Top 10 Medical Schools in the Southeast in 2027

By Kory White · Updated Oct 2026 · 4 min read

Direct answer

Vanderbilt University School of Medicine is the top medical school in the Southeast by research funding, with $564.3 million in 2025 NIH awards, ahead of Duke ($514.5 million) and Emory ($385.4 million). UNC ($353.0 million) is the best public school.

At a glance

#	Pick	NIH funding (2025)	Best for
1	Vanderbilt University School of Medicine	$564.3 million (#7 of 145 medical schools nationwide)	The most NIH research money of any Southeast medical school
2	Duke University School of Medicine	$514.5 million (#9 of 145 medical schools nationwide)	Research-heavy medicine in the Research Triangle
3	Emory University School of Medicine	$385.4 million (#17 of 145 medical schools nationwide)	A big-city academic medical center in Atlanta
4	UNC School of Medicine	$353.0 million (#19 of 145 medical schools nationwide)	The top public school on the list
5	University of Alabama at Birmingham Heersink School of Medicine	$256.1 million (#29 of 145 medical schools nationwide)	Large-scale research at a public university in the Deep South
6	University of Virginia School of Medicine	$203.3 million (#38 of 145 medical schools nationwide)	A historic public school founded by Thomas Jefferson
7	University of Miami Miller School of Medicine	$178.8 million (#40 of 145 medical schools nationwide)	South Florida’s largest NIH-funded medical school
8	University of Florida College of Medicine	$176.2 million (#41 of 145 medical schools nationwide)	A Florida public option beside UF Health Shands Hospital
9	Wake Forest University School of Medicine	$147.8 million (#47 of 145 medical schools nationwide)	Research tied to Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist
10	Medical University of South Carolina College of Medicine	$132.4 million (#50 of 145 medical schools nationwide)	The oldest medical school in the Deep South

Pick by what you want

Best overall

Vanderbilt University School of Medicine

Best in North Carolina

Duke University School of Medicine

Best in Atlanta

Emory University School of Medicine

Best public school

UNC School of Medicine

Best in Florida

University of Miami Miller School of Medicine

The ranking

Vanderbilt University School of Medicine

Photo: SenatorDF / CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons

Answrs VerdictThe Southeast’s research-funding leader.

NIH funding (2025): $564.3 million (#7 of 145 medical schools nationwide)Location: Nashville, TennesseeFounded: 1875 (traces to a medical school founded in 1851)Type: Private, part of Vanderbilt University

Vanderbilt, the private medical school in Nashville, Tennessee, received $564.3 million in NIH funding, #7 among 145 medical schools nationwide.

Go ifThe most NIH research money of any Southeast medical school

Skip ifYou want a public, in-state price

Why #1 over #2: Its $564.3 million tops Duke’s $514.5 million.

Duke University School of Medicine

Photo: Ildar Sagdejev (Specious) / CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons

Answrs VerdictThe close runner-up in research funding.

NIH funding (2025): $514.5 million (#9 of 145 medical schools nationwide)Location: Durham, North CarolinaFounded: 1925Type: Private, part of Duke University

Duke, founded in 1925 in Durham, North Carolina, received $514.5 million, #9 nationally.

Go ifResearch-heavy medicine in the Research Triangle

Skip ifYou want a public, in-state price

Why #2 over #3: Its $514.5 million tops Emory’s $385.4 million.

Emory University School of Medicine

Photo: Sinan / CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons

Answrs VerdictAtlanta’s research powerhouse.

NIH funding (2025): $385.4 million (#17 of 145 medical schools nationwide)Location: Atlanta, GeorgiaFounded: 1915 (traces to Atlanta Medical College, founded 1854)Type: Private, part of Emory University

Emory, in Atlanta, Georgia, traces to Atlanta Medical College (founded 1854) and became Emory’s school in 1915. It received $385.4 million, #17 nationally.

Go ifA big-city academic medical center in Atlanta

Skip ifYou want a small-town campus

Why #3 over #4: Its $385.4 million tops UNC’s $353.0 million.

UNC School of Medicine

Photo: Yeungb / CC BY 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons

Answrs VerdictThe best publicly funded research option.

NIH funding (2025): $353.0 million (#19 of 145 medical schools nationwide)Location: Chapel Hill, North CarolinaFounded: 1879Type: Public, part of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

UNC School of Medicine, founded in 1879 in Chapel Hill, received $353.0 million, #19 nationally, the most of any public school here.

Go ifThe top public school on the list

Skip ifYou want a private campus

Why #4 over #5: Its $353.0 million tops UAB’s $256.1 million.

University of Alabama at Birmingham Heersink School of Medicine

Photo: Mx. Granger / CC0 via Wikimedia Commons

Answrs VerdictThe Deep South’s research leader.

NIH funding (2025): $256.1 million (#29 of 145 medical schools nationwide)Location: Birmingham, AlabamaFounded: 1859Type: Public, part of the University of Alabama at Birmingham

The UAB Heersink School of Medicine in Birmingham, Alabama, founded in 1859, received $256.1 million, #29 nationally.

Go ifLarge-scale research at a public university in the Deep South

Skip ifYou want an Atlantic-coast location

Why #5 over #6: Its $256.1 million tops Virginia’s $203.3 million.

