Best Medical Schools in Boston (Ultimate Guide)

If you’re thinking about studying medicine in Boston (or any other allied health/medical studies program), you’ll want to know where the best medical schools in the city are.

Luckily, you have a ton of great options – 3 of the major ones are even located within a 5-mile radius of each other!

This article picks the best of them and provides you with all the necessary information (tuition fees, programs, locations, admissions data, etc.) you’ll likely want to know.

As a med student myself, I know how valuable quick overviews like this can be!

Ready to get started? Let’s go.

Best Medical Schools in Boston

There are 3 allopathic (MD) schools in the Boston area. These offer 4-year medical degrees, giving board licensure as a practicing physician.

All admissions data is taken from the American Association of Medical Colleges (Source). Ranking data is taken from U.S. News.

1. Harvard Medical School

Location:25 Shattuck Street, Boston, MA 02115-6092
National University Rank:1 in Research/8 in Primary Care
Average MCAT:519.46
Acceptance Rate:3.7% 
Tuition:$64,984
Average GPA:3.92
Enrollment: 700
Student-faculty ratio:14:1

Harvard Medical School is one of the top med schools in the world and is hugely selective.

The school offers medical degrees in Medicine, Dentistry, Public Health, Medical Information Management, and more.

Situated off Shattuck Street, close to Boston’s Central Village, the main campus buildings make up the Longwood Medical and Academic Area.

The school itself is affiliated with Massachusetts General Hospital.

See the website for admissions information, medical school requirements, and more.

DETAILS 

Related: How Hard Is It To Get Into Harvard Medical School? (Explained!)


2. Boston University School of Medicine

Location:72 E. Concord Street, L-103, Boston, MA 02118
National University Rank:33 in Research/44 in Primary Care
Average MCAT:517
Acceptance Rate:5.75% 
Tuition:$64,884
Average GPA:3.81
Enrollment: 663
Student-faculty ratio:1.7:1

Founded in 1848, Boston University School of Medicine is famous for being one of the first institutions in the world to formally educate female physicians.

The school offers medical degrees in Medicine, Dentistry, Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, General Health Services, Health Management and Administration, and more.

Situated off Concord Street, in Boston’s South End, the main campus buildings are close to Frederick Douglass Square Historic District.

The school itself is affiliated with Boston Medical Center.

See the website for admissions information, medical school requirements, and more.

DETAILS 

  • Name: Boston University School of Medicine
  • Phone: 617-358-9600
  • Websitebumc.bu.edu

3. Tufts University School of Medicine

Location:136 Harrison Avenue, Boston, MA 02111
National University Rank:55 in Research/51 in Primary Care
Average MCAT:508
Acceptance Rate:4.92% 
Tuition:$65,052
Average GPA:3.3
Enrollment: 809
Student-faculty ratio:1.4:1

Tufts University School of Medicine consistently ranks among the world’s best medical research institutions for clinical medicine.

The school offers medical degrees in Medicine, Dentistry, Veterinarian, Nutrition, Occupational Health, Health Care Administration, and more.

Situated on Harrison Avenue, close to Boston Common, the main campus buildings are located in Chinatown.

The school itself is affiliated with Tufts Medical Center.

See the website for admissions information, medical school requirements, and more.

DETAILS 


Four-Year Medical Studies Schools in Boston

There are several other great options for broader medical studies in Boston. These offer health and medical degrees in fields like nursing, physical therapy, pharmacy, physician assistant, and more.

4. Northeastern University

Location:360 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA 02115
National University Rank:49
Average SAT score:1410-1540 (ACT 33-35)
Acceptance Rate:18.1% 
Tuition:$57,592
Private/Public:Private
Enrollment: 15,156
Student-faculty ratio:14:1

Northeastern University is a private research university with its main campus in Boston.

The school offers medical studies degrees in Pharmacy, Pharmacy Administration, Nursing, Physical Therapy, Health Care Administration, Physician Assistant, Medical Information Management, and more.

Situated on Huntington Avenue, close to the Museum of Fine Arts Boston, the main campus buildings are between West Fens and South End.

See the website for admissions information, course requirements, and more.

DETAILS 


5. Boston College

Location:140 Commonwealth Avenue, Chestnut Hill, MA 02467
National University Rank:36
Average SAT score: 1330-1500 (ACT 31-34)
Acceptance Rate:27.2% 
Tuition:$61,706
Private/Public: Private
Enrollment: 9,445
Student-faculty ratio:11:1

Boston College is a private, Jesuit research university in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts.

The school offers medical studies degrees in Physician Assistant, Genetic Counseling, Public Health, Nursing, Physical and Occupational Therapy, Optometry, Pharmacy, and more.

It is just over 10 miles from downtown Boston.

