Does the beauty of a medical college campus matter in the grand scheme of things? If you don’t think so, consider whether you’d use that rationale across the board. Does the beauty of a vehicle affect your perception of its quality? What does a drab, unadorned hotel say about the level of cleanliness you can expect? Do you care about the attractiveness of your plate at the restaurant? You bet.
If you wouldn’t trust a shabby hotel lobby or risk your digestion on an ugly plate of food, you can understand why it’s so important to consider the appearance of a med school in your college search. After all, if a campus isn’t particular about the mulch around the trees, would you expect other elements of the institution to be meticulous when it matters most?
Thankfully, the U.S. is exceptionally blessed with state-of-the-art medical schools that are as stunning as they are stellar. Students can choose these schools with confidence, knowing that the gleaming edifices house even more valuable knowledge that can transform these students into valuable medical experts. Each of these institutions has valuable attributes that set them apart from the pack. Here are 50 of the nation’s most beautiful medical schools.
50. Yale School of Medicine
Date established:1810
Location: New Haven, Connecticut
Regal. Towering. Welcoming. Yale’s Sterling Hall of Medicine, which contains one of America’s greatest rare book collections, is an excellent example of everything a medical school should be: steadfast, classic, and just as substantive internally as it is imposing on the facade. As you approach this sweeping structure and walk through these pillars, you immediately feel a kinship with those who’ve gone before in a long-standing legacy of dignity and excellence.
Surrounded by meticulously groomed courtyards and lush landscaping, the Yale School of Medicine also includes the Boyer Center for Molecular Medicine, the Amistad Building, and the Anlyan Center. Next door is the Yale-New Haven Hospital, which was ranked by the U.S. News and World Report as one of “America’s Best Hospitals.” This distinction says a lot about the institution, which is the teaching hospital for Yale students. The hospital ranked in 11 of the 16 specialties included in the Report’s study, and 5,000 hospitals were included in the survey.
49. Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania
Date established: 1765
Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
The oldest med school in the nation, the Perelman School of Medicine boasts a variety of medical buildings. The campus includes the John Morgan Hall, one of the many striking, opulent University of Pennsylvania structures built around the turn of the 20th century. The Perelman School of Medicine blends these time-honored, classic structures with dynamic modern architecture.
The bold lines and striking contrast of the University’s Jordan Center, which is physically joined with the Smilow Center for Translational Research, suggests the creativity of a former Lego mastermind, but what goes on inside these glass walls is hardly elementary. This new building will integrate research and clinical facilities with the educational environment: a cutting-edge endeavor and one of the first of its kind in the nation.
48. Harvard Medical School
Date established:
Location: Boston, Massachusetts
The Harvard Medical School is designed to impress. If you can walk up the vast steps without letting your head flop back as you gaze up the towering edifice, you’re either blind or you’ve made the hike up enough times to no longer be awed by it. If you are in awe, you’re not alone: the U.S. News and World Report has been dazzled by Harvard since the magazine began evaluating colleges. This third-oldest U.S. medical school has won the #1 spot in the publication’s report. Every. Single. Year.
If Harvard is on your dream list of schools too expensive to consider seriously, take heart: over 70% of Harvard’s students receive some sort of financial aid. The school is designed to select the cream of the crop, and if you qualify for admission, the school will help you see your dream to fruition.
47. Saint Louis University School of Medicine
Date established:1836
Location: St. Louis, Missouri
The main building of the St. Louis University School of Medicine is a gorgeous, gothic-meets-streamline structure graced liberally with twin lancet-shaped windows. The research building of the St. Louis University School of Medicine looks like something that could potentially lift off and carry the entire complex into unexplored new realms. The sleek, space-age architecture in no way hearkens back to the pioneer days of the college’s establishment. Founded in 1836, the St. Louis University School of Medicine was the first medical degree program west of the Mississippi.
The St. Louis University School of Medicine is more than a nuts-and-bolts med school. The college strives to produce professionals with ethics, doctors who value the sanctity of human life and honor the Creator as well as the human patients, and who are mindful of non-medical factors when treating any malady.
