Iowa
Medical schools in Iowa
Iowa has 2 medical schools: 1 MD and 1 DO, 1 of them public. They are listed by our overall ranking, which weights research funding and admissions selectivity most.
- Most research funding: University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine ($131M from the NIH).
- Most graduates in primary care: Des Moines University College of Osteopathic Medicine (32.9%).
- Lowest median debt: University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine ($178,776).
| # | School | MCAT | NIH funding | Primary care | In state | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 53 | University of Iowa Carver College of MedicineIowa City · MD · Public | 514 | $131M | 22% | 32% | $179K |
| 178 | Des Moines University College of Osteopathic MedicineWest Des Moines · DO · Private | 507 | — | 33% | 15% | $279K |
# = national rank on the overall ranking. Rank Iowa schools on your own weights.
Medical schools in Iowa: questions
How many medical schools are in Iowa?
Iowa has 2 medical schools: 1 MD and 1 DO.
What is the best medical school in Iowa?
On our overall ranking, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine ranks highest in Iowa (53rd nationally). The best school for you depends on whether you value research, primary care, rural practice or low debt most.
Which medical school in Iowa leaves graduates with the least debt?
University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, with median federal debt of $178,776 at graduation.
Browse medical schools
Rankings by goal
- Best Medical Schools for Research
- Best Medical Schools for Primary Care
- Best Medical Schools for Rural Medicine
- Medical Schools Whose Graduates Stay in State
- Medical Schools With the Lowest Debt
- Most Diverse Medical Schools
- Osteopathic (DO) Medical School Rankings
- Best Public Medical Schools
- Most Selective Medical Schools
- Medical Schools With the Lowest MCAT Scores
By state
- Alabama 3
- Arizona 4
- Arkansas 2
- California 16
- Colorado 2
- Connecticut 3
- District of Columbia 3
- Florida 9
- Georgia 4
- Hawaii 1
- Idaho 1
- Illinois 9
- Indiana 2
- Kansas 2
- Kentucky 3
- Louisiana 3
- Maine 1
- Maryland 3
- Massachusetts 4
- Michigan 7
- Minnesota 2
- Mississippi 2
- Missouri 6
- Nebraska 2
- Nevada 3
- New Hampshire 1
- New Jersey 5
- New Mexico 2
- New York 16
- North Carolina 5
- North Dakota 1
- Ohio 7
- Oklahoma 2
- Oregon 1
- Pennsylvania 9
- Puerto Rico 4
- Rhode Island 1
- South Carolina 3
- South Dakota 1
- Tennessee 5
- Texas 16
- Utah 1
- Vermont 1
- Virginia 6
- Washington 3
- West Virginia 3
- Wisconsin 2
Outside the US
Sources: NIH RePORTER fiscal year 2025 (research funding); CMS Doctors and Clinicians file (where 2005–2019 graduates practice); USDA rural-urban commuting area codes 2020 (rural ZIP codes); College Scorecard (median federal debt); IPEDS 2023–24 (graduates and class makeup); each school's own admissions pages (admissions figures, linked on each school page). Methodology · Download the data (CSV)