7 Best Medical Schools in Michigan

Michigan is a great study destination for anyone seeking to study medicine, and also where you can find the best medical schools to pursue a medical degree.

The best medical schools in Michigan are state-of-art research universities based on reputation, admissions requirements, and residence/clinical placement. They also have a good number of laboratory facilities, training spaces, and affiliations with reputable teaching hospitals. These universities offer some of the best graduate programs in Medicine for international students and domestic students who want to study medicine in the U.S.

There are over 93 universities and colleges in Michigan, and all of them are listed under the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education. There are 7 medical schools offering graduate programs that lead to a doctor of medicine (M.D.) degree. 

In this easy-to-digest article, we’ve provided a detailed list of the 7 best medical schools in Michigan, the quality of these schools, student enrollment, curriculum, rankings, admission requirements, affiliations, and a lot more. 

READ ALSO: University of Michigan Scholarship Opportunities for International Students 2022/2023

How to get accepted into Medical school in Michigan

Medical schools in Michigan are very competitive and selective. The acceptance rate is 5.6%.

To get accepted into a medical school in Michigan, incoming students are expected to have:

1. A ninetieth percentile or higher scores
2. Previous medical experience/internships in Michigan
3. Exceptional GPA and MCAT test scores
4. Strong application
5. College essays that show your desire to become a medical doctor in Michigan.

During the admission process, students with experience providing medical care to the local community in Michigan or those who are able to show a strong commitment to serving patients in Michigan are highly considered.

You should also have completed internships, and/or had job experiences in the medical field, to increase your chances of getting accepted. You can choose to volunteer at a free clinic, or with a hospital service, as it is one of the best ways to show your commitment and passion for medicine. You’ll get to experience what working in an emergency room or another medical profession is like.

In the absence of any preclinical experience in the Michigan local community, your application and college essays should show how passionate you are to become a medical doctor to serve the state of Michigan. 

Official letters of recommendation from your professors, employers, or people who can vouch for you are also required

It is necessary that the recommendation letter comes from a current or previous employer who can vouch for your work ethic. This will enable the admissions committee to determine how committed and strong-willed you are to study medicine. 

Official letters of recommendation can be submitted either through email with the rest of your application materials or mailed directly.

7 Best Medical Schools in Michigan

1. University of Michigan Medical School (Ann Arbor, MI)
2. Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine (East Lansing, MI)
3. Wayne State University School of Medicine (Detroit, MI)
4. Michigan State University College of Human Medicine (East Lansing, MI)
5. Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine (Auburn Hills, MI)
6. Central Michigan University College of Medicine (Mount Pleasant, MI)
7. Western Michigan University Homer Stryker M.D. College of Medicine (Kalamazoo, MI)

1. University of Michigan Medical School (Ann Arbor)

Michigan Medicine, formerly known as the University of Michigan Health System (UMHS), is the academic medical center of the University of Michigan. It is located in Ann Arbor and comprises the U-M Medical School, research laboratories; health centers, and the U-M hospitals, which include C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital, the University of Michigan Hospital, and Von Voigtlander Women’s Hospital. 

UM Medical School is ranked #15 in both Best Medical Schools for Research and Best Medical Schools for primary care in the U.S. Michigan Medical School is one of the largest academic medical complexes in the country, Michigan Medical, with approximately 40 home care services and health centers across southeast Michigan; as well as the U-M School of Nursing clinical programs; and Michigan Health Corporation activities, through which U-M collaborates with other hospitals and medical centers to provide exclusive health care services throughout Michigan. 

Medical students get numerous opportunities to acquire knowledge and firsthand clinical experiences in various medical specialties. Through the M-Home program, the Hogwarts-Esque “grouping” into four different houses, helps to build a friendly community of students and faculty who mentor and develop each other. Students are guaranteed regular clinical exposure in the first semester through the UM Medical School experience. 

UM Medical School Admission is very competitive. A total of 8,272 applications were received for an incoming cohort of 168 students in 2022. An average science GPA of 3.72, GPA score of 3.78, and MCAT score of 514 are required to get admitted into UM.

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2. Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine (East Lansing)

Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine (MSUCOM) is a public medical school of Michigan State University located in East Lansing, Michigan. It is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools and the American Osteopathic Association’s Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation (COCA). 

There are two satellite campuses located in Clinton Township and Detroit, with an additional $450-million health care campus currently being built adjacent to the flagship campus. MSUCOM awards the Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.) degree, and a DO-PhD combined degree for students interested in becoming physician-scientists. Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicin is the first osteopathic medical school in a public university

MSUCOM combines a traditional D.O. curriculum with a DO-PhD Physician Scientist Training Program beneficial for students who want to experience both the research and clinical side of medicine. MSU is affiliated with McLaren Health Care. 