46. Albany Medical College
Date established: 1839
Location: Albany, New York
Stately yet unassuming, the Albany Medical College offers New York medical students a relaxing approach to obtaining their medical degrees in the heart of New York’s capital. The school is within walking distance of the Empire State building and downtown Albany. As the only medical school in the area, Albany Medical College serves a large geographical circumference.
Albany Medical College makes a concerted effort to combine work with pleasure so that its students aren’t burned out by the time they receive their degrees. The school provides a vast array of student activities and volunteer opportunities for students who want to make the most of their time in med school.
45. University of South Carolina School of Medicine
Date established: 1801
Location: Columbia, South Carolina
Graced with palm trees, sunshine, and Southern charm, the University of South Carolina School of Medicine boasts a hundred-acre campus just down the road from the main USC campus. With a large network of affiliated hospitals, the medical school is responsible for several rural health care facilities where medical excellence can benefit all residents conveniently.
At USC School of Medicine, students work under the careful oversight of accomplished physicians. Since research is a major thrust of the University’s focus, you can look forward to state-of-the-art research facilities that will equip you to make discoveries that matter. The diverse student body will afford you lifelong relationships and networking opportunities that can benefit you throughout your practice.
44. University of Arizona College of Medicine
Date established:1967
Location: Tucson, Arizona
Like a geometrical oasis, the University of Arizona College of Medicine offers an eye-engaging highlight in the dry Arizona desert. The new University of Arizona Cancer Center is a head-turner. The gutsy design is a stunning cross between squat monoliths and towering cacti. This addition coupled with the award-winning Health Sciences Education Building makes the med school a unique contender in our Beautiful Medical Schools rankings.
If you decide on the UA College of Medicine, you’ll have the opportunity to work in a variety of medical centers, including Banner Health, Phoenix Children’s Hospital, Maricopa Integrated Health System, St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center, Scottsdale Healthcare, Phoenix Baptist, Mayo Clinic and the Phoenix VA Health Care System. Each of these well-respected facilities will give you ample opportunity to gain valuable hands-on training.
43. A.T. Still University School of Osteopathic Medicine in Arizona
Date established: 2007
Location: Mesa, Arizona
A newcomer to the Arizona skyline, the sprawling A.T. Still University School of Osteopathic Medicine covers 100,000 square feet on a 22-acre campus. The streamlined architecture is simplistically modern yet beautiful. The new facilities have many plans still to come to make this a health care haven for the area. It’s already the home to a school of health sciences, a dental facility, and even a YMCA.
The accredited private school currently enrolls 431 students, and students who choose this school will be afforded the opportunity to serve a diverse demographic population, including Hispanic and Native American patients. If you enjoy broadening your horizons, ATSU School of Osteopathic Medicine might just be your place.
42. Weill Cornell Medical School
Date established: 1898
Location: New York, New York
The vintage, classy Weill Cornell Medical School is as much a part of New York City as Central Park is. The towering institution is known internationally as a top-ranked research and clinical facility. Its grand appearance is matched by its powerful reputation for excellence in biomedical research. Smack in the middle of Manhattan, the school has paid plenty of attention to detail in its lush landscaping, making this an especially appealing medical school, particularly if you’re a city lover.
Attending Cornell isn’t as easy as simply deciding it’s your favorite. The school is one of the nation’s most selective, according to the U.S. News and World Report. For example, in 2012, over 800 students were interviewed to fill only 101 seats: 5,886 prospective students had applied. If you are chosen to attend Weill Cornell Medical School, you can be confident that you’ll be surrounded by other students as committed to excellence as yourself.
41. Western Michigan University Homer Stryker M.D. School of Medicine
Date established: 2012
Location: Kalamazoo, Michigan
If you’re looking for a jaw-dropping, stop-you-in-your-tracks display, check out the new Western Michigan University Homer Stryker M.D. School of Medicine. Donated by MPI Research, the structure is a redesigned renovation of an old pharmaceutical research building in downtown Kalamazoo.
The new addition, with its curved shape and glass atrium, transformed the existing structure into an ultramodern learning center that aligns with the new medical school’s innovative curriculum, with two team-based learning halls, and more than 24,000 square feet dedicated to medical simulation.
