Healthcare education in Maryland

Maryland has 3 medical schools, including Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine (one of the top-ranked research medical schools in the world), the University of Maryland School of Medicine (the oldest public medical school in the country, founded in 1807), and the Uniformed Services University F. Edward Hebert School of Medicine in Bethesda (the federal military medical school). The National Institutes of Health (NIH) campus in Bethesda makes Maryland a uniquely powerful environment for biomedical research.

Maryland is home to 3 MD schools.

Middle schoolHigh schoolUndergraduatePrograms

Pipeline programs and pre-med resources

Tip
The NIH Postbaccalaureate Intramural Research Training Award (IRTA) program in Bethesda is one of the most competitive and well-regarded gap year research experiences in the country. The program is free to apply and provides a stipend. Applications open in the fall. Details at training.nih.gov.

Johns Hopkins offers multiple summer research and enrichment programs for undergraduate students, including programs specifically designed for underrepresented students in medicine. The University of Maryland operates pipeline programs through its Office of Student Affairs.

The Uniformed Services University (USU) in Bethesda trains military physicians with full tuition and a salary during medical school, in exchange for a 7-year active duty service commitment. See our Military Medical Scholarships page for details.

Maryland’s concentration of federal health agencies (NIH, FDA, CDC’s ATSDR, SAMHSA, CMS) creates unparalleled opportunities for policy-oriented and research-minded students.

For students in Maryland, we recommend starting with our level-specific guides: Middle School, High School, or Undergraduate. See also our What Is Pre-Med? and Pre-Med Requirements pages.

Scholarships and loan repayment


Maryland Senatorial Scholarship
State scholarships for Maryland residents. Nominated by state senators. Need and merit based.

Janet L. Hoffman Loan Assistance
Maryland loan repayment program for graduates working in state or local government or nonprofit organizations in Maryland. Administered by the Maryland Higher Education Commission (MHEC). Details at mhec.maryland.gov.

Maryland Loan Repayment Programs
Multiple state loan repayment programs for physicians serving in underserved Maryland communities. Check current offerings through the Maryland Department of Health and MHEC.

For federal programs available in all states, see our Income-Driven Repayment, PSLF Guide, and Military Medical Scholarships pages.

Medical schools in Maryland

Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine (MD, Baltimore) | Website
Uniformed Services University F. Edward Hebert School of Medicine (MD, Bethesda) | Website
University of Maryland School of Medicine (MD, Baltimore) | Website

For complete data including application systems and school details, see our Medical Schools Database and filter by state.

Help us improve this page

If you know of a Maryland-specific program, scholarship, or resource that should be listed here, please use the Contact Us form or the “Share Your Thoughts” button. We update state pages regularly based on community input.

Last verified: March 2026