How rare is an MD-PhD?
Asked by: Noemi Champlin | Last update: November 30, 2025Score: 5/5 (39 votes)
The average size of an MD/PhD program in 2017 was ∼90 students in all stages of training. Compared with the many thousands who apply to medical school in each year, only 1900 (∼3%) apply to MD/PhD programs. About one-third of the applicants are accepted, which is similar to the acceptance rate for medical school.
What percent of doctors are MD/PhD?
Of those, 6.1% (547) graduated with an MD-PhD. Thus, MD-PhD program graduates in the United States still comprise only a small proportion of all MD-degree graduates and of all biomedical PhD-degree graduates.
How hard is it to get MD-PhD?
The MD-PhD admissions process is challenging and differs from that of traditional medical school admissions. In addition to completing medical school prerequisites and earning excellent grades and MCAT scores, you'll want to ensure that your research experience is robust going into application season.
What are the odds of getting into the MD-PhD program?
How Competitive Are MD/PhD Programs? Physician-scientist programs are slightly more selective and competitive than the average medical program. Between 2018 and 2023, a little more than one-third of students who applied to an MD/PhD program (37.7%) were accepted.
Is MD-PhD more prestigious than MD?
While MD graduates can and do participate in research, an MD-PhD is uniquely equipped to lead research programs and engage with academic medicine. MD-PhD programs are more intensive than MD programs as they involve all of the normal program requirements of medical school combined with the rigor of a PhD program.
What is an MD/PhD?
Do MD PhDs make a lot of money?
The national average for MD/PhDs is around $112,400 per year. The salary is fairly smaller than for MDs and specialists because MD/PhDs often work in research and non-profit settings, rather than practice medicine. Accordingly, MD salary bonuses may not be eligible.
How rare is MD-PhD?
MD-PhD programs are not easier than MD programs. They require a longer time commitment, but in the end, provide graduates with a broader skill set to pursue careers that integrate medicine and scientific research. How rare is an MD-PhD? Only about 3% of students that enroll in medical school are in MD-PhD programs.
What is the dropout rate for MD-PhD?
In another study of 2,582 MD-PhD program enrollees, 1,885 (73%) had completed the MD-PhD program, 597 (23%) dropped out of the program but completed the MD, and 100 (4%) left medical school entirely (Jeffe et al., 2014a).
What is the average GPA for MD-PhD?
Q: What makes a competitive applicant? A: In recent years, accepted MD-PhD students have had an average undergraduate GPA of 3.77 with a range of 2.71 to 4.0, and an average MCAT of 515 with a range of 508-524. Students with a weak undergraduate GPA often have done a MS with a strong GPA.
What is the most common specialty for MD Phds?
Approximately 60% of graduates have chosen internal medicine, pediatrics, pathology, or neurology, but nearly every clinical specialty has attracted MD-PhD program alumni.
Why do people do MD-PhD?
WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF MD/PhD TRAINING? MD/PhD programs were established in the 1950s to combine training in medicine and research. They were specifically designed for men and women who wanted to become research physicians, also known as physician–investigators or physician–scientists.
Is MD-PhD less competitive?
MD/PhD programs are competitive. In terms of percentages, though, it's less competitive than regular medical school. It is normal for a medical school to receive 6,000 applications for a class of 120. This is less than 2% getting in.
Do MD PhDs see patients?
While it can differ depending on the medical specialty or the individual, a typical physician-scientist may spend 80% of their time conducting research and 20% caring for patients. However, there are many other career paths available to MD-PhD graduates.
How difficult is an MD-PhD?
MD-PhD programs give students a grounding in both clinical training in medicine and research. After successfully completing your program, you will earn both degrees. Like many dual-degree programs, this is an extremely rigorous and challenging route to take.
Do MD Phds pay tuition?
Most MD-PhD programs support trainees with a stipend and tuition scholarship during medical school and graduate school training.
What do people do after MD-PhD?
With career advancement, many MD-PhD graduates ascend to significant leadership roles in academic medical centers, or industry, government and private organizations, reflecting their broad experience in health care and research.
Is a 3.5 GPA bad for a PhD?
Your GPA in undergrad is the single most important factor in PhD admissions. If your GPA is too low your application will be dismissed out of hand. While there are no hard limits, we suggest a minimum GPA of 3.5 for serious contention, especially at top schools.
What is the easiest MD-PhD program to get into?
- Mercer University School of Medicine. ...
- Indiana University School of Medicine. ...
- University of Nebraska Medical Center. ...
- University of Texas McGovern Medical School. ...
- University of South Dakota Sanford School of Medicine. ...
- University of Nevada Reno School of Medicine.
Is 488 a good MCAT score?
If you scored a 488 on the MCAT, this means you performed in the 13 percentile according to most recent AAMC statistics, and are 23 points away from a competitive 511.
Is MD more prestigious than PhD?
A Ph. D. is the highest degree you can get in any subject, so it carries prestige. With an M.D., you can operate as a medical doctor and help patients, which many people respect.
What is the failure rate for PhD?
United States: While specific failure rates are less clear, it's estimated that between 40% and 50% of doctoral students do not finish their degrees (Springer). In academia, a PhD represents the height of intellectual success.
What is a good GPA for MD-PhD?
Completed application submitted by the deadline. Must be available for the entire program. Note: in general, a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher will be competitive for this program.
Why are PhDs so rare?
But, PhDs are not rare because they are close to extinction. In fact, according to the National Science Foundation, more PhDs are being granted than ever before. PhDs are rare because they are difficult to earn — they are valuable. However, this value is dependent on context.
What is a medical doctor with a PhD called?
Contracted "Dr" or "Dr.", it is used as a designation for a person who has obtained a doctorate (commonly a PhD). In past usage, the term could be applied to any learned person. In many parts of the world today it is also used by medical practitioners, regardless of whether they hold a doctoral-level degree.
What is an MD-PhD good for?
Most MD-PhDs work in academic medical centers, such as medical schools or teaching hospitals. MD-PhDs also conduct research in institutes such as the National Institutes of Health or other government or private agencies, or work for pharma or biotech companies.