Chicago has a number of top-ranked medical schools, many of which are private institutions. The quality of education at top medical schools in Chicago is exceptional, and many of their graduates go on to become highly successful physicians. Chicago medical schools offer a rich array of clinical experiences that will prepare you well for a career in medicine. They also have strong research programs, which are important in the field of medicine.
If you are interested in becoming a doctor, Chicago is a great place to study. There are a number of excellent medical schools in Chicago, and you will be able to find a program that meets your needs.
If you are looking for a top-notch medical education in Chicago, here are ten of the best medical schools in Chicago
1. Pritzker School of Medicine
Type: Private
Location: 924 E 57th St #104, Chicago, IL 60637
4-years tuition: ~$250,000
The Pritzker School of Medicine is a private, not-for-profit, research and teaching institution. It was founded in 1881. The Pritzker School of Medicine has been ranked very high on the U.S. News & World Report Regional Rankings for many years in a row.
The school offers a 4 years curriculum that will get you an MD degree. Studying here includes getting internships in hospitals to gain the necessary on-the-job experience.
Pritzker’s major downside is how expensive it is. You’re going to spend over $300.000 dollars over the 4 years required to get your degree, of which ~$250,000 on tuition alone.
2. Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine
Type: Private
Location: 2800 W Harrison Ave, Maywood, IL 60153
4-years tuition: ~$200,000
The Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine was founded in 1956 by the Sisters of Charity.
The school is ranked in the top 30 of U.S. News & World Report’s regional rankings for allopathic medical schools, and offers a curriculum that includes an MD degree with coursework ranging from biochemistry to pharmacology.
Students can get hands-on experience through its internships in hospitals across Chicago and various clinics around town.
You can specialize in one of the following subjects through the IPBS (Integrated Program in Biomedical Science):
Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Cell and Molecular Physiology
Integrative Cell Biology
Molecular Pharmacology and Therapeutics
Microbiology and Immunology
Neuroscience
3. Rush Medical College of Rush University
Type: Private
Location: 600 S. Wood St, Chicago, IL 60612
4-years tuition: ~$225,000
Rush Medical College was established in 1837. It was founded by Dr. John Riggs (a pioneer in medical education) and his partner James Rush. The school is known for its commitment to excellence.
Rush’s MD program is taught at two hospitals within walking distance of each other: Rush University Medical Center, and John H. Stronger Hospital of Cook Country.
Most teachers at Rush are physicians, so they bring in real-world experience to their lectures. It’s great, because students can learn from people who actually practice what they teach. They are better equipped than those learning from typical teachers.
Another perk of studying here is the volunteer program. You’ll gain hands-on experience in medicine, giving you the experience, you need to proceed with your studies. The school gets over 100 grants from the NIH. If you are interested in research, Rush is an excellent choice.
4. Feinberg School of Medicine at Northwestern University
Type: Private
Location: 303 E Chicago Ave, Chicago IL 60610
4-years tuition: ~$198,000
Established in 1859 as the Medical College of Illinois and renamed to the Feinberg School of Medicine at Northwestern University in 1999, U.S. News & World Report gives it very high regional rankings for allopathic medical schools (in the top 30).
Feinberg offers full-time and part-time programs. The curriculum is taught in a way that provides students with the knowledge to practice as physicians, but also includes opportunities for research through various clinics around Chicago.
Northwestern offered one of the first medical scholarships (named after Dr. John Collins Warren) back in 1882 – which makes it one of the oldest in the country.
Feinberg is currently ranked among U.S. News & World Report’s top 15 medical schools for research – and it has been so since 1975. This means to get a great education, an amazing experience, as well as excellent opportunities when it comes time to apply for residency.
5. The University of Illinois College of Medicine
Type: Public
Location: 1200 W Harrison St, Chicago, IL 60607
4-years tuition: ~$180,000
This is the only public school on this list. The University of Illinois has a MD program that is open to both in-state and out-of-state students. It is ranked in the top 50 regional rankings for allopathic medical schools by U.S. News & World Report. The curriculum includes courses such as Pathology, Pharmacology and Therapeutics, General Psychopathology, Internal Medicine, Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Orthopedics.
Students learn about life sciences through hands-on experiments—all before ever beginning their clinical rotations. This way, they are more prepared for both undergraduate study and graduate education.
The University’s MD program is accredited by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME).
6. Rosalind Franklin University
Type: Private
Location: 3333 Green Bay RD, North Chicago, IL 60064
4-years tuition: ~$252,000
One of the exceptional things about Rosalind Franklin University is that it’s ranked in the top 10 for programs in the Midwest by U.S. News & World Report. It’s also a recipient of an Athena Award which is given to schools who show gender equity, mentoring, and flexibility.
