Best Medical Schools In Chicago [Updated]

The best medical schools in Chicago have been rated among some of the best schools in the world.

Chicago is a top health sciences capital, full of well-regarded schools and linked medical facilities. Thus making it one of the best destinations to attend medical school.

Students who school in medical schools like the University of Chicago or Midwestern University will receive a quality education.

Furthermore, they will be taught by renowned physicians, surgeons, and other medical experts.

Students must weigh statistics like average GPAs, MCAT scores, and acceptance rates, as well as other elements.

And all the above will be covered in this article. This will help you predict your chances of being admitted to any of these medical schools in Chicago.

The 7 medical schools in Chicago 

1. University of Chicago Pritzker College of Medicine

One of the best medical schools in Chicago is the Pritzker College of Medicine. It is a division of the University of Chicago. It is a good medical institution and the first to hold a white coat ceremony (now an international tradition).

The University of Chicago Medical Center, which is regarded by US News as the third best hospital in Illinois, serves as the Pritzker College of Medicine’s main teaching hospital. This offers students unmatched clinical exposure.

In addition, US News placed Pritzker as the 17th best university in the U.S., just ahead of Feinberg School of Medicine. 

Of course, such a prominent school turns forth prestigious graduates, and among them are Joseph Ransohoff, who pioneered the first neurosurgical critical care unit, and Robert Gallo, who assisted in the discovery of HIV.

With a 4 percent admittance rate and an average GPA of 3.84, Pritzker is a very competitive institution, and the typical MCAT score is 519 as well.

To get a medical degree in this school will take you four years. But you need at least $300,000 for tuition and other fees during this four-year study.

Hence, if not on scholarship, you can then take a look at other medical schools in Chicago.

2. Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine

Another one of the best medical schools in Chicago with a good medical facility is Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine. 

The main teaching hospital for the medical school is Northwestern Memorial Hospital, which is regarded by US News as the top medical center in Illinois and the tenth-best medical facility nationwide. 

A more “learner-centered” education, which is intended to better serve students’ individuality and provide interesting learning opportunities that are most suited to them, was recently incorporated into the Feinberg School of Medicine curriculum.

It is not surprising that the school is ranked #18 nationwide by US News given that it has produced numerous Nobel Laureates as well as an outstanding list of alumni who have gone on to become medical school presidents, MacArthur Fellows, and highly esteemed medical professionals.

The Feinberg School of Medicine has a 7.09 percent admittance rate, a 3.9 average GPA, and a 519 average MCAT score.

The study period at this medical school is four years, and tuition for these four years is pegged at $200,000. Furthermore, this school offers both part-time and full-time programs to its students.

3. University of Illinois College of Medicine

The Chicago site of the University of Illinois College of Medicine is one of the largest medical districts in the world. The university has four locations throughout the state of Illinois. 

As a first-year student, you will follow doctors on rounds, and take patient histories, and this will give you the opportunity to obtain extensive clinical experience. There are 75 residency choices offered at the four locations, covering a wide range of areas.

It would also interest you to know that the University of Illinois College of Medicine is listed by US News as the 55th best medical school in the US for research given the faculty’s reputation for producing ground-breaking work.

Additionally, the university has a vast number of distinguished graduates because it trains about 17% of Illinois’ doctors. Former U.S. Surgeon General Julius B. Richmond and kidney transplant pioneer Olga Jonasson were the first women to lead university surgery departments.

To be admitted into this medical school, you need an average MCAT score of 512 and a GPA of 3.8. 

Also, the University of Illinois College of Medicine has an acceptance rate of 7.4%, and the tuition and fees for four years of study is pegged at $180,000.

4. Rush University Medical College

One of the first medical schools in the state of Illinois was Rush Medical College of Rush University, which received its charter two days before the city of Chicago.

As one of the best medical schools in California, this University will intensely tutor you on anatomy, biochemistry, and other topics used to investigate each organ system separately under the “system-based” curriculum that Rush Medical College recently implemented. Preclinical years are also only given pass/fail grades.

Rush Medical College has a long list of successful alumni and is ranked #58 nationally by US News for Best Medical Schools: Research. 

James B. Herrick, a doctor who was the first to describe sickle cell anemia, and Robert Holbrook Smith (often known as Dr. Bob), who helped create Alcoholics Anonymous, both received their degrees from the institution. 

