Medical Schools in Washington, D.C.: How to Get In (2024)
/Which are the best medical schools in Washington, D.C.? Learn the Washington, D.C., medical school rankings, plus admissions strategies to get into your top-choice programs
There are three medical schools in Washington, D.C.
Part 1: Introduction
Part 2: List of medical schools in Washington, D.C.: 2023 rankings & admissions statistics
Part 3: Washington, D.C., medical school profiles
Part 4: Washington, D.C., medical school admissions strategies
Appendix A: Washington, D.C., medical schools by degree type
Appendix B: Washington, D.C., medical schools by institution type
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Part 1: Introduction
From the Washington Monument to Capitol Hill, Washington, D.C., is a hub of historical and intellectual stimulation. As the capital of the United States, Washington, D.C., is no doubt one of the most fascinating places to live and study.
Because of D.C.’s relatively small size, some may wonder: Does Washington, D.C., have a medical school? Yes! In fact, this city is home to three medical schools, two of which are ranked among the top 100 medical schools in the country. If you envision committing yourself to service and working with diverse communities, then medical schools in Washington, D.C., may have the opportunities you are looking for.
In this guide, we will cover statistics and other important information about each Washington, D.C., medical school, plus strategies to maximize your chances of admissions. This strategic approach will allow you to optimize your medical school application, ensuring a greater likelihood that you will receive an acceptance to the D.C. medical school of your choice.
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Part 2: List of medical schools in Washington, D.C.: 2023 rankings & admissions statistics
While gathering statistics related to Washington, D.C. medical schools, including rankings, locations, and average GPAs and MCAT scores, we compiled a few main takeaways:
All three Washington, D.C. medical schools appear in the 2023–2024 U.S. News Best Medical Schools (Research) ranking, with two in the top 100.
The three D.C. medical schools are friendly to out-of-state applicants; over 90% of each entering class are not from the U.S. capital.
The average MCAT scores and GPAs of matriculants to Washington, D.C. medical schools hover around the national average.
The table below provides statistics for each Washington, D.C. medical school. Each school’s national ranking is listed inside parentheses, and their relative ranks are shown outside parentheses. Annual tuition and fees are for the 2023–2024 academic year; the last four columns refer to entering class of 2023.
(Note: We highly recommend you sign up for MSAR for data on MD programs and sign up for Choose DO for DO program data. These databases have the most up-to-date information on MD and DO schools.)
| Washington, D.C., Medical Schools | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Georgetown University School of Medicine | $74,133 OOS |
6.4% OOS |
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| George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences | $64,460 OOS |
6.2% OOS |
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| Howard University College of Medicine | $52,446 OOS |
3.2% OOS |
**Public medical schools in Washington, D.C. | UR: Unranked | IS: In-state | OOS: Out-of-state | NA: Not available
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Part 3: Washington, D.C., medical school profiles
Georgetown University School of Medicine
The core of Georgetown University School of Medicine’s vision lies in its Jesuit traditions of community service and social justice. Alongside this mission is its philosophy of “cura personalis,” which emphasizes individual, psychological, and social well-being.
Students at Georgetown are expected to complete at least 20 hours of community service before graduating. One unique aspect of Georgetown’s curriculum is that the preclinical curriculum contains clinical simulations and that the clinical curriculum begins in the spring of Year 2. Additionally, several tracks are available to students at Georgetown, including the Mind-Body Medicine Program and longitudinal scholarly tracks in health justice, population health, and literature.
(Suggested reading: How to Get Into Georgetown Medical School: Requirements and Strategies)
George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences
The eleventh-oldest medical school in the United States, the George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences (SMHS) is an academic medical center dedicated to addressing health disparities with research and community engagement. SMHS aims to graduate “Physician Citizens” who will commit themselves to public service; in particular, the school is known for integrating public and population health into its curriculum. Moreover, the Early Selection program at SMHS allows second-semester undergraduate students to matriculate into the school.