See the website for admissions information, course requirements, and more.

DETAILS 

  • Name: Boston College
  • Phone: 617-552-3100
  • Websitebc.edu

6. Brandeis University

Location:415 South Street, Waltham, MA 02454
National University Rank:42
Average SAT score: 1320-1510 (ACT 31-33)
Acceptance Rate:34% 
Tuition:$60,391
Private/Public: Private
Enrollment: 3,493
Student-faculty ratio:10:1

Brandeis University is a private research university in Waltham, Massachusetts. 

The school offers medical studies degrees in Global Health Policy, Health Informatics, International Public Health, Genetic Counseling, Medical Information Management, and more.

It is just over 10 miles from downtown Boston.

See the website for admissions information, course requirements, and more.

DETAILS 

  • Name: Brandeis University
  • Phone: 781-736-3237
  • Website: brandeis.edu

Two-Year Medical Studies Schools in Boston

There are also some great two-year schools for medical studies in Boston. These institutions offer courses like phlebotomy, surgical technician, pharmacy technician, radiation therapist, and more.

7. Bay State College

Location:31 St. James Ave, Boston, MA 02116
National University Rank:38-49 in Regional Colleges North
Acceptance Rate:67% 
Tuition:$29,200
Enrollment: 609
Student-faculty ratio:9:1

Bay State College is a private, for-profit college in the Back Bay neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts

The school offers medical studies courses in Health Sciences, Nursing, Physical and Occupational Therapy Assistant, Medical Assistant, and more.

See the website for admissions information, course requirements, and more.

DETAILS 


8. Bunker Hill Community College

Location:250 New Rutherford Ave, Boston, MA 02129-2925
National University Rank:N/A
Acceptance Rate:100% 
Tuition:$4,464 (in-state)/$9,408 (out-of-state)
Enrollment: 12,522
Student-faculty ratio:25:1

Bunker Hill Community College is a public multi-campus community college serving the Greater Boston area. 

The school offers medical studies courses in Health Sciences, Phlebotomy, Patient Care Technician, Medical Assistant and Medical Interpreting.

See the website for admissions information, course requirements, and more.

DETAILS 

  • Name: Bunker Hill Community College
  • Phone: 617-228-2000
  • Website: bhcc.edu

9. Massachusetts Bay Community College

Location:50 Oakland St, Wellesley Hills, MA 02481-5399
National University Rank:N/A
Acceptance Rate:100% 
Tuition:$5,088 (in-state)/$10,032 (out-of-state)
Enrollment: 4,368
Student-faculty ratio:15:1

Massachusetts Bay Community College is a public community college in Norfolk and Middlesex Counties.

The school offers medical studies courses in Health Sciences, Surgical Technician, Radiologist, EMT, Medical Administration, Nursing, and more.

See the website for admissions information, course requirements, and more.

DETAILS 

  • Name: Massachusetts Bay Community College
  • Phone: 781-239-3000
  • Website: massbay.edu

Summary

Boston is home to some of the best medical schools and medical study colleges in the entire state of Massachusetts.

If you’re interested in medical or allied health careers in the city, it’s a great idea to go deeper into your research. This website is home is hundreds of articles discussing medical school life and healthcare careers. Feel free to browse around or search for more information.

To get the best out of your time, I recommend checking the admissions guidelines and eligibility of the courses that most interest you, directly on each Boston-based college’s website.

That’s where you’ll get the most up-to-date and accurate information!

Related Questions

What is the best medical school in Massachusetts?

The best medical school in the state is Boston’s Harvard Medical School. It has the highest ranking, as per U.S. News, in Research and Primary Care, out of all medical schools in Massachusetts.

You can see the exact stats of each school above.

What are the best pre-med schools in Boston?

Because you can study any undergrad major as a pre-med, the best schools are usually those with the highest ranking, smallest class sizes, best opportunities for research and clinical experience, and other extracurricular involvements.

Boston schools that best fit that criteria include:

  • Boston University
  • Boston College
  • Harvard University
  • Tufts University
  • Brandeis University

You can check out their pre-med offerings via the websites listed above.

Are there any osteopathic (DO) medical schools in Boston?

There is no osteopathic (DO) medical school in Boston.

The closest osteopathic medical school to Boston city and metro is Wheaton College Massachusetts, based out of Norton, MA.

Wheaton College Massachusetts is located approximately 27 miles southwest of the city.

Does Boston College have a medical school?

Boston College does not have a medical school.

As mentioned before, its Pre-Health Program is one of the best in the state, however.

What about medical billing and coding schools in Boston?

The following schools are good choices for medical billing and coding in or close to the city:

What are the best medical assistant schools in Boston?

The following schools offer medical assistant courses in or close to the city: