10 medical schools with the highest, lowest share of graduates in primary care

The growing shortage of primary care physicians poses a critical challenge for the nation's healthcare system, with the American Association of Medical Colleges projecting a shortfall of up to 40,400 by 2036. 

Against this backdrop, some medical schools are producing more primary care doctors than others. As part of its annual "Best Medical Schools" rankings, U.S. News & World Report evaluated 168 schools based on the percentage of graduates from 2015 to 2017 who are still practicing primary care six to eight years after graduation. 

The 10 schools with the highest shares of graduates in primary care are all osteopathic medical schools, with between 41% and 47% of graduates staying in the field. Meanwhile, at the lowest-ranked schools, which are mostly allopathic institutions, 10% to 14% of graduates make a career out of primary care. 

Ten medical schools with the most graduates practicing primary care 

1. Alabama College of Osteopathic Medicine (Dothan)
   Percentage practicing in primary care: 47.45%
   
   

2. Des Moines (Iowa) University
   46%
   
   
3. Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences (Yakima, Wash.) 
   45.2%
   
   

4. William Carey University College of Osteopathic Medicine (Hattiesburg, Miss.)
   44.6%
   
   
5. Touro University California (Vallejo)
   44%
   
   
6. A.T. Still University of Health Sciences (Mesa, Ariz.)
   43.7%
   
   
7. Western University of Health Sciences (Pomona, Calif.)
   42.7%
   
   
8. A.T. Still University of Health Sciences (Kirsville, Mo.)
   41.8%
   
   
9. Lincoln Memorial University-DeBusk College of Osteopathic Medicine (Harrogate, Tenn.) 
   41.3%
   
   
10. The University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth
    41.3% 

Medical schools with the fewest graduates practicing primary care

1. Yale University (New Haven, Conn.) 
    10.7%

2. Duke University (Durham, N.C.)
    10.8%

3. Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine (Chicago)
    11.5%

4. University of Central Florida (Orlando) 
    12.1%

5. New York University Grossman School of Medicine (New York City) 
    12.4%

6. Vanderbilt University (Nashville, Tenn.) 
    13%

7. Stony Brook (N.Y.) University 
    13.1% 

8. Johns Hopkins University (Baltimore) 
    13.1%

9. Harvard University (Boston)
    13.7%

10. Columbia University (New York City) 
    13.9%