LANSING, Mich. (Michigan News Source) — This year’s U.S. News & World Report (USNWR) rankings, released on July 23, featured several Michigan university medical schools. The rankings assessed institutions in two categories: Best Medical Schools for Research and Best Medical Schools for Primary Care, considering factors such as “faculty resources, academic achievement of incoming students, medical research grants, graduate placement, and practice in primary care fields,” according to MLive.

Michigan’s medical schools excelled in these categories, with the rankings organized into four tiers for both research and primary care. In particular, Wayne State University stands out as the only Michigan university to be ranked for both research and primary care, achieving a tier 3 status on both lists. 

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Michigan State University College of Human Medicine leads in the percentage of graduates practicing in rural areas, with 7% of its graduates working in these communities, ranking 38th nationally. Central Michigan University and Oakland University also contribute significantly, with 6% and 5% of their graduates practicing in rural areas, respectively..

Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine follows closely behind, ranking No. 58, while Wayne State University ranks No. 87, with 3.7% of its graduates practicing in rural areas.

The University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, previously ranked 17th nationally in 2023, is absent from this year’s rankings. The school chose not to submit data for this cycle, resulting in its exclusion from the U.S. News & World Report rankings.

In 2023, UM Medical School officials explained to MLive that the USNWR ranking methodology did not accurately reflect the varied priorities of medical schools. 

“Most medical school deans will agree that what makes a great medical school is excellence in the education of physicians and in conducting meaningful research that advances health,” Michigan Medicine spokeswoman Mary Masson said. This decision followed a similar move by the UM Law School, which withdrew from the rankings last November.

While the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor did not feature in the medical school rankings, its hospital system continues to excel. The University of Michigan-Health in Ann Arbor tied for first in the state in U.S. News & World Report’s “Best Hospitals” rankings for 2024-25.