18 Best Medical Schools in New York – 2024

New York State boasts a rich landscape of medical education, offering aspiring physicians a diverse array of opportunities for their academic and professional growth. From renowned institutions in the heart of New York City to programs in the rural regions of Upstate New York, the state’s medical schools exemplify excellence in training the next generation of healthcare leaders. This guide overviews the admissions statistics and distinctive features of eighteen medical institutions in the Empire State. Please note that the Best Medical Schools in New York are ordered by acceptance rate, from lowest to highest. The number is not indicative of one school being “better” than another. All schools on this list are fantastic world-class medical schools from which you can launch a successful medical career.

You may also wish to explore these related blogs:

• Best Medical Schools in Pennsylvania
• Best Medical Schools in Chicago
• Best Medical Schools in California
• Best Osteopathic Medical Schools

1) NYU Long Island School of Medicine

NYU-LISOM is a three-year, tuition-free MD program aiming to increase primary care physicians. As a small program, it only accepts 24 students annually, but the class size is expected to grow to 40 students. Its curriculum focuses on integrated care, population health, and health systems science. Additionally, attendees enjoy the benefit of early residency acceptance at NYU Langone Hospital-Long Island.

• Location: Mineola, Long Island
• Acceptance Rate: 0.55%
• Average GPA: 3.78
• Average MCAT: 515
• Degrees Offered: MD

 2) Weill Cornell Medical College

Weill Cornell boasts a progressive curriculum that prioritizes active learning and small-group interaction. With a class size of 106, students benefit from global health emphasis with research opportunities in 62 countries. Because Weill Cornell shares a campus with New York-Presbyterian Hospital and Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, students can access top-tier research and diverse patient exposure, including student-run community clinics.

• Location: Manhattan, NYC
• Acceptance Rate: 1.5%
• Average GPA: 3.19
• Average MCAT: 519
• Degrees Offered: MD, MD/PhD
  Academic Highlights:

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3) Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai

Mount Sinai’s Icahn School of Medicine trains its annual class of 140 students on transforming medicine through activism and entrepreneurship. Its flexible pass/fail curriculum fosters individualized learning and leadership. Moreover, students benefit from embedded hospital training and extensive research opportunities such as a year-long scholarly project or self-directed learning through “Flex Time.”

• Location: Manhattan, NYC
• Acceptance Rate: 1.8%
• Average GPA: 3.81
• Average MCAT: 519
• Degrees Offered: MD, MD/PhD, MD/MPH, MD/MSCR

4) University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry

Rochester’s “Double Helix” curriculum blends biopsychosocial education with a humanities focus, earning it the nickname “Liberal Arts School of Medicine.” With a class size of 105, students gain early clinical experience at the University of Rochester Medical Center. In addition, students can pursue specific pathways in medical humanities, bioethics, and LatinX health to expose them to diverse patient populations and prepare them to serve underserved communities in Upstate New York.

• Location: Rochester
• Acceptance Rate: 1.8%
• Average GPA: 3.82
• Average MCAT: 516
• Degrees Offered: MD, MD/PhD

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5) Albany Medical College

Albany Medical College, one of the nation’s oldest private medical schools, boasts a rich history and strong reputation. With a class size of 145, students benefit from clinical rotations at Albany Medical Center Hospital, the region’s only academic medical center. Offering a traditional curriculum and emphasizing service learning, Albany provides valuable clinical experiences and a lower cost of living compared to NYC.

• Location: Albany
• Acceptance Rate: 2%
• Average GPA: 3.7
• Average MCAT: 510
• Degrees Offered: MD, MD/PhD, MD/MPH, MD/MBA

6) Albert Einstein College of Medicine

With a larger annual class of 183, Albert Einstein College of Medicine provides rich clinical experiences with a focus on underserved populations. Its pass/fail curriculum emphasizes community engagement and population health. Paired with non-mandatory recorded lectures, students engage in mentor-guided research, culminating in a scholarly paper. Most notably, the school is tuition-free starting in the fall of 2024.

