At Ohio State, our goal is to set you up for success in your career as a physician. When choosing a medical school, it is important to look at the Step 1 and Step 2 pass rates for their students as a testament to the curriculum offered.  The United States Medical Licensing Examination ® (USMLE ®) is a three-step examination for medicals licensure in the United States sponsored by the Federation of the State Medical Boars (FSMB) and the National Board of Medical Examiners ® (NBME®).

The USMLE assesses a physician’s ability to apply knowledge, concepts, and principles and to demonstrate fundamental patient-centered skills that are important in health and disease and that constitute the basis of safe and effective patient care. Each of the three Steps of the USMLE complements the others; no Step can stand alone in the assessment of readiness for medical 1 licensure.

Since 2002, Ohio State medical students have received Step 1 and Step 2 pass rates equal to or above the national average.

Ohio State University College of Medicine National Pass Rates Comparison

Values are percent (and number) passing on the first try for both Ohio State College of Medicine and the overall national average percent (and number) for the same time period specified.

USMLE Step 1

Calendar Year  Ohio State  National

2013  98 (252)  96 (21,788)
2014  98 (184)  96 (22,392)
2015  99 (172)  95 (23,397)
2016  97 (188)  95 (23,520)
2017  96 (192)  96(24,139)
2018  97 (185)  96 (23,743)
2019  97 (196)  97 (25,235)
2020 99 (188) 98 (24,374)

USMLE Step 2 CK (Clinical Knowledge)

Academic Year  Ohio State  National

2013/2014  98 (216)  97 (21,010)
2014/2015 96 (308)  95 (22,221)
2015/2016  98 (238)  96 (22,765)
2016/2017  99 (186)  96 (22,687)
2017/2018  98 (177)  97 (24,565)
2018/2019  100 (169)  98 (24,008)
2019/2020 99 (154) 98 (21,079)