Combined M.D.-J.D. Degrees: What to Know
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Loading... - Noah Janssen
- 01 Mar 2023
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This grueling academic path takes six years, and experts say finishing is more about a committed work ethic than intelligence.
Combined M.D.-J.D. programs allow students to earn medical and juris doctor degrees at the same time, providing knowledge and skills that equip them for numerous professional roles.
Except for accelerated programs, law school typically takes three years for full-time students to complete, while medical school takes four. Although combined J.D.-M.D. programs typically take six years, students get a full education at both schools, with some credits transferring from one to the other.
Both degrees are granted by the same school in dual-degree programs, while joint-degree programs involve two different partnering institutions.
“It’s a very powerful degree combination,” says Susan M. Wolf, an endowed professor who teaches courses in the dual-degree program at the University of Minnesota medical and law schools. “It cuts time and it cuts cost. And it’s important when students are considering doing both degrees that they’re really motivated to do both degrees. Neither of these degrees is a walk in the park.”
The Association of American Medical Colleges doesn't have an exhaustive list of combined M.D.-J.D. programs, but notes that 20 schools currently report having one, via the association's Medical School Admission Requirements online database. The number doesn't include schools with informal or unofficial routes that allow students to earn both degrees.
Cost of Combined M.D.-J.D. Degrees
Acceptance into a combined program requires application and admission to both schools.
“The first part you have to consider is the financial implication,” says Dr. Susan Patricia Raine, a professor of obstetrics and gynecology at the Baylor College of Medicine in Texas and director of the school’s joint M.D.-J.D. program with the University of Houston Law Center.
“That’s more years of tuition that you’re going to be paying, so you have to consider, ‘What are my financial circumstances at this point?’ and ‘What are the financial implications of pursuing this?’ As you consider the financial ramifications, you will have to decide if you can recoup that cost with your future earning potential. You’re delaying your career and your future earning potential by years.”
Costs vary by institution. The current average total cost of a U.S. law school education is about $206,000, while the average total cost of a U.S. medical school education is about $230,000, according to the Education Data Initiative. Read More…