For 23 years, the U.S. News and World Report has listed Western Michigan University, a collaborator in the private medical school along with Kalamazoo’s two teaching hospitals, as one of the best U.S. universities. The Carnegie Foundation has listed the University among 207 great research universities. Really, though, a single glance at the jaw-dropping architecture lets you know instantly that this medical school is special.
40. University of Central Florida College of Medicine
Date established: 2006
Location: Orlando, Florida
Right in keeping with the attraction that is Orlando, the University of Central Florida College of Medicine is a show-stopper. The sleek, inverted-curve facade of its medical building is the perfect backdrop for an event in the palm-edged courtyard, and the reflection of the night sky in the glass columns makes the building almost a link between the heavenly bodies above and the human bodies down below eager to explore the mysteries of modern medicine.
The campus is surrounded by lakes, and the palm trees and gorgeous landscaping makes this college as much of a destination for college families as the city itself is. Besides the many fun spots in and around the city, the campus is replete with fun activities of all sorts within its park-like environment. Several hospitals and medical institutes contribute to the campus’s “medical city” feel.
39. FIU Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine
Date established: 2006
Location: Miami, Florida
Modern yet modest; classy, yet low-key: the FIU Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine is Miami’s Mediterranean-style med school with an emphasis on caring for the under-served diverse populations of South Florida. Beautifully landscaped walkways and parks make this college a lovely choice for medical school.
The new medical school was birthed out of a shortage of quality health care professionals. With ties to Baptist Health System, Broward Health System, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Jackson North Medical Center, Leon Medical Centers, Memorial Health Care System (Hollywood), Mercy Hospital, Miami Children’s Hospital, Mt. Sinai Medical Center, students attending FIU Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine can look forward to a future bright with opportunity and open doors.
38. Rush Medical College
Date established: 1837
Location: Chicago, Illinois
At first glimpse of the East Tower of Rush Medical College, you’re likely to think of an airplane perched on top of a glass-lined library. The stunning architecture is a modern marvel, and one that students aren’t likely to tire of enjoying. At Rush Medical College, students enjoy an education in an urban setting. Chicago’s always busy, and there’s no shortage for things to do on those rare times when the books aren’t beckoning.
The president of Rush Medical College was also a graduate in 1979. To him, the massive institution operates like a family of sorts. With over 2,600 faculty and staff members, 525 med students and 620 residents and fellows, Rush Medical College offers unique hands-on learning experiences and clinical community service opportunities that serve many of the needs in the Chicagoland area.
37. Creighton University School of Medicine
Date established: 1892
Location: Omaha, Nebraska
Especially at night, the Creighton University School of Medicine is a striking sight. With its bright tree-studded lawns and the lights of the building, the state-of-the-art architecture, with its arches and walls of glass, is a beautiful sight. The Catholic school was started by Jesuits in 1892, and it has developed into a medical institution with style.
Named one of the Midwest’s best colleges by the U.S. News and World Report, Creighton attracts some of the most dedicated staff and students the Midwest has to offer. Students gain experience at Saint Joseph Hospital, four Health Science Professional Schools that award clinical doctorates in Pharmacy, Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy, the Omaha VA Hospital and Creighton Medical Associates.
36. Stony Brook University School of Medicine
Date established: 1971
Location: Stony Brook, New York
Wide panels of sparkling blue-tinged glass span the horizon. Rising high above in the background, striking twin black towers overlook the Stony Brook University Hospital on the campus of Long Island’s illustrious Stony Brook University School of Medicine. The school was featured in the 2011 U.S. News and World Report on Medical Programs for its excellence in research and primary care.
According to their website, the mission of Stony Brook University School of Medicine is to “advance our understanding of the origins of human health and disease, to train the next generation of committed, curious and highly capable physicians, and to deliver world-class, compassionate healthcare.” Such lofty ideals help make Stony Brook a leading candidate for top young med students seeking the best in medical education.
35. University of Iowa Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine
Date established: 1870
Location: Iowa City, Iowa
You might feel a bit off-kilter as you approach the University of Iowa’s Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine. Here, classic architecture meets unorthodox, daring styling, like the light blue boxy structure that appears to have dropped out of the sky neatly onto the modern artsy building. The intellectually stimulating architecture is anything but boring, a nice perk for students who are consumed with seemingly never-ending study.