University of Virginia School of Medicine

Photo: University of Virginia / CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons

Answrs VerdictThe Jefferson-founded pick.

NIH funding (2025): $203.3 million (#38 of 145 medical schools nationwide)Location: Charlottesville, VirginiaFounded: 1819 (authorized by the university’s first Board of Visitors; opened March 1825)Type: Public, part of the University of Virginia

The University of Virginia School of Medicine in Charlottesville, authorized in 1819 and opened in March 1825, received $203.3 million, #38 nationally.

Go ifA historic public school founded by Thomas Jefferson

Skip ifYou want a large city campus

Why #6 over #7: Its $203.3 million tops Miami’s $178.8 million.

University of Miami Miller School of Medicine

Answrs VerdictThe oldest medical school in Florida.

NIH funding (2025): $178.8 million (#40 of 145 medical schools nationwide)Location: Miami, FloridaFounded: 1952Type: Private, part of the University of Miami

The Miller School of Medicine in Miami, founded in 1952 as the oldest medical school in Florida, received $178.8 million, #40 nationally.

Go ifSouth Florida’s largest NIH-funded medical school

Skip ifYou want a public, in-state price

Why #7 over #8: Its $178.8 million edges Florida’s $176.2 million.

University of Florida College of Medicine

Photo: WillMcC / CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons

Answrs VerdictThe public Florida option.

NIH funding (2025): $176.2 million (#41 of 145 medical schools nationwide)Location: Gainesville, FloridaFounded: 1956Type: Public, part of the University of Florida

The University of Florida College of Medicine in Gainesville, founded in 1956, received $176.2 million, #41 nationally.

Go ifA Florida public option beside UF Health Shands Hospital

Skip ifYou want a private school

Why #8 over #9: Its $176.2 million tops Wake Forest’s $147.8 million.

Wake Forest University School of Medicine

Photo: Allengot / CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons

Answrs VerdictNorth Carolina’s third pick.

NIH funding (2025): $147.8 million (#47 of 145 medical schools nationwide)Location: Winston-Salem, North CarolinaFounded: 1902Type: Private, part of Wake Forest University

Wake Forest University School of Medicine in Winston-Salem, founded in 1902, received $147.8 million, #47 nationally.

Go ifResearch tied to Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist

Skip ifYou want a big-city campus

Why #9 over #10: Its $147.8 million tops MUSC’s $132.4 million.

Medical University of South Carolina College of Medicine

Photo: w_lemay / CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons

Answrs VerdictThe oldest on the list.

NIH funding (2025): $132.4 million (#50 of 145 medical schools nationwide)Location: Charleston, South CarolinaFounded: 1824Type: Public medical university

The Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston, which opened in 1824, received $132.4 million, #50 nationally.

Go ifThe oldest medical school in the Deep South

Skip ifYou want a campus beside a major university

How we ranked these

We ranked each medical school in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia by its 2025 NIH funding total from the Blue Ridge Institute for Medical Research, highest first. Facts are taken from each maker's own published information; check the official site before you buy.

Questions people ask

What is the best medical school in the Southeast?

By 2025 NIH research funding, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine leads the Southeast with $564.3 million (#7 of 145 nationally), followed by Duke at $514.5 million (#9).

What is the best public medical school in the Southeast?

UNC School of Medicine is the top public school on this list at $353.0 million in NIH funding (#19 nationally), ahead of UAB at $256.1 million (#29).

What is the oldest medical school in the Southeast?

The Medical University of South Carolina opened in 1824 and is described as the oldest in the Deep South. The University of Virginia authorized its School of Medicine in 1819, and it opened in March 1825.

Which Southeast medical schools are in Florida?

Two make the list: the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine ($178.8 million) and the University of Florida College of Medicine ($176.2 million).

NIH funding, 2025 at a glance

Medical University of South Carolina College of Medicine132.4 $ millions

Wake Forest University School of Medicine147.8 $ millions

University of Florida College of Medicine176.2 $ millions

University of Miami Miller School of Medicine178.8 $ millions

University of Virginia School of Medicine203.3 $ millions

University of Alabama at Birmingham Heersink School of Medicine256.1 $ millions

UNC School of Medicine353 $ millions

Emory University School of Medicine385.4 $ millions

Duke University School of Medicine514.5 $ millions

Vanderbilt University School of Medicine564.3 $ millions

NIH funding, 2025, as published by each maker. Picks without a published figure are left off.

Official sites

Vanderbilt University School of Medicine · medicine.vanderbilt.edu
Duke University School of Medicine · medschool.duke.edu
Emory University School of Medicine · med.emory.edu
UNC School of Medicine · med.unc.edu
University of Alabama at Birmingham Heersink School of Medicine · uab.edu
University of Virginia School of Medicine · med.virginia.edu
University of Miami Miller School of Medicine · med.miami.edu
University of Florida College of Medicine · com.ufl.edu
Wake Forest University School of Medicine · school.wakehealth.edu
Medical University of South Carolina College of Medicine · medicine.musc.edu

Sources

Prices, specs and availability change; confirm on the official site before you buy.