AURORA, Colo. – The University of Colorado School of Medicine is listed No. 9 on the primary care rankings of medical schools and No. 31 on the research rankings released today by U.S. News and World Report. 

Each year, U.S. News compiles listings of medical schools in these two general categories based on surveys and data reviews of accredited medical schools in the United States. The magazine then assigns rankings to schools using its own criteria to assess the information, which includes peer assessments provided by professionals at other medical schools.

This year, the magazine considered 154 medical schools and 35 schools of osteopathic medicine. Of those 189 institutions, 122 responded and provided the data that U.S. News needed to calculate its rankings. Several factors are considered in the rankings, including quality assessments by leaders at peer institutions, surveys of residency directors, total NIH research activity, median MCAT scores, and percentage of students who enter primary care residencies. 

On last year’s U.S. News listing, the CU School of Medicine was No. 12 for primary care and No. 30 for research.

“We are focused on building high-quality programs to teach, research, and provide patient care for our diverse community,” said CU School of Medicine Dean John J. Reilly, Jr., MD. “Our faculty and staff deserve the credit for their hard work and dedication to excellence, which in turn inspires a new generation of health care leaders.”

The magazine also provides rankings of specific specialties based on ratings provided by medical school deans and senior faculty from surveyed schools. University of Colorado School of Medicine programs that were ranked among the best in the country were: 

• Family Medicine No. 7 
• Internal Medicine No. 27
• Pediatrics No. 8

In addition to medical schools, U.S. News also provides separate rankings other health care training programs. The School of Medicine’s Physical Therapy program is ranked No. 13.