In 2014, George Washington opened the Clinical Learning and Simulation Skills (CLASS) Center as part of the school’s vision to foster learning spaces, expand research, and improve patient care. Students enrolled at SMHS can expect more active learning in place of traditional lectures and will begin their clinical curriculum in the spring of their second year of medical school. Additionally, students have many opportunities to explore the role of medicine in Washington, D.C. For instance, students can visit Capitol Hill to learn about healthcare policy or the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum to learn about medical ethics. Students dedicated to serving in primary care can enroll in the Clinical Apprenticeship Program (CAP) in pursuit of their goals.
Howard University College of Medicine
Howard University College of Medicine (HUCM), the oldest and largest historically black medical school in the United States, is committed to the education of Black American physicians. Undergraduate students applying to the Howard University College of Arts and Sciences can also apply to the school’s BS/MD program, through which students can complete their Bachelor of Science and their medical degree in six years. HUCM is particularly committed to addressing underserved populations and health disparities, and to the education of disadvantaged students.
During the fourth year of medical school, students have the opportunity to pursue additional clinical or research experiences after completing 24–28 weeks of clinical rotations. In addition, students at HUCM have access to a variety of medical interest groups, such as Women in Medicine and specialty interest groups for fields such as pathology. Students can also volunteer in the New Freedman's Clinic, a student-run free clinic associated with HUSM.
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Part 4: Washington, D.C., medical school admissions strategies
Strategy 1: Use statistics as your guide when determining which D.C. medical schools to apply to
As noted above, the three medical schools in Washington, D.C., have GPAs and MCAT scores that are near the national averages of matriculants in the most recent application cycle (3.74 GPA, 511.9 MCAT). As long as your own GPA and MCAT are near these averages, consider applying to these schools, so long as your academic achievements and background align with the schools’ missions.
Though Washington, D.C., schools interview a higher percentage of applicants from D.C., the majority of each class is not from D.C.
(Suggested reading: How Many Medical Schools Should I Apply To? Which Ones?)
Strategy 2: Assess schools for personal fit and incorporate that fit into your application and interviews
It is very important to consider your career goals and strengths when choosing which schools to apply to.
For instance, if you are committed to academic medicine, the George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences may be the program to suit your goals. On the other hand, if you see yourself committed to service or primary care, you will likely be a fit at Georgetown. Additionally, if you are committed to underserved communities and identify as Black, you may benefit from the curriculum at Howard.
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Strategy 3: Schedule time each week to work on secondary essays
It’s no secret that getting into medical school is hard. It demands dedication and what seems like constant applying and essay writing.
If you’ve made it to the secondary application stage, the good news is that you’re nearing the finish line. When you’re this close, you don’t want to drop the ball by running up against a deadline and furiously writing at the last minute.
Most schools require essays as part of their applications, but that’s where the similarity stops. Some will ask for a few long essays, and some will ask for multiple short responses. You should schedule your time optimally given your preferred approach to working to enable yourself to craft exceptional secondary essays and put your best foot forward.
Consider how many drafts you are likely to go through for each essay. At a minimum, we would recommend 3, so it’s a good idea to build in time to your schedule each week to draft at least 4. That way, you are more likely to have time left over and can iron out any kinks before your final submission.
Suggested reading: (Medical School Secondary Essays: The Complete Guide)
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.
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Final thoughts
Though the three medical schools in Washington, D.C., share a common mission of service, each is unique on its own. Therefore, it is important to target schools that align with your strengths, statistics, and personal goals. By doing so, and by tailoring your secondary essays and interview responses to demonstrate fit with each school, you can increase your odds of receiving an acceptance to a medical school in Washington, D.C.
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.
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Appendix A: Washington, D.C., medical schools by degree type
Allopathic medical schools in Washington, D.C. (MD)
Georgetown University School of Medicine
George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences
Howard University College of Medicine
Osteopathic medical schools in Washington, D.C. (DO)
There are no osteopathic medical schools in Washington, D.C.
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Appendix B: Washington, D.C., medical schools by institution type
Private medical schools in Washington, D.C. (MD)
Georgetown University School of Medicine
George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences
Howard University College of Medicine
Public medical schools in Washington, D.C. (DO)
There are no public medical schools in Washington, D.C.