• Location: Bronx, NYC
• Acceptance Rate: 2%
• Average GPA: 3.82
• Average MCAT: 516
• Degrees Offered: MD, MD/PhD, MD/MPH, MD/MBE, MD/MS

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7) Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons

Columbia’s curriculum stands out for its distinctive elements, including curricular threads like medical decision-making and biomedical informatics. Students can also participate in a Differentiation & Integration block, where they pursue scholarly projects. With a class size of 170, Columbia Vagelos provides abundant research opportunities. Clinical training extends across NYC hospitals and student-run clinics, with the option to specialize in rural medicine through the Columbia-Bassett track, enriching students’ clinical experiences.

• Location: Manhattan, NYC
• Acceptance Rate: 2.1%
• Average GPA: 3.9
• Average MCAT: 522
• Degrees Offered: MD, MD/PhD, MD/MS, MD/MA, MD/MBA, MD/MPH

8) Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell

Zucker School of Medicine, a partnership between Hofstra University and Northwell healthcare system, was founded in 2008. With a class size of about 100, students benefit from early clinical exposure and access to a diverse patient population across Long Island and NYC. By graduation, nearly 100% of students take advantage of state-of-the-art facilities and research opportunities at Northwell’s Feinstein Institutes to further enhance their learning experience at Hofstra.

• Location: Hempstead
• Acceptance Rate: 2.2%
• Average GPA: 3.86
• Average MCAT: 518
• Degrees Offered: MD, MD/PhD, MD/MPH, MD/MBA, MD/OMS, MD/MA

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9) Renaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook University

As New York’s top-ranked public medical school, Stony Brook excels in research, global health, and professional identity formation. With a class size of 135, students benefit from relatively affordable in-state tuition and training at Stony Brook University Hospital, Long Island’s premier tertiary care center and Level 1 trauma center. Stony Brook offers a Scholarly Concentrations Program and an accelerated three-year MD program with conditional residency acceptance.

• Location: Stony Brook
• Acceptance Rate: 2.5%
• Average GPA: 3.89
• Average MCAT: 515
• Degrees Offered: MD, MD/PhD

10) NYU Grossman School of Medicine

At NYU Grossman, all 100 students of each admitted class receive a scholarship covering four years of tuition. NYU features an innovative curriculum known as the “Curriculum of the 21^st Century,” which prioritizes early clinical exposure, interdisciplinary education, and individualized exploration. Furthermore, students can gain diverse clinical training at NYU Langone Health, Bellevue Hospital, and the Manhattan VA Hospital. On top of that, NYU offers a three-year accelerated MD program with conditional residency acceptance.

• Location: Manhattan, NYC
• Acceptance Rate: 2.7%
• Average GPA: 3.97
• Average MCAT: 523
• Degrees Offered: MD, MD/PhD, MD/MPA, MD/MPH, MD/MS, MD/MA, MD/MBA

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11) Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine (Middletown & Harlem Campuses)

Founded in 2007, Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine operates campuses in Harlem and the Hudson Valley. Emphasizing healthcare in underserved communities, Touro trains physicians from underrepresented minority backgrounds. Additionally, its curriculum, featuring a flipped classroom model, prioritizes community service during pre-clinical years. With a class size of 135 per campus, Touro students rotate at clinical sites in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Connecticut with 80% in underserved areas.

• Location: Middletown & Harlem, NYC
• Acceptance Rate: 2.7%
• Average GPA: 3.48/3.47
• Average MCAT: 503/506
• Degrees Offered: DO

12) Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences at the University at Buffalo

With an annual class of 180 students, the University of Buffalo offers affordable in-state tuition and a low cost of living. Recently, the school has introduced the Well Beyond Curriculum for students admitted in 2024 and beyond, prioritizing a robust knowledge base and early clinical exposure. In addition, students have access to opportunities like a modern medical facility, early mentorship from community-based physicians, a Global Medicine Program for international experiences, and a medical leadership track.