Admission into MSUCOM is determined by a comprehensive approach. The average GPA of admitted students is between 3.5-and 3.7, while the average MCAT score ranges between 505-and 507. Other necessary requirements include a vivid understanding of osteopathic medicine and the applicant’s service to the community. 

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READ ALSO: Michigan State University Scholarship Opportunities 2022 for International Students

3. Wayne State University School of Medicine (Detroit)

The Wayne State University School of Medicine (WSUSOM) was founded in 1868 and is located in Detroit. US News ranks the school #89 Best Medical Schools in Primary Care and #66 Best Medical Schools in Research in the U.S. 

WSUSOM has more than 1,500 enrolled medical students in undergraduate medical education, Ph.D., master’s degree, and M.D.-Ph.D. programs and courses which comprise 14 disciplines of basic science. Graduate programs offered at Wayne State University School of Medicine include an MD/Ph.D. program, eight Master of Science programs, ten Doctor of Philosophy programs, and four Certification programs. Pre-medical students can also enroll in the postbaccalaureate program if they meet its 6 eligibility criteria.

Research focus areas at WSUSOM include women and child health, cancer, population studies, and neuroscience. Notable achievements of the faculty include the first successful open-heart surgery, instituting glucagon as a pancreatic hormone, and creating the first drug approved to treat AIDS and HIV. 

WSUSOM doctors and physicians have a strong commitment to providing medical care to the local community of Detroit. With the Faculty’s guidance, Medical students also operate various impressive student organizations, such as the Adolescent Substance Abuse Prevention Program, Senior Citizen Outreach Project, and Teen Pregnancy Education Program. The WSU faculty physicians collaborate with the Detroit Medical Center to provide free-willed care o this community and this amounts to about $150 million annually.

The average GPA and MCAT score required for admission into WSUSOM is 3.75 and 511 respectively. 9,993 applications were received in 2020 for an incoming class of 294.

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4. Michigan State University College of Human Medicine (East Lansing)

The Michigan State University College of Human Medicine (MSU CHM) is an academic division of Michigan State University (MSU) founded in 1964. The school grants the Doctor of Medicine (MD) degree and is one fo the best medical schools in Michigan. 

MSU CHM program and courses focus on medicine, patient-centered care, and a biological, psychological, and social approach to caring for patients. It was ranked #46th for primary care by U.S. News & World Report in 2013. Clinical rotations are done at the seven community campuses located throughout Michigan while Pre-clinical experiences are carried out in the MSU’s campuses in Michigan, East Lansing, and downtown Grand Rapids, Michigan. A $88 million research complex, Grand Rapids Research Center, situated near the Secchia Center, was completed by MSU in 2017. The research center focuses on pressing health problems in America such as Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, autism, women’s health, and cancer. 

Admission into MSUCOM is determined by a comprehensive approach. The average GPA of admitted students in the sciences is 3.5, while the MCAT score is 500. Other necessary requirements include STEM/medicine-related extracurricular activities and domestic applicants. Yet, 20-30% of enrolled students are from outside Michigan.

There are currently more than 4,000 M.D.s graduates from the Michigan State University College of Human Medicine. Two notable alumni include bestselling author, vegan advocate, public health advocate, Mona Hanna-Attisha, and nutrition expert John A. McDougal. 

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5. Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine (Auburn Hills)

Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine (OUWB) is the medical school for Oakland University (OU) founded in 2008 and located north of Detroit. The university is fully accredited by the LCME and was named after former US Army surgeon William Beaumont who became known as the “Father of Gastric Physiology” for his innovative research on human digestion which he started in Mackinac Island, Michigan. 

OUWB’s curriculum combines the basic and clinical sciences that equip students to interact with patients kindly and professionally from the first semester. Additionally, students are expected to undergo a four-year research project to contribute new theoretical knowledge to the field of medicine and offer advanced patient care services during clinical rotations. 

Beaumont Hospital, Royal Oak, is one of OUWB’s teaching hospitals, and one of the largest hospitals in the United States. It is US’s third-largest Medicare provider. 

For the incoming 2020 cohort, OUWB received just under for an enrolling class of 125. Successful applicants had an average GPA of 3.82, an average science GPA, and a median MCAT score of. 

The average GPA and MCAT score required for admission into OUWB is 3.75 and 508 respectively. 7,000 applications were received in 2020 for an incoming class of 125. 

