Medical Schools in New Jersey: How to Get In (2025)
/Which are the best medical schools in New Jersey? Learn the New Jersey medical school rankings, plus strategies to get into your top-choice programs
Learn how to get into the five medical schools in new jersey
Part 1: Introduction
Part 2: List of medical schools in New Jersey: 2024 rankings and admissions statistics
Part 3: New Jersey medical school profiles
Part 4: New Jersey medical school admissions strategies
Appendix A: New Jersey medical schools by degree type
Appendix B: New Jersey medical schools by institution type
----
Part 1: Introduction
Despite its small footprint, New Jersey has the highest density population of any state in the U.S., making it a place where plenty of medical students choose to study. Given the drivability of the state, New Jersey medical students can venture to the urban hub, Hoboken, or the entertainment mecca, Atlantic City, or they can take a beach day along the Jersey Shore. Additionally, the New Jersey Transit train system connects residents to cities along the East Coast, making New York City, Philadelphia, and Washington, D.C. just a quick trip away.
The five New Jersey medical schools are diverse in their location, offerings, and class profiles. Whether you aim to attend a medical school with a strong emphasis on research and scholarly inquiry, such as the Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, or you hope to graduate with a degree in osteopathic medicine from the Rowan University School of Osteopathic Medicine, it is likely that at least one New Jersey medical school will dovetail with your professional interests.
The goal of this guide is to provide you with a summary of the strengths and differentiating qualities of each of the New Jersey medical schools. This information can help you select the best schools to apply to and hone your focus when writing secondary essays and preparing for interviews. By taking an informed approach, you can optimize the likelihood that you will end the application season with an admissions offer from a New Jersey medical school that you’d be excited to attend.
----
Part 2: List of medical schools in New Jersey: 2024 rankings and admissions statistics
Below you will find statistics on New Jersey medical schools’ rankings, locations, average GPAs, average MCAT scores, and other statistics so you can compare and contrast each program. While putting together this information, we observed a few main takeaways:
Four out of five New Jersey medical schools are public.
All five New Jersey medical schools have a first-year class comprised of over 50% in-state residents.
All five New Jersey medical schools appeared in the 2023-2024 U.S. News Research ranking. They also all participated in the 2024-2025 U.S. News Research ranking.
In the table below, we’ve listed each New Jersey medical school’s national ranking inside parentheses, whereas the schools’ relative ranks are shown by the numbers outside of parentheses. Relative rankings help us answer the question, “Which are the ‘best’ medical schools in New Jersey?”
(Note: We strongly recommend that you sign up for MSAR for the most up-to-date information on MD programs and that you sign up for Choose DO for DO program data.)
Note: U.S. News and World Report moved to a tier-based ranking system in fall 2024, in part due to a number of schools declining to participate. Schools who declined to share sufficient data with US News are now unranked, which is reflected in the table below with ‘UR.' Schools that did participate are given ‘tier’ rankings by U.S. News. We’ve reported rankings from both the prior and current cycles to more accurately reflect where the top medical schools in New Jersey stand.
| New Jersey Medical Schools | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School* | Tier 2 (Research) - 2024 |
$76,334 OOS |
3.1% OOS |
||||||
| Rutgers New Jersey Medical School* | Tier 3 (Research) - 2024 |
$77,090 OOS |
6.4% OOS |
||||||
| Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine | Tier 3 (Research) - 2024 |
$83,031 OOS |
4.7% OOS |
||||||
| Cooper Medical School of Rowan University* | Tier 3 (Research) - 2024 |
$76,857 OOS |
3.6% OOS |
||||||
| Rowan University School of Osteopathic Medicine* | Tier 3 (Research) - 2024 |
$70,826 OOS |
----
Part 3: New Jersey medical school profiles
Cooper Medical School of Rowan University (CMRSU)
Cooper Medical School of Rowan University (CMRSU), located in Camden New Jersey, has an integrated two-year preclinical (Phase I: The Foundation and Integration Phase) and two-year clinical curriculum (Phase II: The Application, Exploration, and Advancement Phase) that integrate teachings in medical humanism, service, and professionalism. The curriculum is designed to ensure CMRSU graduates achieve several general competencies including medical knowledge, patient care, professionalism, interpersonal and communication skills, practice-based learning and improvement, systems-based practice, scholarly inquiry, health partnership, and learning and working with teams.
Phase I: The Foundation and Integration Phase (Years 1-2)
This preclinical phase focuses on building a strong foundation in biomedical sciences while incorporating early clinical exposure. Students engage in organ-system-based learning modules that integrate anatomy, physiology, pathology, pharmacology, and clinical skills. Simultaneously, students participate in longitudinal experiences in patient care and service learning.
Phase II: The Application, Exploration, and Advancement Phase (Years 3-4)
In this clinical phase, students rotate through core clinical clerkships in diverse specialties such as internal medicine, surgery, pediatrics, obstetrics and gynecology, psychiatry, and family medicine. These experiences take place primarily at Cooper University Health Care, a leading academic health system that serves as the school’s clinical affiliate. Through the curriculum’s personalized learning pathways and advanced electives, students can explore areas of interest and strengthen competencies for residency.
