Guide 5 · Program types
More than one road to the white coat
Most students follow the traditional path: four years of college, then four years of medical school. Others enter a combined BS/MD program straight from high school, add a research or public health degree, or finish in three years. Almost 20% of U.S. MD schools have or are developing an accelerated program.4
1At a glance
| Path | When you apply | Length after high school | Cost notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Traditional MD or DO | Usually the summer after junior year of college, or later | 8 years, plus any gap years | See median costs below5 |
| BS/MD | High school | Usually 8 years; some 6–71 | Pay for college and medical school; saves on applying later |
| MD/PhD | Same time as MD | Longer than MD alone | NIH-funded programs offset tuition and pay a stipend2 |
| MD/MPH, MD/MS | With the MD, or during medical school | Often adds a year | Varies by school |
| Three-year MD | Same time as MD | 7 years | One less year of tuition and living costs4 |
| School type | Total cost per year | Four-year total |
|---|---|---|
| Public (in-state) | $75,654 | $297,745 |
| Private | $106,787 | $408,150 |
2BS/MD programs
BS/MD programs admit high school students to college and medical school at the same time. An AAMC list from 2022 included 45 programs in 22 states, Washington, D.C. and Puerto Rico, though programs open and close each year.1 They're very competitive, and most require you to keep a certain GPA, and sometimes an MCAT score, to keep your seat.1
Examples
- Brown University, Program in Liberal Medical Education (8 years)1
- University of Missouri–Kansas City, BA/MD (6 years)1
- Drexel University, BA/BS+MD Early Assurance Program1
- Baylor College of Medicine, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School and Case Western Reserve University also partner with colleges on combined programs1
For high school students. Start planning in 9th or 10th grade: strong grades, clinical volunteering and teachers who know you well. Confirm every program on its own website, since requirements change.
3MD/PhD
MD/PhD programs train physician-scientists who both care for patients and lead research. The NIH's Medical Scientist Training Program (MSTP) grants help pay trainees' tuition, fees and stipends at participating schools.2 Programs typically take seven to eight years. Applicants usually need significant research experience before applying.
4MD/MPH and MD/MS
Many schools let you add a master's degree, such as public health (MPH), a research-focused master of science (MS) or business (MBA), usually by adding a year. These degrees can help if you want to work in health policy, community health or research. Costs and formats vary widely, so check each school.
5Three-year MD pathways
Accelerated programs compress medical school into three years. The Consortium of Accelerated Medical Pathway Programs started in 2015 with eight schools, and its member programs graduated 817 physicians from 2013 to 2023.4 Most offer a direct path into an affiliated residency, and many aim to reduce student debt.4
Is it right for you? Three-year programs move fast and often mean committing to a specialty early. They fit best if you already know what kind of doctor you want to be.
References
- Med School Insiders. BS/MD programs: options and how to get in. Updated August 11, 2025 (drawing on a 2022 AAMC list). medschoolinsiders.com
- National Institute of General Medical Sciences. Institutional dual-degree clinician-scientist training program: MSTP. Updated May 27, 2026. nigms.nih.gov
- Association of American Medical Colleges. Medical School Admission Requirements (MSAR). students-residents.aamc.org
- Coe CL, Santen SA, Reboli AC, et al. Accelerated 3YMD programs: the last decade of growth of the Consortium of Accelerated Medical Pathway Programs (CAMPP). Med Educ Online. 2024;29(1):2400394. doi:10.1080/10872981.2024.2400394
- Northwestern University Health Professions Advising. Understanding the cost of professional schools (AAMC Tuition and Student Fees data, 2025–26). northwestern.edu