The state-of-the-art structures house world class medical educational facilities that ranks highly across the board. The U.S. News and World Report listed the Carver College of Medicine’s Physician Assistant Masters Programs at the 2nd place in the nation. This, one of many prestigious honors given the school, is just another reason why the IU Carver College of Medicine is at the head of its class.
34. University of Texas School of Medicine at San Antonio
Date established: 1959
Location:San Antonio, Texas
They say everything’s bigger in Texas, and this proves it. This yawning campus stretches across the San Antonio horizon line, offering dedicated care to the residents of San Antonio. The school is ranked in the top 13% of colleges receiving supports from the National Institute of Health.
Named one of the top three colleges in the nation for Hispanic students by Hispanic Business magazine, the diversity of this college offers students a diverse student body and the skills necessary to treat members of various ethnic backgrounds with utmost respect and care.
33. University of Hawaii John A. Burns School of Medicine
Date established: 1965
Location: Honolulu, Hawaii
With its cheerful trendy colors and backdropped by the Pacific Ocean, you’d never guess that the luxurious John A. Burns School of Medicine, or JABSOM, isn’t a high class resort for awestruck vacationists. Chances are, with a view like this one, lifelong faculty are just as awestruck day by day as they head to work at the gorgeous facility.
Known around the world for its research and development as well as its green energy initiatives, JABSOM is one of the most highly regarded medical institutions in the world. The school works in collaboration with other top research facilities around the nation, and its advancements have given JABSOM a reputation that is almost unsurpassed. With a view like this, it’s easy to understand.
32. Robert Wood Johnson Medical School
Date established: 1962
Location: New Brunswick and Piscataway, New Jersey
With its beautiful New England vegetation, Rutgers’ Robert Wood Johnson Medical School is a nice blend of the rural countryside in one direction and the nearby urban center in the other. The classic college setting features a tall main structure with contemporary lines and bold accents.
Graduates of Robert Wood Johnson Medical School are highly satisfied with their places of service. The Match Rate of the institution, measuring the proportion of students who match to their choice of residency programs, is usually between 98 and 100 percent every year.
31. Emory University School of Medicine
Date established: 1915
Location: Atlanta, Georgia
A solid Southern institution with strong Italian influence, Emory University School of Medicine is more than a top-ranked med school. It epitomizes everything classic and consistent about the South. Located in the rolling hills of Atlanta, Emory’s genteel air offers a quiet, sophisticated air in what is arguably the most bustling city in the Southland.
Emory offers a vast smorgasbord of activities and special events. The student population is extremely diverse, and the on-campus hospital allows you to stay close by. The president is well-liked by the student body, and the college is continually seeking to move forward. Combined with its excellent reputation for superior academics, the beauty of the Emory University School of Medicine makes this a top pick.
30. Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
Date established: 1893
Location: Baltimore, Maryland
Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine offers an impressive Gothic flavor. Its red brick structures with immaculate landscaping and lush trees is located on the Chesapeake Bay. The classic Georgian architecture inspires a sense of lasting quality, as is consistent with the Johns Hopkins University reputation. The college was the first of its kind to pair medical education with practical teaching hospital scenarios.
Johns Hopkins offers excellent research opportunities for students who enjoy asking questions. Visiting the campus and getting a feel for the smaller student body and comfortable campus makes it a great pick for students who previously may have not considered the school.
29. Nova Southeastern University College of Osteopathic Medicine
Date established: 1979
Location: Davie, Florida
Located in short proximity to the beach, the Nova Southeastern College of Osteopathic Medicine can’t help but be lovely. Studded with palm trees, the pristine, classic-yet-modern designs make this a beautiful campus for the medical students who don’t have a lot of spare time to spend at the beach.
The college offers collaborative residency programs in family medicine, internal medicine, emergency medicine, preventative medicine, pediatrics, general surgery, orthopedic surgery, anesthesiology, and dermatology. Fellowship programs are also available in sports medicine, geriatrics, rheumatology, cardiology, forensic pathology, and gynecological oncology.
If you’re looking for an institution that will provide you with a broad range of specializations and is convenient to the year-round beauty of the Florida sands, take a visit to Nova Southeastern College of Osteopathic Medicine.