CMRSU also offers an accelerated three-year track for students who are interested in pursuing a career in primary care or pediatrics. Once accepted to CMSRU, one can apply to the three-year track. There are also many opportunities for students to participate in formal research projects, such as the Summer Research Program and the Annual Camden Scholars’ Forum.
Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine
The Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine (HMSOM), in Nutley, New Jersey, is one of the nation’s newest medical schools and part of the Hackensack Meridian Health network. HMSOM has a unique 3+1 curriculum, or a three-year core curriculum with an “Individualization” phase during the fourth year of medical school.
The core curriculum is divided into two main phases, the Fundamentals phase and the Immersion phase.
Fundamentals (16 months)
This phase builds a strong academic foundation through an integrated study of biomedical, behavioral, social, and health system sciences. In addition to classroom learning, students engage in early clinical experiences and community-based learning.
Immersion (20 months)
In this phase, students complete their core clinical clerkships across a variety of specialties, including internal medicine, surgery, pediatrics, psychiatry, OB/GYN, family medicine, and neurology. This phase also includes time for electives and dedicated study periods for the USMLE Step 1 and Step 2 examinations.
A hallmark of HMSOM’s curriculum is the Human Dimension course, a longitudinal experience that spans the first three years of medical school. Students are paired with individuals or families in underserved communities and follow them over time, helping them navigate healthcare and social systems. This experience teaches students about the social determinants of health, chronic disease management, health disparities, and the importance of trust and continuity in patient care.
The Individualization phase is a self-directed year in which students can select to spend more time in the wards, in the community, pursuing research, or obtaining a second graduate degree. Students at HMSOM benefit from learning at one of the largest health systems in the region and at a state-of-the-art campus with advanced simulation centers and research facilities.
Rutgers New Jersey Medical School
Located in Newark, New Jersey, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School is the oldest medical school in the state and a vital component of Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences. Its curriculum focuses on four key themes: an organ-systems-based curriculum, early integrated clinical practice of medicine skills, service learning, and individual professional identity development with a healthcare team focus.
In addition to traditional preclinical and clinical coursework, various unique, additional classes are integrated throughout the four-year curriculum.
Patients-as-Teachers Curriculum
This course gives students direct interaction with patients who share their experiences and perspectives. These sessions foster empathy, insight into chronic illness, and an appreciation for patient narratives.
Opioid Epidemic Education
Recognizing the devastating impact of opioid use disorder, NJMS trains students in both the medical and social dimensions of the epidemic. Students learn to screen, treat, and advocate for patients facing addiction, with emphasis on stigma reduction and harm reduction strategies.
Leadership and Healthcare Systems
Students gain early exposure to topics such as healthcare policy, medical leadership, health equity, and systems-based practice. This prepares them to become change agents in an increasingly complex healthcare system.
Moreover, students are also exposed to various teaching methodologies, including team-based learning, podcasts, and flipped classrooms.
The Rutgers New Jersey Medical School also places a strong emphasis on community service; many medical students volunteer at the student-run Student Family Health Care Center. This free, student-run clinic was established after the 1967 riots to meet the needs of the medically underserved and to provide quality health care to the Newark community. Through this opportunity, students also provide clinical care at homeless shelters in Newark.
Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School
Located in New Brunswick, New Jersey, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School (RWJMS) is a leading public medical institution dedicated to training future physicians who are clinically skilled, committed to lifelong learning, and compassionate. As part of the Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences division, RWJMS provides students with extensive academic, clinical, and research opportunities within one of the nation’s most diverse and dynamic healthcare environments.
Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School revamped its curriculum in 2021 to focus on five core themes: curiosity, critical thinking, clinical skills, competence, and compassion. These themes are intertwined throughout the first two preclinical years and the subsequent two years of clinical rotations. A cornerstone of the preclinical curriculum is the 18-month Physicianship Development and Practice course where students will gain early clinical exposure through caring for patients in clinics and in their homes.
The medical school also provides several community health opportunities. Students may participate in the Homeless and Indigent Population Health Outreach Project, through which they provide education and clinical care to patients in New Brunswick and Middlesex, or they may volunteer at the Eric B. Chandler Health Center, a family-oriented community clinic.
Students may also participate in pipeline programs, health education initiatives in local schools, and population health research aimed at addressing chronic disease disparities in urban communities.
If you’re interested in research, you’ll also find opportunities at RWJMS in basic science, clinical trials, translational research, and public health.
Rowan University School of Osteopathic Medicine
A leader in osteopathic medical education, Rowan University School of Osteopathic Medicine is committed to meeting the challenges of modern healthcare. Rowan SOM has two sites in New Jersey: the Stratford Campus and the newly established Sewell Campus. The medical school offers two unique curriculum tracks for the pre-clerkship time: Synergistic Guided Learning (SGL) and Problem-Based Learning (PBL).
