Baylor makes leap in U.S. News & World Report rankings

Baylor College of Medicine moved up in both the research and primary care medical school rankings published today by U.S. News & World Report, securing its position as the No. 1 medical school in Texas, the Southwest and one of the top schools in the nation.

Baylor placed No. 16 in research intensive medical schools and No. 5 in primary care medical schools. The research ranking is a jump of five spots and the primary care ranking, a jump of three spots.

“Baylor is in good company among the top medical schools in the country considered research powerhouses,” said Dr. Paul Klotman, president, CEO and executive dean of the College. “Students attending Baylor College of Medicine can be assured they will be well-prepared and train under faculty who are experts in their fields.”

The research rankings include grant funding, student scores and peer assessment. The primary care rankings also include the number of graduates entering primary care fields.

“The top 5 ranking indicates the continued importance we place on providing well-trained primary care physicians,” said Klotman. “Baylor, throughout its 75 years in Houston, has partnered with our affiliated hospitals in providing exceptional care to the underserved, veterans, children and patients seeking basic as well as highly specialized care. It is encouraging to get an endorsement of our primary care training programs through this national ranking.”

U.S. News also ranks several medical specialties. Baylor’s pediatric program ranked No. 10 in that listing.

Baylor’s Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences continued to rank among the top programs in the country, listed as No. 26. New rankings were not available for physician assistant and doctor of nursing practice in nurse anesthesia programs this year.

Baylor has a joint MD/MBA program with Rice University, a joint MD/JD program with the University of Houston and a joint MD/MPH program with UT-Houston. The Rice MBA program ranked No. 23, rising from No. 29 in the latest report. The UH health law program rose to No. 2 from its previous No. 3 ranking. A new ranking for public health programs was not available this year.

Other Texas schools ranking in research are: University of Texas – Southwestern, No. 26; University of Texas - Houston, No. 52; University of Texas - San Antonio, No. 62; University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, No. 66; and Texas Tech, No. 93.

The state schools ranking in primary care are University of Texas – Southwestern, No. 19; Texas Tech, No. 68; University of Texas – San Antonio, No. 72; University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston and University of Texas – Houston, tied at No. 85.

Those placing above Baylor in the research rankings are: 1 – Harvard University; 2 – Johns Hopkins University; 3 – (tie) New York University and Stanford University; 5 – University of California – San Francisco; 6 – (tie) Mayo Clinic School of Medicine and University of Pennsylvania; 8 – (tie) University of California – Los Angeles and Washington University; 10 – Duke University; 11 – (tie) Columbia University, University of Washington and Yale University; 14 – University of Pittsburgh and 15 – University of Michigan.

The top 10 schools in the country in primary care are: 1 – University of North Carolina; 2 – UCSF; 3 – University of Washington; 4 – UCLA; 5 – Baylor, tied with Oregon Health and Science University; 7 – University of Michigan; 8 – University of Pennsylvania; 9 – University of Colorado and 10 – (tie) University of California – Davis and Washington University in St. Louis.