28. University of Virginia School of Medicine
Date established: 1819
Location: Charlottesville, Virginia
This is just the sort of campus to make you smile. The stunning architecture is breathtaking the year round, and the surrounding Blue Ridge Mountains you’ll pass on your way to the campus are the perfect backdrop for the beautiful buildings. The medical school adds a touch of modernity to the classic Jeffersonian campus, just as the medical program endeavors to integrate innovation with classic care.
When Thomas Jefferson founded the University of Virginia, he wanted it to be “A blessing to my state, and not un-useful to some others.” The UV School of Medicine does just that, ranking among Johns Hopkins, Duke, and UNC-Chapel Hill for excellence in research.
27. University of Puerto Rico School of Medicine
Date established: 1912
Location: San Juan, Puerto Rico
In an opulent Spanish mission style, the University of Puerto Rico’s School of Medicine offers breathtaking landscaping with classic Latin style. The school is the only medical school offered by the University of Puerto Rico system, and most of the students are native Puerto Rican residents. It’s almost like a secret, tucked beyond the bounds of the contiguous 48 states.
The curriculum, which is accredited by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education, provided students with two years of study in biomedical sciences and two years participation in clinical clerkships.
26. University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine
Date established: 1927
Location: Chicago, Illinois
The classic Gothic architecture of the University of Chicago’s Pritzker School of Medicine is located on the campus of the University of Chicago, an unusual characteristic for a med school. The University has been named one of Chicago’s seven wonders, which is a huge distinction in a city as illustrious as The Windy City.
The school offers the community its $130 million Comer Children’s Hospital as well as the University of Chicago Medical Center. The Pritzker School of Medicine places a large emphasis on diversity, and students attending this school are sure to walk away with an appreciation for people from all walks of life.
25. Feinberg School of Medicine at Northwestern University
Date established: 1859
Location: Chicago, Illinois
There’s one word for the edifice that is the Feinberg School of Medicine at Northwestern University: Wow. The structure, which is reminiscent of a towering castle in days of yore, is grounded by the glittering skyscraper nestled behind it. Known for its unique approach to medical education, the school offers exciting extracurricular activities and encourages students to broaden their interests.
The school is yet another example of architectural genius meeting research excellence. This highly ranked school offers rich opportunities for delving into research and going beyond the scope of common understanding.
24. Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University
Date established: 1959
Location: New York, New York
The Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University in New York City is simply brilliant. It’s the perfect blend of stoic, unpretentious solidity and Frank Lloyd Wright-esque innovative design. The beautiful landscaping offers the perfect counterpoint to the captivating architecture.
The beauty of the Albert Einstein College of Medicine is a tribute to the genius of its namesake and the supporters of Yeshiva University. Its purpose is to inspire further biomedical investigation and to develop compassionate and ethical scientists and physicians.
23. UC Irvine School of Medicine
Date established: 1896
Location: Orange County, California
Located in Orange County, California, the UC Irvine School of Medicine is exactly what a California institution should be: clean, fresh, and modern. The exotic palm trees underscore the allure of the campus, which made the U.S. News and World Report’s Top 50 medical schools for research 14 years running.
More than 100 of its physicians are named Best Doctors in America by Best Doctors Inc. The institution also offers the area’s only high-risk perinatal and neonatal program, and it offers the area’s only maternal and fetal transport system.
22. University of Cincinnati Academic Health Center
Date established: 1819
Location:Cincinnati, Ohio
Sleek and cutting edge: you’ll be hard-pressed to find a school that looks more innovative than the University of Cincinnati’s Academic Health Center. Just a glance is enough to tell you that this school is special.
The University of Cincinnati is especially attractive to students who fear the rigors of the application process. Connections, its dual applications program, allows all students admission who pass the required GPA and MCAT qualifications.
This is an exciting offer, especially considering that the school is ranked in the top one-third of U.S. medical schools. Other students are attracted to the University of Cincinnati after attending one of its summer research fellowships.
21. West Virginia University School of Medicine
Date established: 1902
Location: Morgantown, West Virginia
The West Virginia University School of Medicine is a sprawling complex with lush trees and beautiful landscaping. It actually consists of three campuses, and is one of only three medical schools in West Virginia.
