Top 10 Medical Colleges in USA for Indian Students for 2026-27

A total of four medical universities, including Harvard, Stanford, and others, consistently rank in the top 10 subject-wise rankings. These universities for MBBS abroad get strong NIH research funding; for example, Johns Hopkins alone received about $858 million in NIH awards last year. It helps students secure residency placement and top-notch training opportunities. 

Here's a list of the 10 best medical schools in the USA:

• Harvard Medical School, Harvard University (Rank #1)
• Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford University (Rank #3)
• Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University (Rank #4)
• UCSF School of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco (Rank #6)
• Yale School of Medicine, Yale University (Rank #10)
• MIT Department of Biological Engineering and Health Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (Rank #11)
• David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles (Rank #12)
• Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania (Rank #13)
• Duke University School of Medicine, Duke University (Rank #16)
• Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University (Rank #17)

Let’s now look into the salient features of the medical colleges in the USA: 

1. Harvard Medical School 

Harvard Medical School gets about 721 applications every year and selects only 82 students for interviews. At Harvard, 72% of admitted students come from science majors, with 57% female, 42% male, 1% other, and 14% from underrepresented groups. Among medical colleges in the USA, Harvard admits only 15 funded students per year, showing how competitive it is.

• Course Duration: 4+1 years
• Avg Tuition Fee: 325,000 USD (₹2.93 Cr)
• Courses Offered: Clinical Investigation, Immunology, Global Health Delivery, Medical Education
• Avg GPA: 3.9/4.0
• Avg MCAT: 520

2. Stanford University School of Medicine 

Stanford University School of Medicine has a small class size of about 90 to 100 students, which helps students learn and connect better. Stanford stands out as one of the best medical universities in the USA because of its focus on data analysis, programming in R and SAS, study design, and disease patterns using real medical examples.

• Course Duration: 4+1 years
• Avg Tuition Fee: 482,000 USD (₹4.34 Cr)
• Courses Offered: Epidemiology and Clinical Research, Genetics and Genomics, Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare, Biomedical Informatics
• Avg GPA: 3.5+/4.0
• Avg MCAT: 520+

3. Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine 

Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine is one of the medical colleges in the USA with a very low acceptance rate of about 6-7%, receiving roughly 4,200 to 4,600 applications each year. The M.D. class at Johns Hopkins is small, with around 118 to 120 students, and core clerkships include internal medicine training at hospitals like Johns Hopkins Hospital, Bayview, and Howard County.

• Course Duration: 4+1 years
• Avg Tuition Fee: 214,000 USD (₹1.93 Cr)
• Courses Offered: Dermatology, Emergency Medicine, Internal Medicine, Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Ophthalmology, Otolaryngology 
• Avg GPA: 3.9+/4.0
• Avg MCAT: 521 (e.g., 130+ per section)

4. UCSF School of Medicine 

UCSF School of Medicine receives around 8,774 applications each year and has an acceptance rate of about 15%. What makes UCSF a well-known medical college in the USA is that 161 students enrol in it and the MD Program has about about 22.5% of the total student population.

• Course Duration: 4+1 years
• Avg Tuition Fee: 187,100 USD (₹1.68 Cr)
• Courses Offered: Anesthesiology, Dermatology, Emergency Medicine, Family Practice, Internal Medicine
• Avg GPA: 3.8+/4.0
• Avg MCAT: 515-520 range (90th percentile or higher)

5. Yale School of Medicine

Yale School of Medicine is very selective, with about 370 MD students out of a total enrollment of 1,800 across all programs. It is one of the top medical schools in the USA as since 1814, Yale University has awarded 10,123 medical degrees, with 5,792 living MD alumni and 6,246 MPH alumni.

• Course Duration: 4+1 years
• Avg Tuition Fee: 252,000 USD (₹2.27 Cr) 
• Courses Offered: General Biology, Zoology, Organic Chemistry 
• Avg GPA: 3.9/4.0
• Avg MCAT: 511-512 median for top programs

6. MIT Department of Biological Engineering & Health Sciences 

MIT partners with Harvard University through the Harvard-MIT Program in Health Sciences and Technology (HST). It is one of the top medical schools in the USA offering both MS and MS-PhD programs with only a 4.6% of acceptance rate. 

• Course Duration: 4 years (extendable to 5 with research)
• Avg Tuition Fee: 85,960 USD (₹77.4 L)
• Courses Offered: Health Sciences & Technology, Brain & Cognitive Sciences, Human Functional Anatomy, Integrations & Innovation in Medical Sciences
• Avg GPA: 3.5+/4.0
• Avg MCAT: Around 519

7. David Geffen School of Medicine 

UCLA's David Geffen School of Medicine is one of the top medical schools in the USA, receiving over 14,000 applications each year. About 1,093 students are invited for interviews, and 320 matriculants are accepted. The acceptance rate is around 2.3%. 

