If you’re looking to apply for some of the most promising and best medical schools in the U.S., look no further than Illinois. The state is home to two of the country’s top ten colleges—Northwestern University and the University of Chicago—both of which house fully equipped, high-ranking medical education programs.
Blueprint Prep has you covered with the general information for the top medical school rankings in Illinois, such as med school prerequisites and requirements, surviving the MCAT, and more. Here’s a list of the top three graduate program med schools in the state (based on the U.S. News and World Reports) for medical students.
Top Med Schools in Illinois
- Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine
- University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine
- University of Illinois College of Medicine
1. Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine
U.S. News Best Medical School Ranking: #17 in Research, #43 in Primary Care
Tuition: $ 66,096 (in-state, full-time)
Average GPA: 3.9
Average MCAT Score: 520
Acceptance Rate: 2.27%
2. University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine
U.S. News Best Medical School Ranking: #20 in Research, #30 in Primary Care
Tuition: $57,681 (in-state, full-time)
Average GPA: 3.91
Average MCAT Score: 515.8
Acceptance Rate: 7.4%
3. University of Illinois College of Medicine
U.S. News Best Medical School Ranking: #56 in Research, #61 in Primary Care
Tuition: $45,360 (in-state, full-time)
Average GPA: 3.73
Average MCAT Score: 513
Acceptance Rate: 7.4%
1. Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine
Located in the heart of downtown Chicago, the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine is a renowned school famous for its progressive and bias-free health science curriculum. This makes for an encouraging and inclusive campus environment, which directly translates to stellar student performance, and therefore a high chance of medical students successfully pursuing health professions.
73% of the med students enrolled at Northwestern received institutional funding in 2022. U.S. News ranks it #17 in Research and #43 in Primary Care among all colleges in the country.
Northwestern has a comprehensive, top-notch graduate program focusing on real-world applications. Therefore, it centers the syllabus on subjects that align with current medicinal practices. The university is also affiliated with three well-ranked medical facilities allowing students to learn from the best.
However, Northwestern University’s true expertise lies in the field of research. Their staff includes professional doctors with stellar careers in medicine and biomedical research. Further, the medical school faculty leads and directs basic science, clinical, and translational research carried out at all Northwestern hospitals.
The M.D. program at Northwestern University immerses the students into early clinical training. In addition, the students are taught basic ethics of the medical field and social determinants of health and safety.
Medical School Admission Details: Applicants should have studied biology, physics, general (inorganic) chemistry, and organic chemistry for at least a year. Each medical student applicant should also complete 135 hours of undergraduate or graduate-level coursework from an accredited U.S. or Canadian college. In addition, M.D. applicants must submit letters of recommendation.
2. University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine
The University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine is a premier academic research institution. It is considered one of the finest schools in the U.S. and houses a well-known medical sciences and public health wing.
As for the U.S. News national university rankings, the University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine ranks #20 in Research and #30 in Primary Care.
This medical college stands out as it has a small class size of 90 students per class, which ensures the faculty and administration understand each medical student’s needs and gives them more individual attention.
The medical program at the University of Chicago allows students to build a strong foundation in basic health science.
Some of the curriculum objectives at the University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine include:
- Patient Care
- Knowledge for Practice
- Practice-based Learning and Improvement
- Interpersonal and Communication Skills
- Professionalism
- Systems-based Practice
- Interprofessional Collaboration
- Personal and Professional Development
Medical School Admission Details: The University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine encourages applicants to know a broad range of subjects, from liberal arts to basic and applied science. Applicants should also have 90 credit hours before matriculation from an accredited U.S. or Canadian college. This medical school does not have a preferred undergraduate major as students are expected to have varied talents.
3. University of Illinois College of Medicine
The University of Illinois College of Medicine is one of the country’s largest public medical schools, housing 1,300 graduate students. As per U.S. News’s national university rankings, the school ranks #56 in Research and #61 in Primary Care overall in the U.S.
The University of Illinois is dedicated to advancing global healthcare through excellent education, research, clinical care, and social responsibility.
Medical students at the university undergo rigorous clinical training in the medical education program’s first two years. They treat various patients from different backgrounds in rural and urban spaces.
Medical School Admission Details: Applicants should have a baccalaureate degree before matriculation. Courses should be completed at an accredited institution, and they should have the following prerequisites: two courses in general biology with a laboratory, general chemistry or equivalent with a laboratory, organic chemistry with an accompanying laboratory, general physics with a laboratory, advanced-level biology, and one course of biochemistry.
What Should You Do to Get into a Top Med School in Illinois?
While your prerequisite courses and overall GPA are vital, a high MCAT score is also necessary for any of these Illinois medical schools. Your MCAT prep and general med school prep can be made less tedious with Blueprint.
At Blueprint, you can decide how you want to prepare for the MCAT test and tailor an MCAT study schedule and course plan accordingly. You can attend online sessions, which are hosted by instructors experienced in public health science. This takes place five days a week, ensuring you are consistent with your preparations.
If you need special, personal attention, you can opt for one-on-one tutoring. Blueprint also has exam bundles that mimic the MCAT format. Practicing these will help you ace your exams.
Book an online consultation today or start with our free resources if you want in-depth guidance on preparing for your MCAT test!
