List of medical schools in Colorado: 2021 rankings & admissions statistics

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Colorado Medical Schools	US News Ranking	Location	Degree	Year Est.	Annual Tuition & Fees	Avg. GPA	Avg. MCAT	Interview Rate	First-Year Class Size
University of Colorado School of Medicine*	1 (27)	Aurora	MD	1883	$41,520 IS $77,474 OOS	3.83	514	19.9% IS 5.8% OOS	155 (41.9% IS)
Rocky Vista University College of Medicine	2 (UR)	Parker	DO	2006	$56,830 IS $56,830 OOS	3.55	506	NA	162 (37.7% IS)

*Public medical schools in Colorado | UR: Unranked | IS: In-state | OOS: Out-of-state | NA: Not available

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Part 3: Colorado medical school admissions strategies

Strategy 1: Decide which Colorado medical school to apply to based on your stats

Significant differences exist between the two Colorado medical schools with respect to GPA and MCAT scores. Therefore, you’ll want to ensure that your GPA and MCAT score are within the range of your target school. And, if you’re an out-of-state student, the good news is that both schools admit more out-of-state students than in-state.

Applying to the “right schools” is one of the most underrated parts of the medical school application process. It’s important to remember that completing a high-quality application takes time. Therefore, while it may seem easy to add “just one more” program to your school list, you risk compromising the quality of your other applications.

Strategy 2: Focus on your fit with each Colorado medical school in secondary essays and interviews

All medical schools have unique specialties, whether it’s excellence in research, commitment to serving underserved populations, or a specific area of clinical medicine. You should thoroughly review each school’s website for insights on their area of expertise and explain in your secondary essays how your extracurricular activities demonstrate your fit. For example, since RVUCOM is a DO school, you can discuss how your experiences shadowing a DO physician have confirmed your interest in osteopathic medicine.

Also, if you have a connection to Colorado, be sure to mention this. Medical schools pay attention to yield-rates, and a clear connection to the state can help you make your case.

Best Medicine colleges in Colorado 2021

A degree in medicine is the highest degree one can obtain in the medical field. It’s more commonly known as a Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) or Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.). Both are graduate degrees awarded by an accredited school of medicine (medical school). After obtaining an undergraduate degree in a variety of sciences, including pre-medicine, students typically complete four more rigorous years in medical school in order to receive their doctoral degree. After graduation, a student will spend three or more additional years in a medical internship and residency program before starting a career as a physician. While physicians often specialize in a particular type of medicine, medical degrees cover the foundational skills needed to practice medicine, including subjects such as anatomy and physiology, genetics, biochemistry and immunology.

There generally is not an undergraduate degree in medicine specifically; however, there are often pre-med degree programs that combine classes to help prepare students for the MCAT exam, which students are required to pass to get into medical school in the United States. Often, students study some form of life science (biology, chemistry, biochemistry, or kinesiology). However, students can receive a bachelor’s degree in any major prior to seeking a degree in medicine.

Best Medicine colleges in Colorado for 2021

University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus Denver, CO

University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus offers 1 Medicine degree programs. It’s a very large, public, four-year university in a large city. In 2019, 172 Medicine students graduated with students earning 172 Doctoral degrees.Based on 2 Reviews Get School Info

Move over, Harvard! Ivy League medical schools are not the only ones who train the best physicians and healthcare providers in the country, even though they do seem to get most of the attention from significant publications. Here we would like to buck the trend and shine the spotlight on top-notch medical schools in a state that seldom receives attention for its educational institutions: Colorado.

Colorado is primarily known for its picturesque and mountainous landscapes, high altitude, desert lands, and other stunning, topographic features. It is also home to some of the most excellent schools in the nation, including medical schools.

Future doctors should consider the schools on this list. Both are nationally renowned schools that offer excellent curricula, emphasizing clinical experience and patient-centered care. The missions of these schools are underpinned by a vision to deliver the best and most affordable care to underserved communities throughout the state and the U.S. With dedicated faculty, state-of-the-art facilities, and vast clinical networks, the schools deliver on their promise to train exceptional physicians.

