Here Are the Top-Ranked – and Worst-Offending – Medical Schools

Unlike traditional medical school rankings, the Medical School Excellence Index is not concerned with institutional prestige. Rather, it ranks medical schools according to their institutional values and educational priorities. 

Does the school recruit the best and brightest applicants according to standardized metrics of aptitude? Does the school have a clear, deeply-rooted commitment to excellence and transparency in academics? Does the school prioritize merit over identity politics and discriminatory ideology?

The top-ranked schools most closely reflect these principles. As a result, many prestigious medical schools who obviously have produced and will continue to produce qualified physicians will not top the list.

Conversely, the lowest-ranked schools favor ideology over merit. 

They do not prioritize academic excellence in admissions, dedicate administrative resources to divisive, harmful, and regressive DEI practices, and broadcast an institutional commitment to identity politics that is antithetical to a commitment to excellence in clinical practice.

Here are the top-ranked schools:

The University of South Florida Morsani College of Medicine

USF Morsani College of Medicine earns the top spot among all medical schools, scoring a perfect 100 points. 

First, the average MCAT scores and GPAs of matriculated students are each in the top quintile of all allopathic medical schools in the United States, meaning that USF accepts the most academically qualified students. Second, the school maintains a tiered grading system throughout each phase of medical school, rather than adopting a pass/fail grading system. The school maintains an Alpha Omega Alpha honor society chapter and does not have a dedicated DEI office. Furthermore, its mission statement does not contain any support for DEI.

NYU Grossman School of Medicine

Coming in at second place is NYU Grossman School of Medicine, which notched 92 points out of 100. 

The average MCAT scores and GPAs of matriculated students at NYU are each in the top quintile of all allopathic medical schools in the United States; in fact, the average MCAT scores are the highest in the country. NYU also has a tiered grading system throughout the clinical phase of medical school. Like USF, NYU maintains an Alpha Omega Alpha honor society chapter and does not have a dedicated DEI office. However, the school’s mission statement is not fully without references to DEI ideology and practices, thus resulting in a small point penalty.

The Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania

Also tied for second place is the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania at 92 points out of 100. 

At Perelman, the average MCAT scores and GPAs of matriculated students are each in the top quintile of the country’s allopathic medical schools. Like NYU, Perelman has a tiered grading system throughout the clinical phase of medical school. Perelman also maintains an Alpha Omega Alpha honor society chapter and does not have a dedicated DEI office. Yet like NYU, the school’s mission statement is not fully without references to DEI ideology and practices, thus costing Perelman several points.

University of Michigan Medical School

The final institution tied for second is the University of Michigan Medical School, which likewise notched 92 points out of 100. 

Matriculated students at Michigan have average MCAT scores and GPAs that each are in the top quintile of all allopathic medical schools in the country. Moreover, Michigan has a tiered grading system throughout the clinical phase of medical school. The school maintains an Alpha Omega Alpha honor society chapter and does not have a dedicated DEI office, but its mission statement does contain references to DEI ideology and practices.

Here are the lowest-ranked schools:

The University of California, Davis School of Medicine

UC Davis, along with all the other lowest-ranked schools, notched a dismal 18 points out of 100, reflecting a departure from the pursuit of excellence and an embrace of identity politics.

For one, the average MCAT score of matriculated students was in the second-lowest quintile among all allopathic medical schools in the country, whereas the average GPA was in the lowest quintile. The school also lost points for implementing a pass/fail grading system in the preclinical phase of medical education.

But where UC Davis (along with the other schools ranked lowest) failed to notch any points at all was its rejection (or lack thereof) of DEI. The school earned 0 points for its mission statement, meaning the statement reflected the strongest commitment possible to DEI. Likewise, the fact that it still maintains a dedicated DEI office means it failed to earn any points at all.

Of note: UC Davis previously received top marks from the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) for its commitment to diversity in admissions and hiring. School administrators also discussed how the institution has implemented “socially accountable admissions” to transform the demographics of its student body.

Oregon Health & Science University School of Medicine

Like UC Davis, OHSU also only managed to score 18 points.

The average MCAT score of matriculated students at OHSU was in the second-lowest quintile among all allopathic medical schools in the country, and the average GPA was in the lowest quintile. OHSU also implements a pass/fail grading system in the preclinical phase of medical education. 

Furthermore, OHSU’s mission statement evinces the strongest commitment possible to DEI, and OHSU maintains a dedicated DEI office.

Of note: OHSU previously operated racially-segregated “camaraderie groups” for its employees.

The University of New Mexico School of Medicine

Also coming in at 18 points is the University of New Mexico School of Medicine.

Although the average GPA of matriculated students at New Mexico was in the second-lowest quintile among all allopathic medical schools in the country, the average MCAT score was in the lowest quintile. Like the other lowest-ranked universities, New Mexico implements a pass/fail grading system in the preclinical phase of medical education. 

New Mexico also maintains a dedicated DEI office, and its mission statement is replete with references to DEI ideology and practices.

Of note: New Mexico previously considered racial characteristics when evaluating applicants for clerkship positions.

The Central Michigan University College of Medicine

Rounding out the bottom four medical schools is the Central Michigan University College of Medicine, which also scored 18 points.

At Central Michigan, the average GPA of matriculated students at New Mexico was in the second-lowest quintile among all allopathic medical schools in the country, and the average MCAT score was in the lowest quintile. Central Michigan also implements a pass/fail grading system in the preclinical phase of medical education.

Moreover, Central Michigan’s mission statement contains the strongest possible commitment to DEI, and the school maintains a dedicated DEI office.

Of note: Central Michigan received strong marks from the AAMC for its commitment to diversity, as evidenced by its administrators actively working to promote DEI in public forums outside the university.