Cooper Medical School Earns Top Marks in 2026 U.S. News Rankings

Cooper Medical School of Rowan University scored well in the 2026 U.S. News & World Report Best Medical Schools rankings, scoring Tier 2 for Primary Care and Tier 3 for Research. This marks the school as the only one in New Jersey and the only public institution in the Philadelphia area to land in the top two tiers for Primary Care.

The Primary Care ranking places Cooper among a smaller circle of programs across the nation. U.S. News & World Report builds its tiers through an annual gathering of graduate education data, weighing factors such as faculty resources, research activity, and student outcomes.

"This continued recognition reflects the outstanding dedication of our faculty, students, and staff, and underscores our mission to educate compassionate physicians who will fulfill the critical need for primary care doctors in New Jersey and across the nation," said Annette C. Reboli, dean of the school, according to Patch.

The Research category also brought accolades to the Camden-based institution, though at a different tier. Reboli pointed out that the Tier 3 ranking shows growth in scholarly work and the impact faculty members are making across biomedical and clinical sciences.

Cooper University Hospital in Camden partners with the medical school and operates as the main clinical site where students train. Physicians from the hospital make up most of the teaching staff.

"Our physicians are proud to serve as faculty, mentors, and researchers, helping to train the next generation of compassionate, highly skilled clinicians who will meet the evolving needs of our communities," said Anthony J. Mazzarelli, co-CEO of Cooper University Health Care.

The rankings exist to help prospective medical students make decisions about where to pursue their education. U.S. News & World Report designs the system to provide data on programs throughout the country, allowing comparisons between schools.

Cooper continues to focus on addressing the shortage of primary care doctors in New Jersey and other regions. Faculty and staff work to prepare students for clinical practice through training at the hospital, community clinics, and other sites where real-world medicine happens daily.