Students have the options of studying medicine, physical and occupational therapy, lab science, exercise physiology, and research and graduate education, among others. Students are given hands-on learning opportunities at both major hospitals and rural clinics. As one of the historic land grant institutions, the West Virginia University has a long heritage of providing new answers for age-old questions.
20. Indiana University School of Medicine
Date established: 1903
Location: Indianapolis, Indiana
The striking glass facade of the Indiana University School of Medicine suggests light and clarity, vital attributes for either a physician or a med school. The medical school offers eight regional locations for students to pursue their degrees besides the main campus at Indiana University – Purdue University Indianapolis, or IUPUI.
The other locations are at Bloomington, Muncie, Fort Wayne, South Bend, Terre Haute, Evansville, West Lafayette, and Gary. This convenience makes obtaining a medical degree much more attainable – even if you won’t get to enjoy the architectural brilliance pictured above.
19. Vanderbilt University School of Medicine
Date established: 1875
Location: Nashville, Tennessee
Built by the illustrius Vanderbilt philanthropists in 1875, Vanderbilt has long enjoyed a stellar reputation as one of the world’s best medical institutions. The Vanderbilt Medical Center offers incredible learning opportunities, with world-class specializations including the Monroe Carell Children’s Medical Center.
Vanderbilt offers a dynamic student body, excellent SEC sports, and the richness of West Nashville, an elite community that contributes to the awe surrounding Vanderbilt University. Combine all that with the city’s Southern hospitality and the park-like setting of the Nashville campus, and you’ll be ready to pack your bags and head to beautiful Vanderbilt.
18. David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA
Date established: 1951
Location: Los Angeles, California
Distinguished by its gorgeous California sunshine, elaborate sculpture gardens, and the many activities for medical students, the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA glitters like a star. The Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center offers students excellent opportunities to gain experience in a state-of-the-art new setting.
At the UCLA School of Medicine, it’s not all bookwork. Students have a large pool of student activities to enjoy, including a talent show and several banquets. Alumni who’ve graduated from the medical school can participate in Books without Borders to assist U.S. military health care workers stationed in Afghanistan and Iraq.
17. Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center
Date established: 1967
Location: Hershey, Pennsylvania
Everything about Penn State’s Milton S. Hershey Medical Center appears well-designed: from the concave layout of the main building to the strategically planned walkways and parking lots, the entire campus is a study in planning and forethought. The attractive 550-acre campus is surrounded by the picturesque Pennsylvania countryside.
The affiliated Penn State Hershey Children’s Hospital was nationally ranked in six of the U.S. News and World Report’s specialty lists. These students are learning side by side with some of the world’s best children’s specialists.
16. Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine
Date established: 1843
Location: Cleveland, Ohio
Like a picture out of the Jetsons, the Case Western Reserve School of Medicine is a space-age, stunning campus that boasts genius design and gorgeous landscaping. Students can enjoy the beautiful surroundings at a lunch in the garden food court or on a leisurely stroll through the eye-catching parks. Lake Erie is right next door, and the school is in close proximity to a variety of culture-rich opportunities.
Case Western Reserve University is the alma mater of several illustrious developers: Paul Buchheit, creator of Gmail; Craig Newmark, mastermind of craigslist.org; and Peter Tippett, originator of Norton AntiVirus. In 2002, the Case Western Reserve School of Medicine became only the third college ever to receive the top review possible from the Liaison Committee on Medical Education, the organization that grants accreditation to U.S. medical degree programs.
15. University of North Carolina School of Medicine
Date established: 1879
Location: Chapel Hill, North Carolina
The fresh geometric neatness of the University of North Carolina Health Care campus stretches to include several medical centers. The surrounding, classic neighborhoods contrast nicely with the sleek, contemporary feel of the lovely campus.
According to the U.S. News and World Report, the University of North Carolina School of Medicine recently ranked 2nd in Primary Care and 22nd in Research overall. The school aims to be the nation’s leading public school of medicine for the people of North Carolina. With medical instruction offered at Chapel Hill since before the Civil War, the college has increasingly progressed to fulfill this purpose for over a century and a half.
UNC was ranked #1 in our list of the best online MPH programs.
