Healthcare education in North Carolina

North Carolina has 4 MD schools and 1 DO school (Campbell University in Buies Creek). UNC Chapel Hill and Duke are major research institutions. ECU Brody School of Medicine focuses specifically on training physicians for rural and underserved North Carolina communities and has one of the strongest primary care placement records in the country.

North Carolina is home to 4 MD schools and 1 DO school.

Middle schoolHigh schoolUndergraduatePrograms

Pipeline programs and pre-med resources

UNC School of Medicine operates the MED (Medical Education Development) Program, a post-baccalaureate program for underrepresented students who have been accepted to UNC medical school but need additional academic preparation. This is one of the oldest and most successful medical school pipeline programs in the country.

Duke University Health System offers multiple summer research and clinical enrichment programs for undergraduate students. ECU Brody’s Rural Health Pipeline actively recruits students from rural NC communities and provides support throughout the medical education continuum.

Campbell University’s Jerry M. Wallace School of Osteopathic Medicine focuses on training physicians for rural and underserved North Carolina communities with a community-based medical education model.

For students in North Carolina, 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


NC Need-Based Scholarship
State financial aid for North Carolina residents attending eligible in-state institutions. Apply via FAFSA.

Medical and Dental Education Loans
North Carolina offers favorable loan terms for NC residents attending in-state medical schools. Check current terms through the State Education Assistance Authority.

Rural Physician Loan Repayment
Loan repayment for physicians practicing in underserved NC counties. Administered by the NC Office of Rural Health. Check current availability and terms at the NC DHHS website.

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

Medical schools in North Carolina

Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University (MD, Greenville) | Website
Campbell University Jerry M. Wallace School of Osteopathic Medicine (DO, Buies Creek) | Website
Duke University School of Medicine (MD, Durham) | Website
University of North Carolina School of Medicine (MD, Chapel Hill) | Website
Wake Forest University School of Medicine (MD, Winston-Salem) | 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 North Carolina-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