The USF Health Morsani College of Medicine at the University of South Florida is the top-ranked medical school in Florida and has been named to the highest tier of medical schools in the nation, according to U.S. News & World Report.
The 2025 Best Medical Schools: Research list released today by U.S. News places the college as one of only 16 medical schools nationally, and the only one in Florida, to receive a Tier 1 ranking, the highest designation by U.S. News.
“I am deeply grateful to our faculty physicians and researchers who are working hard every day to unlock scientific discoveries, heal our patients and train the next generation of physician leaders,” said Dr. Charles J. Lockwood, executive vice president of USF Health and dean of the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine. “They come to work every day fueled by the spirit of scientific inquiry and a passion to help humanity. This recognition is a testament to all that our faculty members do to improve the lives and health of all Floridians.”
U.S. News analyzed data from more than 100 medical schools based on measures related to research activity, student selectivity and faculty resources, ranking schools into four evaluative tiers, with Tier 1 being the highest-performing and Tier 4 the lowest.
The Morsani College of Medicine’s Tier 1 status is a testament to its world-class research and educational programs, reflecting USF’s continuous growth and rapid rise in the national rankings. Over the past decade spanning from fiscal year 2014 to 2024, the college has experienced a remarkable 158% increase in research funding from the National Institutes of Health and a 212% increase in total research funding. Overall, the college and its affiliated partners brought $380 million in total annual research funding and $187 million in NIH funding in fiscal year 2024.
This achievement also builds upon USF’s standing as a leading national research institution. The university attained a record-breaking $738 million in research funding for fiscal year 2024, a 35% increase since 2022. USF also recently reached a historical milestone by becoming the first public university in Florida in 40 years to be invited to join the prestigious Association of American Universities, a group of the top 3% of universities in the U.S. and Canada.
The Morsani College of Medicine also continues to set the highest academic standard, offering exceptional educational programs and attracting some of the nation’s most gifted students. The most recent cohort of medical students boasted a median GPA of 3.95 and set a new school record with a median MCAT of 520, placing in the 97th percentile nationally. The college’s mean Step 2 United States Medical Licensing Examination scores, used to determine clinical preparedness and residency placement, are also among the highest in the country — 257 in the past academic year with a 100% pass rate.
“Over the many years I’ve been affiliated with the University of South Florida, it has been remarkable to see the journey of our medical school’s rise to now become the best in our state and among the top in the nation. To be recognized in this way is a result of the relentless pursuit of excellence from our physicians, faculty, staff and students,” USF President Rhea Law said. “USF is creating a healthier future for the Tampa Bay region and the state of Florida by delivering innovative patient care, leading impactful research and providing high-quality training for our students.”
Researchers at the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine are leading groundbreaking basic, clinical and translational studies that are expanding the frontiers of medical knowledge and improving the delivery of patient care. The college’s state-of-the-art USF Health Downtown facility, located in Water Street Tampa, is a key anchor of the Tampa Medical and Research District — a life sciences epicenter developed in partnership with Tampa General Hospital and the Tampa Bay Economic Development Council. Bolstered by the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine’s pioneering research, the district is attracting top talent and innovation to Tampa Bay, driving job creation, regional growth and enhancing access to cutting-edge research and education for patients and students.
The college is among dozens of programs at USF ranked among the nation’s best by U.S. News. A more complete list of those rankings for USF can be found here.