For pre-med students, there are opportunities for research through labs and clinics. Something difficult to find at other schools closer to home. The school has been committed to finding new ways to combine technology and education, which means they always have their finger on the pulse of what students need.
The biggest downside of Rosalind Franklin is how expensive it is. But unfortunately, that’s the reality of medical school all over the United States.
7. Rush University Medical College
Type: Private Location: 600 S. Paulina St. Chicago, Illinois 60612 4-years tuition: $200,000
The university is made up of three academic campuses: one downtown, one on the west side, and one on the south side. In addition to the main campus at Stony Island Avenue and 61st Street (formerly known as Rush-Presbyterian-St Luke’s Medical Center), there are two other campuses: Rush North Shore Medical Center located at 555 Waukegan Road in Glencoe; and Rush Oak Park Hospital at 2045 Des Plaines Avenue in Oak Park.
Rush has 632 full-time faculty members representing 42 countries around the world who provide care at each of its facilities through more than 2,700 physicians with subspecialty training from over 80 different disciplines.
8. Midwestern University Chicago College Of Osteopathic Medicine
Type: Private Location: Midwestern University Chicago College Of Osteopathic Medicine 4-years tuition: $190,000
Midwestern University Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine
The Midwestern University Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine, or COM, is an osteopathic medical school located in Downers Grove, Illinois. The school was founded in 1975 and became the third osteopathic medical school in all of the United States. It also has campuses in Arizona and Florida.
COM is accredited by the American Osteopathic Association’s Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation (COCA). This accreditation means that COM has met COCA’s standards for quality education and training. The MD/PhD program at COM is accredited by the American Medical Association’s Council on Education (AMA COE).
The Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine program at COM takes four years to complete and is offered through the school’s Chicago campus. In addition to the regular DO program, the school also offers a dual-degree program in which students can combine their DO degree with an MD or PhD degree from another institution.
COM has a total enrollment of around 400 students each year, with about half of those students coming from out-of-state. It is also one of just a few osteopathic medical schools that accepts applications from international students
Carle Illinois College of Medicine is a medical school in Urbana-Champaign, Illinois. It was established in 2015 and is the newest medical school in the state. The school has ties to Carle Foundation Hospital, a health care network with locations throughout central Illinois. The college’s mission is to “educate leaders in medicine for the 21st century by integrating clinical excellence with education, research and community service.”
The Illinois Medical Scholars Program (IMSP) at Carle Illinois College of Medicine offers an accelerated program for students who have demonstrated academic excellence from across the country. The program consists of four years of medical school followed by three years of residency training — rather than the standard five years.
Each year, approximately 30 students are accepted into this program. Students receive an intensive preclinical curriculum during their first two years before transitioning into clinical clerkships during their third year. Students complete their fourth year at Carle Foundation Hospital as part of its integrated residency program, which provides rotations through all specialties offered at Carle.
10. Northwestern University Feinberg School Of Medicine
Type: Private Location: 310 E. Superior St., Morton Building 1-606, Chicago, IL 60611-3008 4-years tuition: $276, 000
Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine is located in Chicago and is one of the top medical schools in the country. The school has been ranked as high as second best medical school in the nation by U.S. News & World Report, and its alumni include two Nobel Prize winners.
The school offers a variety of programs including an M.D./Ph.D. program and an MD/MBA program through its Institute for Medical Education (IME). In addition, students have the opportunity to participate in research projects that provide hands-on experience in the field of medicine.
The school offers more than 100 residency programs with options including surgery, emergency medicine and pediatrics as well as many others. The university also has an extensive network of hospitals across Chicago where students can practice their skills on real patients during their rotations before graduation.
Opportunities Available to Medical Students In Chicago
1. Public Health Worker Public health is about protecting and promoting the health of the general population through. You might work on preventing the spread of infectious diseases or environmental health hazards, or you could be involved in strategies to improve efficiency, effectiveness and accountability of your health service.
2. Health Journalist Journalism is a hugely competitive field, but those with scientific credentials and experience have the edge over the vast majority of journalists who come mostly from an arts or social sciences backgrounds. Some medics undertake this as an addition, rather than an alternative to their clinical work. Keep in mind that you may need to gain extra qualifications (albeit on a short training course) or experience in order to kickstart a successful journalism career.
3. Medical Teacher Medical education could range from supporting trainee medical students or doctors, to educating the public, be it in your home country or abroad. This could be the right choice for you if you want to make an impact on educating a large number of people.
4. Clinical Forensic Medical Examiner An interesting route to take if you have completed training as a doctor. The role of a forensic medical examiner is to deal with examining the living. Forensic pathologists are trained to carry out medical examinations on the dead.