Additionally, Rush Medical College awarded David J. Peck a doctorate in medicine, making him the first African American to do so.

Rush Medical College has an admittance rate of 3.8 percent, an average GPA of 3.63, an average MCAT score of 509.

If you intend to attend this school, then you should budget tuition and fee of $225,000 for your four-year study.

5. Loyola University Stritch School of Medicine

This is one of the best medical schools in Chicago. This school of Medicine places a significant priority on clinical abilities, giving first- and second-year students the clinical background they need to excel in their clerkships and residencies in their subsequent years of study.

Stritch School of Medicine places a high emphasis on professionalism in addition to caring for the whole person. 

This is accomplished by the school’s distinctive curriculum, which divides the first two years into “blocks” that concentrate on a single subject, as well as by its effective mentoring programs and small-group instruction.

Worthy of note is the fact that this school has a 3.8% acceptance rate, the Stritch School of Medicine can be very challenging to get into. The average MCAT score is 510, while the average GPA is 3.72.

Furthermore, the tuition at this school is pegged at $200,000 for four years.

6. Midwestern University Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine

The Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine (CCOM) is a division of Midwestern University, a non-profit medical school that only specializes in osteopathic medicine.

Do you know that nearly 13% of all osteopathic doctors and surgeons currently working in the United States are alumni of Midwestern, which has an extraordinarily significant influence in the field of osteopathic medicine?

Richard Scheuring, a NASA flight surgeon, and James N. Weinstein, the present senior vice president for Microsoft Healthcare, are two notable alumni from CCOM.

Students at CCOM receive training to deliver patient-centered care and collaborate successfully with other healthcare professionals as part of a program that emphasizes discipline-based learning. 

The school also offers a number of clinics where students can get hands-on training. For example, the Midwestern University Multi-Specialty Clinic which houses dental, family practice, speech and language, and optometry clinics.

CCOM has an admittance rate of 15%, a GPA average of 3.6, and an MCAT average of 508.

7. Rosalind Franklin University Chicago Medical School

 This is another one of the best medical schools in Chicago. The best is that it is a nonprofit medical school in North Chicago.

Being one of the first professional schools to welcome female and minority applicants long before most professional schools did, CMS has always been a special medical school.

With its current emphasis on civic engagement and community service, CMS maintains its distinction. Community service is regarded at CMS as a natural and essential component of medical education. 

CMS is a highly selective medical school with an average MCAT score of 511 and a GPA of 3.61. And for the four-year period of study, you should budget $252,000 for tuition and fees.

Requirements for medical schools in  Chicago 

To be accepted into the best medical schools in Chicago, you will need a few tips. Given below are some trusted tips.

Medical Background and Objectives in the Chicago Area

Schools frequently seek out applicants with prior experience dealing with residents of the area where the medical school is located, and Chicago is no exception. 

It could be a significant bonus on your application if you can show that you’re dedicated to helping patients in Chicago or Illinois.

Internships, work experience, and other forms of community service that help Chicago people can be used to accomplish this.

However, many students find it impractical to gain preclinical experience before attending college in the Chicago area. In this situation, it would be wise to mention in your college essays and application that you want to become a doctor so that you may help the people of Chicago. 

It is especially wise to use this perspective in your medical school application essays because it clarifies to the school why you are applying to their program in particular.

MCAT scores and GPA

You wil need to achieve the ninetieth or ninety-fifth percentile for MCAT and GPA If you want to be accepted into the majority of medical schools in Chicago

For instance, the University of Chicago typically admits applicants with an exceptional MCAT score of 519. 

Remember that the MCAT score is out of a possible 528 points. So, little margin for error is allowed when using the MCAT score to determine admission to medical schools in Chicago.

The standard GPA required for admission to the same medical school is 3.84, or a 93.5 “A” average. At this stage, it should go without saying that maintaining top academic standing throughout undergraduate education is necessary for admission.

Frequently asked questions about medical schools in Chicago

Conclusion

Now that you know about the medical schools in Chicago, you can begin your application. Also, bear in mind the tips given.

Knowing the amount each medical school in Chicago can cost you, ensure to prepare fully. If possible, apply for so many scholarships.