CU School of Medicine Remains in U.S. News Top 10 for Medical Schools 

The University of Colorado School of Medicine continues to rank among the top 10 medical schools in the country for primary care, according to numbers released today by U.S. News and World Report. 

In its annual Best Medical Schools report, the magazine ranked the CU School of Medicine number 6 for primary care and number 27 in research. CU School of Medicine’s rankings in these categories are unchanged from last year. 

Each year, U.S. News compiles listings of medical schools in two general categories — primary care and research — based on surveys and data reviews of accredited medical schools in the United States. Using the survey responses and data, the magazine then assigns rankings. 

The magazine also ranks specialty programs based on ratings by medical school deans and senior faculty. In this year’s rankings, three specialties at the CU School of Medicine are listed among the best: Pediatrics ranked number 7; family medicine ranked number 10; and surgery ranked number 23. 

“The School of Medicine is pleased to be recognized for the high quality of its programs,” says Dean John J. Reilly Jr., MD. “Our faculty and staff are leaders in education, research, and clinical care, and we are committed to setting a standard of excellence for our students, patients, colleagues, and community.” 

For its rankings, U.S. News surveyed 192 medical and osteopathic schools accredited in 2021 by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education, known as the LCME, or the American Osteopathic Association. This data, along with the results from peer assessment surveys, were used to calculate the overall rankings and eight medical field specialty rankings and populate each medical school’s profile in the usnews.com directory. 

In addition to the specialty and general rankings, U.S. News also examines data related to diversity and measuring the number of graduates practicing in rural areas and in health professional shortage areas.  

With 22% of its students from underrepresented minorities, CU School of Medicine ranked number 27 in the country in terms of the percentage of students from underrepresented minorities enrolled in 2021. CU ranked number 44 based on the percentage of its 2013–15 graduates practicing in rural areas, with 6.76%. On the measure of graduates in health professional shortage areas, CU ranked number 50, with 39% of 2013–15 graduates in such areas.