5. Medical Photographer A career which will allow you to apply both your creativity and medical skills. Medical photographers use photography as well as video for both patient care as well as general information and marketing for health publications.
6. Medical Photographer A career which will allow you to apply both your creativity and medical skills. Medical photographers use photography as well as video for both patient care as well as general information and marketing for health publications.
7. Medical/ Pharmaceutical Researcher
The medical research field is a dynamic one which is constantly developing. Medical researchers work by conducting experiments and analysing results to learn more about the human body and potential treatments. This could mean working in the pharmaceutical industry, academia, hospital labs, research institutes or medical research charities.
8. Sports and Exercise Medicine Sports and Exercise Medicine (SEM) is a newly recognised medical speciality. It is concerned with dealing with medical conditions and injury in people such as athletes who strongly participate in physical activity.
9. Volunteer Work Medicine is and has for a very long time been considered vital in improving the health of people living in less fortunate circumstances or in developing countries. There are many overseas opportunities in voluntary work available for qualified doctors.
10. Medical Sales Representative If the dynamic and target-driven world of sales appeals to you, working as a medical sales representative could be for you. The role involves acting as the associate between healthcare professionals and the pharmaceutical industry.
11. Medical Legal Advisor Medical-Legal Advisors are responsible for managing cases in an area of their expertise. They may often be required to attend court trials, as well as hold lectures, run workshops and write articles.
12. Occupational Physician If helping people who have had a medical accident or illness to stay at work, or return to work is something which interests you, this could be your ideal job. The role may also involve providing health advice, education or training to organisations and individuals to prevent injuries and ensure high standards of health and safety at work.
13. Transplant Coordinator These professionals coordinate activities related to organ donation and transplantation. They liaise with medical, paramedical and non-medical personnel and may be involved in various stages of the process, from meeting with donors and recipients to post-surgical care and follow-up. The role tends to involve both administrative and medical tasks.
14. Radiology/Diagnostic Imaging Director A radiology/diagnostic imaging director is in charge of keeping on top of medical imaging programs such as x-rays, CT scans, ultrasounds and MRIs. Their role is to ensure that the correct professional standards are met.
The Pros of Attending A Medical School Chicago
Excellent Education
Chicago is the home to many world-renowned universities with high rankings. Moreover, not only the campuses offer library and information services to the students, but there are also many inspiring, equipped, and beautiful libraries all around the city to quench your thirst for knowledge: Harold Washington Library Centre, Mansueto Library (UChicago), The Poetry Foundation Library, and Chicago Public Library.
Food
Chicago is not only a city with a high percentage of cultural diversity, but its food is highly diversified as well. There are many famous and yet unique dishes in Chicago that one cannot get enough of – Chicago-style hot dog, deep-dish pizza, butter-crust pizza, Polish sausage, Italian beef, Puerto Rican jibarito, as well as Chicago-style rainbow ice-cream, caramel popcorn, cinnamon roll, cheesecake, and brownies, to name but a few.
For local and international students who would like to test new dishes or get a taste of home, Chicago offers different international restaurants, specifically in regional avenues: Chinatown (Asian cuisine), Argyle Street (Vietnamese cuisine), and Devon (Indian cuisine).
Attractions
Whether to get accustomed to the new city and lifestyle or just to hang out with your new friends from the university, city attractions are the best go-to options. Chicago is a heaven for all the art and culture enthusiasts. There are many art galleries as well as art museums throughout the city, for example, The Art Institute of Chicago, Museum of Contemporary Art, Smart Museum of Art, and Field Museum. Moreover, for the lovers of astronomy studies, Adler Planetarium and for the sea-life lovers, Shedd Aquarium can be perfect options.
Furthermore, located in downtown Chicago, Millennium Park is another famous spot for tourists. Lincoln Park, Lurie Garden, Buckingham Fountain, Crown Fountain, Lake Michigan, and Navy Pier are among the best options for nature lovers. There are also many outdoor concerts as well as sculptures and buildings for the lovers of modern music, culture, architecture and engineering – Cloud Gate, Willis Tower Sky Deck, 360 Chicago, The Rookery Building, to name a few.
Transportation
Chicago has the second largest public transportation system in the US, which is why most of the residents prefer to not own a car. Students can also benefit from the variety of transportation means that the city offers: rail, bus, as well as a bike sharing system. In addition, although Chicago is a modern metropolis, most of the destinations can be reached within a walking distance through the so-called “Pedway” or pedestrian walkway system. Best of all, thanks to one of the world’s easiest street numbering systems, getting lost in the city is not a problem at all!
So, which of these medical schools should you choose? As always, it’s up to you—the student—to make the decision that’s best for you. While there are many factors to consider, first and foremost the school has to offer the program that you want. We do hope that this guide has been useful in helping you decide the best medical schools in Chicago.
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