Is MD-PhD harder than med school?
Asked by: Beulah Heidenreich | Last update: July 22, 2025Score: 4.3/5 (16 votes)
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. While some MD programs involve research programs or theses, an MD-PhD involves independent research at the highest level.
Is MD-PhD harder to get into than med school?
MD programs depends on how you look at it. Comparing programs at the same school: At some highly competitive medical schools, less than 3% of applicants are admitted to the MD program, whereas about 10% of MD-PhD applicants get in due to a smaller applicant pool.
Is med school harder than getting a PhD?
A PhD is the highest possible academic degree. Earning a PhD is often considered harder than earning an MD due to the scientific research required to stimulate original thought and develop quality hypotheses.
How hard is it to do 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.
What percent of people have an 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.
MD vs MD/PhD — How to Decide Which Is Right for You | Ask Dr. Gray: Premed Q&A
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).
Is being an MD-PhD worth it?
Definitely. MD/PhD programs are a great choice for people who decide early that that they want to be physician–scientists and have built the necessary track record of academic success and research experience before they apply.
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.
Is a PhD as prestigious as an MD?
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.
Who gets paid more, MD or PhD?
For MDs, depending on their specialty and setting, the average annual salary is around $220k. For MD PhDs, depending on the type of role and place of employment, the average annual salary is about $100k.
What is the hardest doctor degree to get?
What is the most difficult type of doctor specialty? Neurosurgery is known to be particularly challenging because of the intricate nature of the nervous system and the significant risks involved in surgical procedures.
What is the PhD salary?
Phd salaries in India
The estimated total pay for a Phd is ₹37,000 per month, with an average salary of ₹31,000 per month. These numbers represent the median, which is the midpoint of the ranges from our proprietary Total Pay Estimate model and based on salaries collected from our users.
Can you be a doctor with an MD-PhD?
Most MD-PhD graduates train in a residency program and become licensed to practice in a specific field of medicine. From there, they typically go on to careers that blend research and clinical medicine, though their research topic may or may not be closely related to their field of medical practice.
How expensive is MD-PhD?
Most MD-PhD programs offer enrolled students tuition-free training and a stipend to cover living expenses.
What is the easiest MD-PhD program to get into?
- University of Mississippi School of Medicine. ...
- University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences. ...
- University of Missouri Kansas School of Medicine. ...
- University of North Dakota School of Medicine and Health Sciences. ...
- Medical University of South Carolina College of Medicine.
Is MD-PhD harder than MD?
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. While some MD programs involve research programs or theses, an MD-PhD involves independent research at the highest level.
Is a 3.7 GPA good for PhD?
Doctoral programs in STEM fields, such as physics, chemistry, and computer science, often have the highest GPA expectations, with many programs setting minimum thresholds of 3.5 or even 3.7 on a 4.0 scale.
Does MCAT matter for MD-PhD?
MD-PhD admissions committees use GPA, Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT) score, research experience, and publications, along with other metrics to screen applications to determine whom to interview and subsequently accept into their programs.
How rare is MD-PhD?
Selected Finding: In the most recent year (2019), 3.3% of all active residents who are graduates of U.S. MD-granting schools were MD-PhD graduates.
What is the highest paid MD profession?
The highest-paid doctors are neurosurgeons who report earning above $780,000 per year on average.
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.
Do you do residency after MD-PhD?
Most MD-PhD graduates pursue residency and fellowship training and find that their MD-PhD training makes them particularly attractive to residency programs at top academic institutions. In the past, MD-PhD graduates traditionally entered residency programs in medicine, pediatrics, or pathology.
Do MD-PhD students get a stipend?
In addition, it's free: medical school tuition is waived, and you get paid a ~$30,000 stipend during your PhD years, just like any STEM graduate student. MD/PhD physician-scientists typically do 80% research and 20% clinical activities.
How long does a MD-PhD take?
How long does it take to complete the MD-PhD Program? MD-PhD students are generally expected to complete their entire MD-PhD training in eight years (two years at KPSOM followed by about four years at Caltech and then two years back at KPSOM).