• Location: Buffalo
• Acceptance Rate: 3%
• Average GPA: 3.58
• Average MCAT: 507
• Degrees Offered: MD, MD/PhD, MD/MBA, MD/MPH

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13) SUNY Upstate Medical University Alan and Marlene Norton College of Medicine

SUNY Upstate offers affordable in-state tuition and the option for high-performing students to complete their degree in three years. The university’s mission to improve local community health is evident in opportunities like the Rural Medicine Scholars Program, which aims to address rural physician shortages. Specifically, students take four years of electives focused on rural health issues and train under community-based medical professionals.

• Location: Syracuse
• Acceptance Rate: 3%
• Average GPA: 3.64
• Average MCAT: 510
• Degrees Offered: MD, MD/PhD, MD/MPH

14) New York Medical College

New York Medical College, with a class size of 214, joined the Touro College and University System in 2011. Located in suburban Westchester County, NYMC prioritizes a humanistic, inclusive approach where students gain early exposure to community-based primary care. Additionally, NYMC’s primary rotation sites include Westchester Medical Center, Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital, and Metropolitan Hospital Center, offering a wide range of clinical experiences.

• Location: Valhalla
• Acceptance Rate: 3.5%
• Average GPA: 3.6
• Average MCAT: 514
• Degrees Offered: MD, MD/PhD, MD/MPH

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15) SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University College of Medicine

SUNY Downstate is Brooklyn’s only academic medical center. Each annual class of 200 students benefits from excellent clinical training at the University Hospital of Brooklyn and community partners. Also, the Integrated Pathways Curriculum addresses urban-specific medical issues, emphasizing care for the underserved. SUNY Downstate offers New York residents in-state tuition and opportunities for summer and one-year funded research fellowships.

• Location: Brooklyn, NYC
• Acceptance Rate: 3.6%
• Average GPA: 3.73
• Average MCAT: 513
• Degrees Offered: MD, MD/PhD, MD/MPH

16) New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine

Admitting about 320 students yearly, NYITCOM focuses on patient-centered, population-based healthcare, preparing students for diverse practice settings. Its innovative curriculum integrates technology with synchronized lectures, telemedicine, and robotics. As such, students have the option to take one of two tracks: the lecture-discussion based track or the doctor-patient continuum track. Furthermore, NYITCOM offers applicants consideration for its newer campus in Jonesboro, Arkansas, providing opportunities for dual-location training.

• Location: Old Westbury, Long Island
• Acceptance Rate: 3.9%
• Average GPA: 3.62
• Average MCAT: 506
• Degrees Offered: DO

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17) Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine Elmira Campus

The largest medical school in the U.S., LECOM operates four campuses across Pennsylvania, Florida, and New York. Its newest campus in Elmira, founded in 2020, aims to alleviate a doctor shortage in the Southern Tier region. Each class of 120 students works through problem-based learning curriculum, fostering independent or small-group collaboration. Additionally, students complete new clinical rotations at Arnot Ogden Medical Center and other Southern Tier hospitals.

• Location: Elmira
• Acceptance Rate: 6.7%
• Average GPA: 3.41
• Average MCAT: 503
• Degrees Offered: DO

18) CUNY School of Medicine

CUNY School of Medicine was founded in 2015 with an inaugural class of 75 students.  Emphasizing a primary care focus, its curriculum underscores population health and disease prevention. Clinical exposure begins during the three-year undergraduate education and continues with rotations across the Bronx, Staten Island, Harlem, and Queens. It’s worth noting that CUNY solely offers a seven-year BS/MD program for college freshmen.

• Location: Harlem, NYC
• Acceptance Rate: N/A
• Average GPA: 3.0 minimum
• Average MCAT: N/A
• Degrees Offered: BS/MD

Best Medical Schools in New York – Next Steps

After you’ve spent time researching New York medical schools that interest you, it’s time to turn your focus to the medical school application process. This includes:

• Figuring out the best application timeline
• Creating an MCAT study schedule
• Gathering letters of recommendation
• Writing the personal statement
• Preparing for interviews

Ultimately, it’s important to remember that this journey can be overwhelming! Becoming a doctor or surgeon is a long, arduous process. But remember – with passion and focus, you can come out on the other side stronger and ready to start medical school, whether that be in New York or wherever you’re meant to be!