We selected the schools based on their placement in the US News & World report medical schools rankings. The quality and breadth of their clinical experience opportunities was also another factor, as well as community impact.

Rocky Vista University College of Osteopathic Medicine (Parker, CO)

The Rocky Vista University College of Osteopathic Medicine is a fantastic choice for aspiring physicians looking to study in Colorado. The school yields a remarkably high number of graduates practicing in a primary care field. According to the US News & World Report, it is one of the highest in the nation.

Additionally, Rocky Vista boasts many graduates caring for underserved and rural populations, which is a handy piece of information for future doctors who want to make a meaningful impact in the health professions by improving access to quality care, while delivering competent and compassionate care. It has accomplished this as the nation’s first for-profit medical program. It is as renowned as any non-profit medical program in the country, combining stellar education and training with a commitment to serving underserved communities.

Despite its for-profit status, it is held to the same academic and medical accreditation standards as other schools and has proven itself to be a renowned school, delivering excellent results and making a difference in the community. In fact, the campus’s current location was specifically chosen due to its proximity to a large number of underserved counties. The school was established to address the dire shortage of physicians and affordable health care in these areas.

RVUCOM operates a clinic with a wide range of services, including internal medicine, primary care, osteopathic manipulative medicine, and telemedicine. The Rocky Vista Health Center has a unique Internal Medicine residency program in which medical students are trained to become internal medicine and research leaders. The program is carried out in cooperation with the Skyridge Internal Medicine program for residents.

Interdisciplinary collaboration and an osteopathic approach are the heart of the RVUCOM curriculum. Students are inculcated with the understanding that the patient is a “whole person” and not a mere checklist of symptoms. While the first two years of education are primarily focused on the fundamentals of human physiology and scientific research and methodology, students receive training in a clinical setting as early as the first year. Under physician supervision, students have an increasing number of opportunities to interact with patients in various settings over the final three years. This is made possible by RVUCOM’s growing clinical training network.

RVUCOM walks the talk when it comes to training the next generation of competent and compassionate physicians. Despite being a relatively young school, the College of Osteopathic Medicine has successfully matched its students with the most coveted specialty residencies around the country. Among the Class of 2021, students have landed residencies at John Hopkins Hospital, the Albert Einstein Medical Center in Philadelphia, the Virginia Commonwealth University Health Systems, and many more.

Because of its adherence to the highest standards in education and training, RVU requires its student doctors to pass the COMLEX national exams. The Comprehensive Osteopathic Medical Licensing Examination (COMLEX) is a series of exams required for becoming a licensed practitioner in osteopathic medicine. In recent years, RVUCOM students have passed the COMLEX exams at an unprecedented rate of approximately 97%!

A prospective student with their eye on RVUCOM should have a solid academic record and an MCAT score of around 506. In recent years, the average overall GPA of admitted students has been higher than 3.40. A decent GPA and MCAT score will not be enough to get you accepted; prospective students should stand out from the other applicants. Recommendation letters and secondary essays are two ways to show uniqueness and stand out from the other applicants.

The school requires one recommendation from a healthcare provider who has worked with the candidate in some capacity. While RVUCOM admits more out-of-state students than in-state students, a connection to Colorado would boost an applicant’s profile.

University of Colorado School of Medicine (Aurora, CO)

The University of Colorado School of Medicine has a track record of outstanding clinical and research accomplishments and is part of a university system that has had a significant economic impact on Colorado. According to one report, the school’s economic impact has been measured to total around $14.9 billion in 2019. In addition to being a trailblazer in research, teaching, and healthcare service, the School of Medicine is part of an economic powerhouse.

The CU School of Medicine is one of the top 10 medical schools in the nation for primary care and one of the top 50 for Research, according to the latest US News & World Report rankings. It also occupies the top of the list for family medicine and pediatrics. The school has been at the top for several years in a row, attesting to its enduring quality and impact.

Its investment in research and education certainly pays off. One of the most critical assets of the School of Medicine is its world-class faculty. In 2020, the CU School of Medicine Faculty earned numerous prestigious awards and accomplishments. For several years in a row, Todd Bull, MD has been recognized as a top doctor for Critical Care and Pulmonary medicine and has published his research in high-ranking journals. He is also a CU School of Medicine alum!