• Course Duration: 4+1 years
• Avg Tuition Fee: Molecular & Medical Pharmacology, Neuroscience, Physics & Biology in Medicine
• Courses Offered: 105,300 USD (₹94.8 L)
• Avg GPA: 3.8+/4.0
• Avg MCAT: 513+

8. Perelman School of Medicine 

The Perelman School of Medicine has a very low acceptance rate of around 3.8%. The incoming MD/PhD class of about 153 students makes it one of the top medical colleges in the USA. The total MD enrollment at Pennsylvania for 2025-2026 is around 805 students. 

• Course Duration: 4+1 years
• Avg Tuition Fee: 240,000 USD (₹2.16 Cr) 
• Courses Offered: Anesthesiology, Dermatology, Emergency Medicine, Internal Medicine, Ophthalmology, Otolaryngology
• Avg GPA: 3.92/4.0
• Avg MCAT: 522

9. Duke University School of Medicine 

Duke University School of Medicine has an acceptance rate of around 1.43% and receives over 7,500 applications each year. The class size for matriculants is about 115 students. It also has special courses like Medical Statistics, where students learn study design, data analysis, and reading medical research, which makes Duke a top medical university in the USA.

• Course Duration: 4+1 years
• Avg Tuition Fee: 248,000 USD (₹2.23 Cr)
• Courses Offered: Biomolecular and Tissue Engineering, Cell and Molecular Biology, Computational Biology
• Avg GPA: 3.87/4.0
• Avg MCAT: 500-519

10. Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons 

Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons gets about 7,291 applications each year, with 140 students matriculating. The matriculation rate is around 1.9%, and the student body is 51% female, 49% male, including 4% first-generation college students, making Columbia one of the top medical universities in the USA.

• Course Duration: 4+1 years
• Avg Tuition Fee: 73,800 USD (₹66.5 L)
• Courses Offered: Dermatology, Internal Medicine, Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Ophthalmology, Orthopaedic Surgery, Paediatrics
• Avg GPA: 3.39 to 4.0/4.0
• Avg MCAT: 520-522

Getting into medical universities in the USA is highly competitive, with acceptance rates ranging from 2% to 7%. There are a lot of things required, like a high GPA (3.5+), research experience, and more. Also, applications to most US medical schools are submitted through AMCAS (Association of American Medical Colleges).

Here’s a breakdown of what you need to pursue medicine at these American medical schools:

Academic Requirements

Students are expected to complete core science subjects like Physics, Chemistry, and Biology (PCB) with a strong GPA, 3.5/4.0 or higher. Some schools may also look for Math or Biochemistry courses for relevance.

Language Proficiency 

If English is not your first language, tests like IELTS (7.0-8.0) or TOEFL (100-110) are usually required. Some universities may accept the Duolingo English Test (120-130) as an alternative.

MCAT Exam

The MCAT is the main medical exam, and most schools expect scores in the 510 to 520 range for competitive applicants. Some schools also accept UCAT scores if required, but the MCAT carries the most weight in admissions.

Research

Applicants should have at least 1 to 2 years of lab or clinical research experience. The goal is to contribute to at least one publication or presentation. Strong research experience shows schools you are serious about medicine and not just exploring.

Documents Required

Many documents are required to get into the medical schools in the USA, like MCAT score report, personal statement, and more. 

Here is the list of all the necessary documents:

• Academic transcripts
• Letters of recommendation
• SOP
• MCAT score report
• Resume or CV
• Proof of English proficiency tests (IELTS/TOEFL/Duolingo)
• Research experience documentation (if available)
• Extracurricular or volunteer experience records
• Passport copy
• Application fee payment receipt
• Medical or immunisation records
• Additional school-specific forms

One of the most popular scholarships for medical students in the USA is the Harvard Medical School Scholarship, which receives thousands of applications each year. 

There are many other scholarships in the USA available for medical courses, which we have listed below:

Many students struggle with deciding which medical universities in the USA to target first. Figuring out the right combination of GPA, MCAT, and research experience can feel confusing when deadlines are so close. One tip is to break the process into small steps; focus on one task at a time, like finalising your statement or collecting recommendation letters.

With Yocket Premium, you can see detailed university profiles, scholarship opportunities, and application trends at a glance. It also helps you track deadlines, compare programs, and plan finances without juggling multiple spreadsheets. For students dreaming of top medical colleges in the USA, it’s like having a personal guide throughout the entire journey.