14. UC San Diego School of Medicine
Date established: 1968
Location: La Jolla, California
The University of California at San Diego School of Medicine is a forward-thinking, progressive institution, and this is reflected abundantly in its architecture. Students have the opportunities to serve in several medical centers including UC San Diego Medical Center, the VA San Diego Hospital, the Naval Regional Medical Center, and the Rady Children’s Hospital San Diego.
With emphases in neuroscience, family medicine, and innovations in surgery, The UC at San Diego attracts medical students who are eager to be inventors and problem solvers in the medical field.
13. Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth
Date established: 1797
Location: Hanover, New Hampshire
Classic. Solemn. Respectable. Dartmouth’s Geisel School of Medicine, in the rural shire of Hanover, is everything you’d expect a medical institute to be. Ivy League in every aspect, the quaint New England town is crowned by the impressive structures, and a simple walk across campus is an uplifting experience not to be taken for granted.
The nearby Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center is the main teaching hospital of the Geisel School of Medicine. Third- and fourth-year students may select from 75 regional clerkships to fulfill their graduation requirements.
12. Temple University School of Medicine
Date established: 1901
Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
There’s no missing the new Temple University School of Medicine. The $160 million structure is an 11-story behemoth constructed of 480,000 square feet of building cased in glass and red brick. On a clear day, the effect is strikingly patriotic. The building is a welcome addition to the institution, affording a gorgeous opportunity to learn and research while viewing the Philadelphia skyline.
There’s a quote on the wall of the Medical Education and Research Building: “The good physician treats the disease; the great physician treats the patient who has the disease.” This idea that the patient’s overall well-being is paramount has guided the institution in developing its humanitarian practices.
11. Vermont University College of Medicine
Date established: 1822
Location: Burlington, Vermont
The sprawling Vermont University College of Medicine makes the town of Burlington alive with bustling activity. The winsome city and college are home to many quaint shops and entertainment opportunities.
In the background, Lake Champlain flows past the 460 acres of campus, and students taking a stroll can enjoy the beautiful lake and hope for a sighting of Champ, the supposed “Loch Nessie of Lake Champlain.” The gorgeous, tree-lined parks of Burlington make this city a favorite for families visiting their students and area residents.
10. Boston University School of Medicine
Date established: 1848
Location: Boston, Massachusetts
The quaint, ivy-covered walls of the Boston University School of Medicine lend a whimsical touch to the winsome campus. Located in one of Boston’s charming South End, the Victorian architecture is appealing and lends a homey-flavor to the prestigious university’s rigorous programs. With a 700-student strong population, the Boston University Medical School offers an exceptional trauma center; it’s one of New England’s greatest.
Named one of the 100 best universities in the world by London’s Times Higher Education magazine, the college offers early introductions of the students to patients, with clinicals beginning the first week of the first year of study. The clinical experience includes both ambulatory and inpatient training, giving these students deep hands-on experience from the beginning.
9. University of Colorado School of Medicine
Date established: 1883
Location: Aurora, Colorado
If you enjoy creative modern art, you’ll feel right at home on the 227-acre Anschutz Medical Campus of the University of Colorado School of Medicine. It houses both the medical school and the UC Hospital and Children’s Hospital, where resident students can get a first-hand experience in their chosen career path. The contemporary aesthetics of the campus ensure that any walk across the vast campus will be stimulating and refreshing.
If you have a desire to treat those suffering from accidents and trauma, the school offers a stellar team of experts at treating flame, scald, chemical and electric burns, frostbite injuries, and soft tissue diseases. Working alongside these professionals will give you some of the best training experience you could receive anywhere.
8. Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine – Carolinas
Date established: 2010
Location: Spartanburg, South Carolina
The Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine (VCOM) – Carolinas campus, located in Spartanburg, South Carolina, sports a high-contrast façade. VCOM-Carolinas also features a half-mile walking track with iFit workout stations, a scenic pond and a historic 182-foot smoke stack that remains from the cotton mill that formerly stood where the college is now located.
The very small campus offers a close-knit community of students with the intent of supplying rural Appalachia with much-needed medical assistance. Since a major purpose of the institution is to locate capable medical students in rural areas, the student body isn’t as diverse as other urban institutions. Still, the college is adept at filling the important niche for which it was founded as well as supplying other areas with medical expertise and quality health care.
