How many medical schools are in the United States? There are currently 155 allopathic (MD) medical schools and 38 osteopathic (DO) medical schools in the US. That’s certainly a lot to choose from, no matter which medical path you choose.
In this post, we’ll share a clear chart of every medical school available to you organized by state. We’ll separate the two charts based on allopathic applications through AMCAS, allopathic applications through TMDSAS, and osteopathic applications through AACOMAS. We’ll also share tips for how to narrow down your school list so that you choose the ideal schools for you.
How Many Medical Schools Are in the United States?
Allopathic (MD) Medical Schools
There are 155 MD medical schools that premeds have to choose from in the United States. Most of these medical schools can be applied to through AMCAS, the centralized medical school application system, with the exception of a handful of Texas medical schools that utilize TMDSAS (The Texas Medical & Dental Schools Application Service.) The following list is alphabetical by state.
Osteopathic (DO) Medical Schools
There are 38 osteopathic (DO) medical schools in the United States. The majority of these medical schools must be applied to through AACOMAS (American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine Application Service), with the exception of a few TMDSAS application schools. The following list is alphabetical by state.
How to Choose Which Medical Schools to Apply to
AMCAS vs. AACOMAS vs. TMDSAS
Centralized application services make it easy to submit your application to multiple schools at one time. For the majority of schools you may want to apply to, you’ll use AMCAS, the American Medical College Application Service. It doesn’t matter how many different AMCAS schools you intend to apply to; you only need to submit one set of application materials to AMCAS.
AACOMAS is the centralized online application service for the US colleges of osteopathic medicine. It’s the primary application method for students who want to pursue osteopathy.
TMDSAS is the primary application service for most medical schools located in Texas, including dental and veterinary schools.
The applications for each are very similar, but they do have key differences. For example, for the AACOMAS letters of recommendation, you need to go beyond illustrating why you want to become a doctor to specifically explain why you want to become an osteopathic doctor.
Carefully consider whether or not you want to apply to schools across multiple application systems. The state of Texas only accepts a maximum of 10% of medical students from out-of-state, so you’ll want to think long and hard about whether or not you take the time to apply to these competitive schools if you are not from or don’t currently reside in Texas.
Factors to Consider When Choosing Your School List
Choosing which schools you want to apply to is a big decision to make, and there are many factors that come into play. These factors go well beyond school rank and prestige. It’s vital to your future success that you ensure you choose schools that will provide you with the medical education you desire while also suiting your personality, values, and career goals.
It’s all about fit. How will you fit within the medical school community? How will you fit with the curriculum styles? And how will you fit within the campus and greater city area?
We have a complete guide on how to choose which medical schools to apply to that we recommend you save and read while narrowing down your choices. Ideally, you’re looking for about 20 schools, but that list may increase or decrease depending on your situation.
Learn more in our comprehensive guide: How Many Medical Schools Should I Apply to?
Here are a few factors to keep in mind, but please do check out our full guide linked above.
- What do the cold, hard numbers say? Do you have the MCAT score and GPA required to be considered? Utilize the MSAR to determine which schools you can apply to based on past matriculant data.
- What are the school’s values? Do they align with your own?
- What’s the city like where the medical school is located? Is it a place you could see yourself living for at least four years?
- What is the cost of living in that city? How much does it cost to rent an apartment? How much is transportation? Can you take public transportation, or will you need to buy a car? How much are groceries, restaurants, and other activities in comparison to what you are used to?
- What are the students and faculty like? Could you see yourself working with these people? Could you see yourself making lifelong friends in the school’s community?
- What is the school’s curriculum like? How do they grade students? Do they grade students? What’s the school’s philosophy of teaching?
- What opportunities would be available to you at that specific program? What research opportunities are available? What specializations are prioritized?
- What financial aid opportunities are available at the programs you are considering?
Decision Making
Decisions of any kind can be tough, but in this case, you’re not just choosing what toppings you want on your pizza. The schools you apply to, and the school you ultimately choose to attend medical school at, will have a profound effect on your life for the next four years, as well as the trajectory of your medical career.
That thought can be a lot for premeds to handle, and for some, the idea of making a life-altering decision like this can be debilitating. If you’re struggling to make a decision about which schools to apply to or make a decision about any aspect of your life, we always recommend beginning with thorough research. Research will help you navigate the decision making process and help you make informed decisions about your future.
When it comes to school decisions, go well beyond simple school website searches. Utilize MSAR to get a better idea of the grades and scores you’ll need to achieve. Browse online message boards, ask questions, and reach out to real students to learn about their experiences and opinions of the program.
If you can, spend some time exploring the campuses of the schools you’re considering applying to. This will give you a feel for what it will be like to attend the school and provide you with an opportunity to interact with students and the community. What is the vibe like on campus? Do you feel comfortable? What’s transportation like? How do you feel about the city the school’s located in? Are there activities for you to enjoy outside of your studies?
Learn more about making effective decisions in our guide: How to Make Tough Decisions — 7 Strategies for Better Decision Making.
Choose the Ideal Path for You
Med School Insiders will help you choose the medical schools that are best for you. We can also help you enhance your application so that you’ll be guaranteed to get noticed by your top choice schools. Our team of doctors has years of experience serving on admissions committees, so you’ll receive key insights from people who have been intimately involved with the selection process.
Learn more about our Comprehensive Medical School Admissions Packages, which are tailored to your needs and the specific schools you are applying to.
For more premed guides, study strategies, and the latest advice on how to get into and succeed at medical school, follow the Med School Insiders blog and sign up for our weekly newsletter.
