The best medical schools in Illinois are the best study destination for top-class M.D programs and clinical hands-on experience training.
There are 184 colleges and universities in Illinois. 60 are public institutions, 35 are for-profit private institutions and 89 are nonprofit private schools. Moreover, there are nine osteopathic and allopathic medical schools in Illinois.
In this list, we see the quality of each of the Illinois medical schools, their respective M.D programs, affiliated hospitals, medical centers, and so on.
Medical Schools in Illinois
There are 9 best medical schools in Illinois, with two of these schools among the top 20 medical schools in the US.
Annual tuition costs in Illinois medical school vary, from Southern Illinois University’s tuition cost of $37,192 to Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine’s $76,099 tuition.
The majority of these Illinois schools hugely accept in-state applicants, for example, only students from Illinois can apply to Southern Illinois University. 80% of the student population at the University of Illinois and about half the students in the Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine are Illinois residents.
How to get accepted into Medical school in Illinois
Illinois is home to many accredited medical schools with major differentiating characteristics. There are different admissions criteria for each Illinois program and which medical schools in Illinois you intend to apply to. Each institution has specific requirements for an individual’s grades, GPA and MCAT scores, essays, letters of recommendation, and acceptance rate.
In the United States, medical degrees are considered second degrees. So, to enroll directly for a Bachelor of Medicine, you must first complete a bachelor’s program degree in a related science subject like chemistry, and biology and earn a bachelor’s degree in the science subject before applying to study medicine. A medical degree program typically lasts 4 years.
A strong well-written essay is a very important requirement for any medical school that you apply to. For every other requirement and average requirement, ensure you meet the minimum of each school you’re applying to in order to increase your chances of getting accepted to the medical school of your choice.
A GPA of 3.7 and a 512 MCAT score give you a greater chance of getting into the majority of Illinois medical schools, except for selective institutions like the University of Chicago and Northwestern University.
Evaluate the school campuses and environments to be sure it is the right fit for your future career interests. Show how the school campus and environment fit your academic needs through your application. Your own career aspirations should be achieved by attending a school where their specific program and M.D curriculum are geared towards your interests.
Most medical schools operate either a small or larger class size. Therefore, get to know if the class size used by your school of interest supports your academic needs. The urban or suburban setting of most schools is also important as well as if you are an Illinois resident eligible for in-state only admission depending on the school.
Finally, when writing your essays, make sure to discuss how your academic needs and the school features correspond with your past experiences and future goals for your medical career.
During the admission process, students who are able to show a passionate commitment to providing patient-care treatments in Illinois or those with previous experience providing medical care to the local community in Illinois are highly considered.
Completed internships and previous job experiences in the medical field can help increase your chances of getting accepted into a medical school in Illinois. The free clinic, and hospital service, are the few options available for volunteering in order to show your passion to study medicine.
One of the benefits of some medical work experiences is that you get to be paid while working in top medical colleges. If you want to work with other researchers on their research projects, you may do that through lab internships and assistantships vacancies. You could also carry out your own research activity or project.
In the hospital, and local clinics where ill and sick people are treated, nurse assistant or nurse’s aide jobs are also available.
Ask your professors, employers, or people who can vouch for you to provide you with official letters of recommendation.
The recommendation letter will enable the admissions committee to determine how committed and strong-willed you are to study medicine. It can be mailed directly or submitted either through email with the rest of your application.
In summary, to get accepted into a medical school in Illinois, incoming students are expected to have:
- High school diploma
- Minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.0
- Undergraduate degree in the field of Sciences (3-4 years)
- Good TOEFL language scores
- Minimum MCAT exam result (depends on the university individually)
- Extracurricular activities
- Letters of recommendation
9 Best Medical Schools In Illinois
1. Carle Illinois College of Medicine
Location: Champaign, IL
Type: Public
Tuition: $50,752 In-state, $62,992 Out-of-state
GPA: 3.67
MCAT: 512
The Carle Illinois College of Medicine is a private medical school located in Urbana, Illinois. It is one of the first institutions in the US that focuses on engineering and entrepreneurship.
The school’s traditional MD program provides a unique approach to medical training by combining the basics of modern medicine with real-world healthcare clinical experiences. The curriculum is focused on research, innovation, and patient-centered care. Medical students are trained to become innovators in the field of medicine by applying what they learn in class during their clinical rotations to provide long-lasting solutions to common issues.
This Illinois medical school is affiliated with the Carle Health System, which comprises a group of hospitals and medical centers where medical students complete their clinical clerkships during their final years in medical school.