Dr. Anne Caldwell, an Assistant Professor in the Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism, and Diabetes, has been recognized as one of the 25 “Emerging Luminaries in Nutrition, Exercise, and Metabolism.”

Aspiring physicians who want to study with these luminaries in the field of medicine should look no further than CU School of Medicine. Half of the physicians named in 5280’s survey of best doctors in the area are CU faculty or clinical volunteers.

Like all excellent medical schools, the school combines a substantial academic component with robust, experiential education in a clinical or field setting. The curriculum at the School of Medicine consists of an Essentials Core and Clinical Core. The goal of the Essentials Core is to give students a solid foundation in scientific principles and inquiry, which are tools that will be relevant for the duration of their medical careers.

Admission into the CU School of Medicine is extremely competitive, with an acceptance rate hovering around 2%. The average overall GPA for admitted applicants was a high 3.83 and the median MCAT score was 514. However, as we mentioned previously, a stellar academic record will not be enough to get your foot in the door. There are other components of the application that will be considered to determine whether an applicant would be a good fit for the school and will be able to thrive in the program. Secondary essays and interviews give candidates a chance to shine and maximize their chances for acceptance, so it is important to put significant effort in these areas.

University of Colorado School of Medicine

Established back in 1883, the University of Colorado School of Medicine is located in the Anschutz Medical Campus. It is ranked within the top 50 best medical schools in the U.S. and has many affiliated centers and research opportunities.

In terms of research, it is ranked as the 30^th best medical school, and in terms of primary care, it is ranked as the 12^th best medical school. However, some of its departments have had outstanding performance. The Physician Assistant programs and the Family Medicine department were positioned at the 7^th place, and Pediatrics department ranked as the 6^th best.

Besides the M.D. degree program, they also offer different Master’s and Ph.D. programs, which include Master of Medical Science in Anesthesiology, Master of Physician Assistant Studies, and Master of Science in Genetic Counseling.

Getting a medical license is the U.S. takes a lot of effort and dedication. You’ll have to go through a long journey before getting your license, so it is important to get quality education at a university that understands your needs and interests. If you live in Colorado, there are fewer options here than in other states. However, there are still two great medical schools: one that grants M.D. degrees and one that grants D.O. degrees. Let’s review each of these medical schools in Colorado for you to decide if they are a good fit!

Colorado Medical Schools

1. University of Colorado School of Medicine

As it is the only medical school that grants M.D. degrees in Colorado, admissions are highly competitive. They receive over 7,000 applications each year and interview between 650 and 700 prospective students. In the end, only 184 students are accepted.

Take into consideration that the admissions board prioritizes applicants that live in Colorado. However, last year they accepted half resident and half non-resident students. They have an application fee of $100 (there are some ways in which you could be exempted from this) and they occasionally accept transfer students that already finished the foundation coursework phase. Visit the University of Colorado School of Medicine homepage to learn more about this medical school.

Rocky Vista University College of Osteopathic Medicine (RVUCOM)

Established in 2006, the Rocky Vista University College of Osteopathic Medicine (RVUCOM) grants the degree of Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine. It has two campuses, one in Parker, Colorado, and the other one at Ivins, Utah.

he Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.) program is divided into four years. The first two consist of foundation coursework and classroom-based learning, but students also have the options to enroll in an “Honor Track”. They divide into military, rural, or global medical practice, and medical research. The last two years consist of clinical rotations.

RVUCOM is developing a Physician Assistant program that received students for the first time in 2018.

It has many affiliated sites in different states and there’s a Rocky Vista Health Center where students can get fellowship opportunities.

For the Class of 2020, they received over 5,000 applicants and admitted only 162 students (3.1% acceptance rate). For the Class of 2022, they received 2,094 applicants but only admitted 128 students (an acceptance rate of 6.1%). They accept transfer students from other accredited Osteopathic schools, and applicants must be U.S. citizens. Take a look at their RVUCOM website to learn more about admissions and programs!

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