Known for its Southern hospitality and low cost of living, the state of Alabama is one of the best for college life. With three medical schools and a #12 rank on the list of best states to practice medicine, Alabama is great for any aspiring medical student.

The life of a medical practitioner requires years of training and residency programs before you can start practicing. As a doctor, you will not only offer an essential service for the well-being of society, but you will also pursue a reputed and fulfilling career. You are pursuing a career that is amongst the best compensated in this country. But before you get there, you have the daunting task of getting through medical school. Here’s a look at some of the best medical schools in Alabama.

Top Med Schools in Alabama

1.     University of Alabama, Birmingham Heersink School of Medicine (Birmingham, AL)
2.     Alabama College of Osteopathic Medicine (Dothan, AL)
3.     University of South Alabama Frederick P. Whiddon College of Medicine (Birmingham, AL)

1. 1. University of Alabama, Birmingham Heersink School of Medicine (Birmingham, AL)

U.S. News Best Medical School Ranking: #32 in Research, #26 in Primary Care

Tuition: $29,998 (in-state, full-time); $62,714 (out-of-state, full-time)  

Average GPA: 3.77

Average MCAT Score: 495

Acceptance Rate: 7%

2. 2. Alabama College of Osteopathic Medicine (Dothan, AL)

U.S. News Best Medical School Ranking: Unranked in Research, Unranked in Primary Care

Tuition: $57,658 (in-state, full-time)

Average GPA: 3.45

Average MCAT Score: 504

Acceptance Rate: 4%

3. 3. University of South Alabama Frederick P. Whiddon College of Medicine, (Birmingham, AL)

U.S. News Best Medical School Ranking: Unranked in Research, Unranked in Primary Care

Tuition: $32,830 (in-state, full-time); $64,764 (out-of-state, full-time)  

Average GPA: 3.70

Average MCAT Score: 509

Acceptance Rate: 14%

University of Alabama, Birmingham Heersink School of Medicine (Birmingham, AL)

The University of Alabama, Birmingham Heersink School of Medicine is dedicated to excellence in medical and biomedical studies, research, and teaching. According to US News, the school is ranked #32 in Research and #26 in Primary Care.

This med school is committed to addressing the issue of social and economic inequalities and how they affect access to medical education and services. Their vision is to pursue excellence through an ethos of diversity.

The Short-Term Research Experience for Under-Represented Persons (STEP-UP), the UAB Research in Aging through Mentorship and Practice–Undergraduate Program (RAMP-UP), and the Summer Health Professions Education Program (SHPEP) are designed to orient undergraduate students from minority communities toward various professions in healthcare services.

Admission Details: Applicants will need to complete undergraduate courses in General Biology, Biochemistry, General Physics with lab, Biostatistics/Statistics/College Mathematics, English, and Behavioral and Social Sciences. Out-of-state applicants will also need an MCAT score of 495 to receive an invitation to proceed with their secondary application.

College of Osteopathic Medicine (Dothan, AL)

If alternative medicine is your chosen path, then consider going to the College of Osteopathic Medicine in the quaint city of Dothan. This medical college has a special focus on helping students develop a team-based primary care specialty so that they can serve medically underserved areas.

Admission Details: The American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine Application Service (AACOMAS) administers the primary application, which opens in the early days of May. The AACOMAS needs original transcripts and MCAT scores to be sent electronically from the AAMC.

University of South Alabama Frederick P. Whiddon College of Medicine (Birmingham, AL)

The University of South Alabama Frederick P. Whiddon College of Medicine offers an M.D. Program and a Ph.D. program in Basic Medical Sciences. This medical college focuses on advanced medical discoveries, breakthrough technology, and medical treatment in five major branches of training including Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Biology, Molecular Cell and Cancer Biology, Infectious Disease and Host Defense, Neuroscience, and Biomedical Engineering.

Admission Details: Applicants to the University of South Alabama Frederick P. Whiddon College of Medicine must complete courses in General Chemistry with Lab, Biology with Lab, Mathematics, Organic Chemistry with Lab, Physics with Lab, Humanities and English Composition or Literature from a U.S. regionally accredited college or university to be eligible for admission.

How do I get accepted to the top med schools in Alabama?

Whether you opt for the alternative route or conventional medicine, there’s no way around the MCAT exam. You will need a high MCAT score to crack the admissions process, especially if you need to make up for your GPA scores. 

If you want to know how to increase your MCAT score, Blueprint Prep is here to help. At Blueprint Prep, we design our interfaces to mimic the real test. This helps every student prepare for test day in a more comprehensive manner. Our latest survey shows that our MCAT prep helps applicants increase their MCAT scores by an average of 15 points.

If you are looking at med schools outside of Alabama as well, we can help you narrow your search. Check out our list of top med schools in Colorado, top med schools in Texas, and much more. Sign up for Blueprint Prep today!

*Blueprint Self-Paced Course students had an average increase of 15 points from their first Blueprint Diagnostic Exam to their best score on either a Blueprint Full Length Exam or self-reported score on an AAMC Practice Exam. The population of 596 students includes all students who started their prep in 2022 and completed a minimum of 2,500 questions and 155 modules in the Self-Paced Course.