Discover more about Carle Illinois College of Medicine by clicking their website below!
2. Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine
Location: Downers Grove, IL
Type: Private
Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine Tuition: N/A
GPA: 3.61
MCAT: 507
The Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine (CCOM), is a private medical university founded in 1900 as part of Midwestern University. It’s one of the earliest medical schools in Illinois to start accepting students.
CCOM teaches Osteopathic medicine, a unique type of medicine that focuses on the patient rather than the ailment. Osteopathic medicine teaches how to improve a patient’s overall health treat health issues and provide lifelong care. Residency programs are also available in any medical discipline you want.
CCOM is affiliated with many hospitals and medical centers like the Riverside Medical Center, and John H. Stroger Jr. Hospital of Cook County, where medical students can complete their clinical rotations.
Discover more about Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine by clicking their website below!
3. Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine
Location: Maywood, IL
Type: Private
Chicago Stritch School of Medicine Tuition: $58,831 (In-state), $58,831 (Out-of-state).
GPA: 3.7
MCAT: 510
Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine is a small private medical school founded in 1909 to provide medical students with an intimate educational experience.
The curriculum combines a traditional semester-based scheduling system with gaining clinical experience where students learn how to work with patients personally. The first two years focus on the basics of medicine in blocks. Each block focuses on a singular topic, which you can build on blocks as your education continues.
The Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine offers an MBBS program, several degree programs, as well as a dual MD/Ph.D. program. Many interdisciplinary research opportunities are also available to students throughout their years at medical school.
Discover more about Stritch School of Medicine by clicking their website below!
4. University of Chicago Division of the Biological Sciences The Pritzker School of Medicine
Location: Chicago, IL
Type: Private
Pritzker School of Medicine Tuition: $56,724 (In-state), $56,724 (Out-of-state)
GPA: 3.92
MCAT: 521
The Pritzker School of Medicine is a private institution that is part of the University of Chicago’s Division of the Biological Sciences. It is located at the University of Chicago’s main campus, in Chicago’s historic Hyde Park neighborhood.
The Pritzker School of Medicine offers a couple of programs to choose from. There’s a full-time Doctor of Medicine degree program, Graduate medical education programs, joint doctorates, MD/Ph.D. dual-degree programs, joint Master’s programs as well as other continuing medical education programs
Towards the end of your final years, you engage in clinical training at the University of Chicago Medical Center. Pritzker is affiliated with the NorthShore University Health System which is home to the University of Chicago Medical Center which serves as the school’s primary teaching hospital.
Discover more about Pritzker School of Medicine by clicking their website below!
READ ALSO: University of Chicago Scholarships Opportunities for International Students, 2021-2022
5. Northwestern University The Feinberg School of Medicine
Location: Chicago, IL
Type: Private
The Feinberg School of Medicine: $60,797 (In-state), $60,797 (Out-of-state)
GPA: 3.91
MCAT: 520
The Feinberg School of Medicine is a private research-intensive medical school of Northwestern University founded in 1859 and located in Illinois, Chicago. The School of Medicine focuses heavily on collaboration and innovation and is one of the best medical schools in Illinois.
The Feinberg School of Medicine curriculum is designed to create a better learning environment to meet the needs of every medical student. It integrates the scientific foundations of medicine in clinical hands-on experience training. This method helps medical students retain the core skills they need to succeed. Each medical student’s progress is assessed on an individual basis.
There are various other educational programs available at Feinberg School of Medicine. This includes the traditional MD program, a Ph.D. in biomedical sciences, or the Doctor of Physical Therapy. There are various other Master’s programs available in conjunction with other Northeastern University schools.
Discover more about Feinberg School of Medicine by clicking their website below!
READ ALSO: Northwestern University Scholarships Opportunities 2022 For International Students
6. Rush Medical College of Rush University Medical Center
Location: Chicago, IL
Type: Private
Rush Medical College Tuition: $54,321 (In-state), $54,321 (Out-of-state)
GPA: 3.72
MCAT: 511
Rush Medical College is a private research university of Rush University Medical Center founded in 1972 and located within the Illinois Medical District. It was one of the first medical schools in Illinois (and the Midwest) and one of the best schools in Illinois for aspiring doctors who want to study in the Chicago area.
Rush Medical College shares the same campus with Rush University Medical Center where you can find many high-profile hospitals. Medical students get the opportunity to work with health care professionals in various hospitals in Illinois. The Illinois Medical District contains a diverse population, and the rural communities provide a good opportunity for patient care on different healthcare issues and communities.
Rush Medical College was one of the first medical colleges in Illinois and offers a “system-based” curriculum. The M.D curriculum requires individual examination through biochemistry, anatomy, and other subjects of study. Also, during preclinical years, medical students can either get a pass or a fail.
The first two years at Rush Medical College center on a system-based education whereby students focus on one organ system at a time. The curriculum combines material from important areas. The purpose of this is to give students a better understanding of the human body.
Discover more about Rush Medical College by clicking their website below!
7. Southern Illinois University School of Medicine
Location: Springfield, IL
Type: Public
Southern Illinois University School of Medicine Tuition: $36,166 (In-state)
GPA: 3.77
MCAT: 508
Southern Illinois University School of Medicine is a small public medical school located in Springfield.
The school operates a small classroom setting for students to learn about their respective medical programs. Several other programs, opportunities, and dual-degree programs are offered at Southern Illinois University School of Medicine for more medical education experience. The school offers 21 different residency programs in a wide range of disciplines.
From the first year, Southern Illinois University School of Medicine students work toward solving real-world problems. The curriculum involves providing solutions to problem-based issues by presenting students with clinical scenarios. You’ll be required to use the important medical principles you’ve learned to provide a care plan after diagnosing the “patient”.
The purpose of the curriculum is to provide a unique educational approach that puts your skills and composure under pressure as a professional doctor to the test. The main clinical clerkships will be done during the final years of study. Though the Southern Illinois University School of Medicine works with several hospitals in Illinois, it does not have its own dedicated medical center.
Discover more about Southern Illinois University School of Medicine by clicking their website below!
8. University of Illinois College of Medicine
Location: Chicago, IL
Type: Public
University of Illinois College of Medicine Tuition: $50,562 (In-state), $97,497 (Out-of-state)
GPA: 3.79
MCAT: 514
The University of Illinois College of Medicine is a public medical school with various campus locations in Illinois. Graduate programs offered include a Doctor of Medicine degree program (M.D.), a medical sciences Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degree program, and three joint degree programs: MD/MPH, MD/Ph.D., and MD/MBA.
It is one of the biggest medical schools in the U.S. More than 1,300 students are currently enrolled at the school. University of Illinois College of Medicine medical students benefit from the flexibility of having
four different school locations throughout the state. The curriculum is patient-focused, offering a unique approach to medical education that prepares students for a rigorous career in medicine and to contribute to the healthcare system in Illinois.
Clinical rotations and hands-on experience training start from the first year. The importance of the patient-to-physician relationship is heavily emphasized at the University of Illinois College of Medicine to help develop each student’s clinical problem-solving skills in a realistic patient setting.
Discover more about the University of Illinois College of Medicine by clicking their website below!
9. Chicago Medical School at Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine & Science
Location: North Chicago, IL
Type: Private
Chicago Medical School Tuition: $58,434 (In-state), $58,434 (Out-of-state)
GPA: 3.73
MCAT: 512
The Chicago Medical School at Rosalind Franklin University is a private medical school located in Illinois, North Chicago. It’s one of Rosalind Franklin University’s graduate medical schools.
Rosalind Franklin University is a large educational institution with over 30 healthcare and science programs. All of the colleges in the University are located on a single campus, making all the faculties and disciplines accessible to students. The close proximity of the different departments has contributed to Rosalind Franklin University’s positive reputation for interdisciplinary education.
Each medical program provides opportunities to learn about other fields within your chosen course of study. The hands-on medical experience starts from the first year, and there’s a network of advanced simulation systems and skill labs at Chicago Medical School for real-life medical procedures before you start your clinical rotations.
Discover more about Chicago Medical School by clicking their website below!
Conclusion
That’s everything about the 5 best medical schools in Boston.
There are quite a number of M.D programs, and joint degree programs, backed by a rigorous M.D curriculum. Medical students experience clinical hands-on experience training and open access to different research opportunities at affiliated hospitals and medical centers in Illinois.
FAQs on the Best Medical Schools In Illinois
The Carle Illinois College of Medicine is a private medical school located in Urbana, Illinois. The school’s traditional MD program provides a unique approach to medical training by combining the basics of modern medicine with real-world healthcare clinical experiences. The curriculum is focused on research, innovation, and patient-centered care.
The Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) in Illinois program requires 4 years to complete.
The cheapest medical school in Illinois for 2022 is the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign $14,660 a year.
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