7. Stanford University School of Medicine
Date established: 1908
Location: Stanford, California
The world-class Stanford University School of Medicine offers students top-notch facilities in a gorgeous, contemporary setting. With the prestige of being one of the world’s leading research institutions, Stanford offers students a rich, diverse student life, with intensive study tempered by a laid-back, relaxing environment.
Students at Stanford enjoy successful sports teams, beautiful California weather, and close proximity to some of the most breathtaking sights in the world in the San Fransisco Bay. The school offers a wide range of perspectives, allowing students more freedom of thought than other institutions of their ilk.
All in all, attending Stanford is a dream come true for ecstatic students who open the mailbox to much-awaited acceptance letters.
6. Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons
Date established: 1767
Location: New York, New York
Columbia University has long been lauded as one of the world’s greatest forward thinking institutions; a place where students are encouraged to innovate and create rather than merely absorb and regurgitate.
The campus of the legendary university is as magnificent as its reputation would suggest. The rotunda implies a solemn importance that is magnified by the achievements of Columbia’s graduates. In 1767, the college was established, and it was the first medical school in the U.S. to award an MD degree.
Through the years, cream of the crop minds that were turned away at other institutions for ethnic reasons were welcomed at Columbia. Here, being Jewish, Black American, Asian, or Hispanic is of little consequence. What matters is aptitude and spirit; individuals that seek to make a difference are welcome. Here, demographics don’t rule.
5. University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
Date established: 1943
Location:Dallas,Texas
According the U.S. News and World Report, the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center is in the top 25% of all med school nationwide. The neat campus offers eye-pleasing geometric design and dry-weather landscaping for those harsh summer droughts.
With six staff members who have won Nobel Prizes, students attending University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center can study with the confidence born of learning from top-class minds. The school offers expert technology, affording students ground-breaking new methods and inventive strategies.
Morehouse School of Medicine
Date established: 1975
Location: Atlanta, Georgia
Although Morehouse College is one of the smaller medical schools listed, its captivating appeal and scrupulous maintenance makes this school a show-stopper. The historically black college offers Atlanta another option for high-class medical excellence.
Morehouse School of Medicine is more than just another great med school, however. Historically a black school, Morehouse School of Medicine and Morehouse College have offered a new way of life to its graduates for decades, preparing them to make a difference regardless of their diverse backgrounds. For many, the school has served as a bridge to becoming an advocate of the under-served and a mentor and role model to those who need it most.
3. Mayo Medical School
Date established: 1972
Location: Rochester, Minnesota
The Mayo Medical School campus is a perfect metaphor for the Mayo Medical System’s existence. A charming, home-like campus center is backed by a towering skyscraper, suggesting the power that backs the user-friendly Mayo Clinic research programs.
With over 26,000 faculty, staff, and students, Mayo Medical School is a much more bustling environment than the deceptively quaint front building. Students are afforded unheard-of research opportunities at Mayo, and future prospects are bright for the students blessed to attend this prestigious program.
2. University of Utah School of Medicine
Date established: 1905
Location: Salt Lake City, Utah
The striking red facade of the c is a welcome sight to students in the gorgeous, laid back capital city of Utah. Close to rural Utah but minutes from downtown, students can enjoy the sweeping mountain vistas and the beautiful parks and paths. Since this city has made several “Best Place to Live” lists, students can expect to enjoy the perks of living in such a gorgeous setting.
The University of Utah School of Medicine seeks to provide much-needed health care professionals and well-trained doctors to meet the troubling health care shortages. In such a breathtaking location, it’s easy for students to enjoy the journey to answering the call to care for the sick.
1. Duke University School of Medicine
Date established: 1930
Location: Durham, North Carolina
With the air of a regal palace, the Duke University School of Medicine works hand in glove with the Duke University Medical Center, a world-class facility for biomedical research and stellar patient care. The breathtaking Gothic architecture and the 55 acre Sarah P. Duke Gardens makes Duke University School of Medicine a crowd pleaser for its beauty and its performance.
Located in beautiful Durham, North Carolina, Duke offers an affordable cost of living, low crime rate, and mild climate for those who decide to put their roots down here after graduation.