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6. Central Michigan University College of Medicine (Mount Pleasant)

Last but not least of the best medical schools in Michigan is Central Michigan University. Central Michigan University (CMU) is a public research university founded in 1892 and located in Mount Pleasant, Michigan. The school’s mission is to educate and train various culturally diverse students and incompetent physicians to provide health care and services to underserved community groups in Michigan and beyond. 

Over 20,000 students are enrolled at Central Michigan University on its Mount Pleasant campus while 7,000 students from various locations worldwide are enrolled online. About 200 academic programs and courses are offered at CMU at the undergraduate, specialist, master’s, and doctoral levels. This includes programs in journalism, entrepreneurship, music, teacher education, physician assistant, audiology, and psychology. ABET-accredited programs in Electrical, Mechanical, Computer, and Environmental Engineering are offered by the School of Engineering and Technology.

CMU curriculum combines hands-on learning experiences, and traditional coursework enhanced with early clinical experiences, a modern medical simulation center where students can practice the skills of precision and decision-making, and in-community learning activities. 

Admission into Central Michigan University College of Medicine is very competitive as the university seeks to identify academically brilliant applicants whose passion for medicine is the same as the school’s mission to provide health and patient care services to underserved areas of Michigan. Successful applicants had an average GPA of 3.74 and an average MCAT score of 506. 6,500 applications were received in 2020 for an incoming class of 103 in 2022. 

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7. Western Michigan University Homer Stryker M.D. College of Medicine (Kalamazoo)

Western Michigan University Homer Stryker M.D. School of Medicine (WMed) is a private medical school in Kalamazoo, Michigan established in 2012. The university has full accreditation from the LCME and is affiliated with the Western Michigan University and Ascension Borgess teaching hospitals and Bronson Healthcare in Kalamazoo.

WMed confers the Doctor of Medicine (MD) degree, the Master of Science in Medical Engineering degree, and the Master of Science in Biomedical Sciences degree.

WMed’s curriculum focuses on a premium on hands-on clinical practice in WMed’s modern Simulation Center, which is accredited by the Society for Simulation in Healthcare, to provide vital preparation for real, challenging clinical work. The WMed academic calendar shows multiple one- and two-week breaks throughout the calendar year instead of a long summer break. The breaks can be used to rest, travel, take elective courses, and so on. 

Admission into WMed is highly competitive. For the entering cohort, WMed received nearly for an entering class size of. The average MCAT score and GPA score of admitted students were 514 and 3.7 respectively. 3,500 applications were received in 2020 for an incoming class size of 84. 

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FAQs on the Best Medical Schools In Michigan

What is the number 1 medical school in Michigan?

Michigan Medicine comprises the U-M Medical School, research laboratories; health centers, and the U-M hospitals, which include C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital, the University of Michigan Hospital, and Von Voigtlander Women’s Hospital. 

It is one of the largest academic medical complexes in the country, Michigan Medical, with approximately 40 home care services and health centers across southeast Michigan; as well as the U-M School of Nursing clinical programs; and Michigan Health Corporation activities, through which U-M collaborates with other hospitals and medical centers to provide exclusive health care services throughout Michigan. 

How long does it take to graduate from a medical school in Michigan?

After completing a four-year bachelor’s degree, the Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) program or osteopathy (D.O.) requires 4 years to complete. Four more years are spent in an anesthesiology residency. There are a total of 160 anesthesiology medical residency programs in the United States.

What Medical school has the best medical program in Michigan?

Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine (OUWB) has an outstanding medical program in Michigan. 

The school’s curriculum combines the basic and clinical sciences that equip students to interact with patients kindly and professionally from the first semester. Additionally, students are expected to undergo a four-year research project to contribute new theoretical knowledge to the field of medicine and offer advanced patient care services during clinical rotations. 

What cities in Michigan have the best Medical programs?

1. Ann Arbor (University of Michigan Medical School)
2. East Lansing (Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine)
3. Detroit (Wayne State University School of Medicine)
4. East Lansing (Michigan State University College of Human Medicine)
5. Auburn Hills (Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine)
6. Mount Pleasant (Central Michigan University College of Medicine)
7. Kalamazoo (Western Michigan University Homer Stryker M.D. College of Medicine)

Conclusion

In Michigan, you find some of the best medical schools in the U.S, and that’s everything we’ve covered in this article. 

From the quality of these schools, student enrollment, curriculum, rankings, admission requirements, and affiliations, you’ll be able to make the right choice. The best medical schools in Michigan are state-of-art research universities based on reputation, admissions requirements, and residence/clinical placement. They also have a good number of laboratory facilities, training spaces, and affiliations with reputable teaching hospitals. 

Michigan’s medical programs and firsthand clinical experiences are the most ideal options for domestic and international students who want to study medicine.