Synergistic Guided Learning is available only at the Stratford campus. The SGL curriculum is a structured, organ systems-based program designed to promote a deep and integrated understanding of normal and abnormal human biology. Students first learn the normal physiology, anatomy, and biochemistry of each organ system before progressing into the pathophysiology, pharmacology, and clinical presentation of diseases.
The PBL track, which is offered at both campuses, is a small-group, case-based model that emphasizes independent learning, collaboration, and clinical reasoning. Students learn biomedical sciences through realistic patient case scenarios, mirroring the diagnostic process of practicing physicians.
Both tracks focus on osteopathic philosophy, emphasizing the mind-body-spirit connection, and the importance of Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine (OMM) throughout the four-year curriculum.
After completing the pre-clerkship curriculum, students rotate through core specialties such as internal medicine, surgery, family medicine, pediatrics, OB/GYN, psychiatry, and emergency medicine. Rowan SOM partners with an extensive network of clinical affiliate sites across New Jersey and beyond, including both large hospital systems and community-based practices.
Rowan SOM also offers dual degree options such as DO/PhD or DO/MPH if you’re seeking an academic or public health career.
----
Part 4: New Jersey medical school admissions strategies
Strategy 1: Use the data provided about each New Jersey medical school to select which you should apply to.
Though the majority of New Jersey medical schools have relatively similar average GPAs and MCAT scores, there is still considerable variation when viewed as a group. Reflect on how your own statistics align with each school’s numbers in order to increase your likelihood of an admissions offer from a New Jersey medical school.
For example, with a 3.75 GPA and 513 MCAT, Hackensack Meridian, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson, and Rowan University School of Osteopathic Medicine would be good target schools for you. Your chances would be further increased if you are an in-state New Jersey resident.
(Suggested reading: How Many Medical Schools Should I Apply To? Which Ones?)
Strategy 2: Reflect on each New Jersey medical school’s unique features and select schools that fit your strengths and future goals.
As elaborated on above, New Jersey medical schools offer a variety of focuses and curricular options. For example, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson boasts a commitment to community service while Rowan SOM focuses on innovative education models and student-directed learning.
Use this information, supplemented by your own medical school research, to ensure that you apply to schools that support your prior achievements and future goals. It is also worth visiting these schools and discussing the programs with both students and faculty, if these opportunities present themselves.
Looking for secondary essay examples? Click below to access sample secondary essays for every prompt required by every MD and DO program in the United States and Canada. 1500+ essays and counting.
Gain instant access to med school secondary essay examples for every single prompt required by every medical school in the United States and Canada. Subscribe today to lock in the current investments, which will be increasing in the future for new subscribers.
Strategy 3: Be prepared come interview day
After all your hard work writing essays and submitting applications, once you’ve made it to the interview stage you’ve only got one last obstacle to overcome before you’re on your way to your dream career. Make sure you’re fully prepared and ready to show your interviewer exactly why you’ll be a great addition to their institution.
To do this, practice answering common interview questions and think through your responses to ensure they paint the full picture of you while aligning with the school’s priorities. For example, if asked “Where do you plan to practice medicine?” consider if the school primarily admits in-state applicants or has programs targeting the underserved in rural areas. Bringing this up in your answer can go a long way to having adcoms move your application into the accepted pile.
Additionally, you should be able to speak to your own interests and highlight extracurriculars or research you’ve engaged in. Before attending any interview, look over your application for that school and take note of the activities you mentioned. In many interviews, anything in your file is open game and could come up on the big day. The last thing you want is to be asked about something you’ve forgotten since your interviewer may see this as a sign that you were just ticking boxes on your application or even worse, embellishing it unnecessarily.
Invited to a med school interview? Congrats! There's no need to land in waitlist purgatory or the rejection pile. Learn how to craft memorable, acceptance-worthy responses using the resource below.
Gain instant access to the most common traditional and MMI interview questions, plus sample responses for each, to help you craft responses that lead to acceptances. Subscribe today to lock in the current investments, which will be increasing in the future for new subscribers.
Final thoughts
When applying to medical schools in New Jersey, make sure to carefully consider each program’s statistical profile as well as its differentiating features. Then, when writing secondary application essays and preparing for interviews, highlight how these qualities dovetail with your own strengths and interests. By crafting school-specific responses, you can maximize your success in the medical school application process.
About the Author
Dr. Shirag Shemmassian is the Founder of Shemmassian Academic Consulting and one of the world's foremost experts on medical school admissions. For nearly 20 years, he and his team have helped thousands of students get into medical school using his exclusive approach.
----
Appendix A: New Jersey medical schools by degree type
Allopathic medical schools in New Jersey (MD)
Cooper Medical School of Rowan University
Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine
Rutgers New Jersey Medical School
Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School
Osteopathic medical schools in New Jersey (DO)
Rowan University School of Osteopathic Medicine
----
Appendix B: New Jersey medical schools by institution type
Public medical schools in New Jersey
Cooper Medical School of Rowan University
Rutgers New Jersey Medical School
Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School
Rowan University School of Osteopathic Medicine
Private medical schools in New Jersey
Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine
