perelman)

Overall score: 69/100

2021 median undergrad grade point average (GPA): 4.0

2021 median total MCAT score: 522

2021 acceptance rate: 3.8%

2021 out-of-state tuition and fees: $67,291

2021 total enrollment: 626

8. Stanford University (CA)

Overall score: 68/100

2021 median undergrad grade point average (GPA): 3.9

2021 median total MCAT score: 517

2021 acceptance rate: 1.4%

2021 out-of-state tuition and fees: $64,943

2021 total enrollment: 491

9. University of Washington

Overall score: 67/100

2021 median undergrad grade point average (GPA): 3.7

2021 median total MCAT score: 510

2021 acceptance rate: 3.7%

2021 out-of-state tuition and fees: $70,985

2021 total enrollment: 1,092

10. Yale University (CT)

Overall score: 64/100

2021 median undergrad grade point average (GPA): 3.9

2021 median total MCAT score: 520

2021 acceptance rate: 4.8%

2021 out-of-state tuition and fees: $67,223

2021 total enrollment: 408

1. University of Washington

Overall score: 100/100

2021 median undergrad grade point average (GPA): 3.7

2021 median total MCAT score: 510

2021 acceptance rate: 3.7%

2021 out-of-state tuition and fees: $70,985

2021 total enrollment: 1,092

2. University of California San Francisco

Overall score: 87/100

2021 median undergrad grade point average (GPA): 3.9

2021 median total MCAT score: 516

2021 acceptance rate: 2.6%

2021 out-of-state tuition and fees: $55,878

2021 total enrollment: 646

3. University of Minnesota

Overall score: 84/100

2021 median undergrad grade point average (GPA): 3.8

2021 median total MCAT score: 511

2021 acceptance rate: 5.1%

2021 out-of-state tuition and fees: $61,894

2021 total enrollment: 1,033

4. Oregon Health and Science University

Overall score: 83/100

2021 median undergrad grade point average (GPA): 3.7

2021 median total MCAT score: 510

2021 acceptance rate: 3.1%

2021 out-of-state tuition and fees: $78,160

2021 total enrollment: 597

5. University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill

Overall score: 79/100

2021 median undergrad grade point average (GPA): 3.7

2021 median total MCAT score: 512

2021 acceptance rate: 4.1%

2021 out-of-state tuition and fees: $62,705

2021 total enrollment: 779

6. University of Colorado

Overall score: 76/100

2021 median undergrad grade point average (GPA): 3.8

2021 median total MCAT score: 514

2021 acceptance rate: 3.6%

2021 out-of-state tuition and fees: $67,576

2021 total enrollment: 697

7. University of Nebraska Medical Center

Overall score: 75/100

2021 median undergrad grade point average (GPA): 3.9

2021 median total MCAT score: 512

2021 acceptance rate: 9.2%

2021 out-of-state tuition and fees: $53,385

2021 total enrollment: 520

8. University of California-Davis

Overall score: 69/100

2021 median undergrad grade point average (GPA): 3.6

2021 median total MCAT score: 511

2021 acceptance rate: 2.2%

2021 out-of-state tuition and fees: $54,893

2021 total enrollment: 490

9. Harvard University (MA)

Overall score: 68/100

2021 median undergrad grade point average (GPA): 4.0

2021 median total MCAT score: 520

2021 acceptance rate: 2.8%

2021 out-of-state tuition and fees: $68,123

2021 total enrollment: 699

10. University of Kansas Medical Center (tie)

Overall score: 65/100

2021 median undergrad grade point average (GPA): 3.9

2021 median total MCAT score: 510

2021 acceptance rate: 7.8%

2021 out-of-state tuition and fees: $67,930

2021 total enrollment: 846

10. University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School (tie)

Overall score: 65/100

2021 median undergrad grade point average (GPA): 3.8

2021 median total MCAT score: 514

2021 acceptance rate: 7.2%

2021 out-of-state tuition and fees: $65,962

2021 total enrollment: 663

10. University of Pittsburgh (PA) (tie)

Overall score: 65/100

2021 median undergrad grade point average (GPA): 3.8

2021 median total MCAT score: 516

2021 acceptance rate: 3.5%

2021 out-of-state tuition and fees: $62,600

2021 total enrollment: 610

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    Jennifer Henderson joined as an enterprise and investigative writer in Jan. 2021. She has covered the healthcare industry in NYC, life sciences and the business of law, among other areas.