Three-Year Medical Schools

Learn about your options for attending medical school in an accelerated 3-year format, including medical schools that are located in New York, Texas, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, and elsewhere.

<h2 id="section---MedicalCollegeOfWisconsin"> Medical College of Wisconsin</h2> <p>Medical College of Wisconsin offers a 3-year Doctor of Medicine (MD) program where students spend the first year completing basic science coursework and a clinical apprenticeship where they gain hands-on experience in patient care. The second and third years entail more coursework, clerkships in different areas of medicine, such as family medicine and pediatrics, and acting internships. Students must also participate in the Physician in the Community Pathway, which gives them opportunities to practice medicine within the local community. </p> <h2 id="section---RutgersUniversityNewark">Rutgers University, Newark</h2> <p>The Rutgers New Jersey Medical School at Rutgers University, Newark has a 3-year MD program that has a special emphasis on developing primary care physicians in the areas of internal medicine, pediatrics, and combined internal medicine/pediatrics. Students must already be accepted to the traditional 4-program to apply (the 3-year program starts earlier and has shortened summer breaks), and this program features early clinical immersion experiences and a longitudinal primary care preceptorship. </p> <h2 id="section---UniversityOfCaliforniaDavis">University of California, Davis</h2> <p>The Accelerated Competency-Based Education in Primary Care (ACE-PC) program at the University of California, Davis partners with Kaiser Permanente Northern California to offer students interested in a primary care medicine career a 3-year pathway for earning an MD. Students begin the program 6 weeks before the fall semester and complete traditional coursework in years 1 and 2 while also partaking in a primary care clerkship. The last year is spent completing a longitudinal integrated clerkships in different areas of medicine, such as surgery, pediatrics, and their chosen specialty. </p> <h2 id="section---OhioStateUniversity"> Ohio State University</h2> <p>At Ohio State University, future primary care physicians can pursue their MD in an accelerated 3-year format where the first 18 months are similar to the traditional program, including early clinical experiences and foundational science coursework. However, students can complete courses quicker, including during the alternative Medical Students Scientists summer program. Graduates from this program may also match for the Ohio State Family Medicine Residency Program for a seamless transition into a residency program. </p> <h2 id="section---MercerUniversity"> Mercer University</h2> <p>The Primary Care Accelerated Track (ACT) Program at Mercer University allows already-enrolled students the opportunity to earn their MD in a condensed 3-year time frame that includes a problem-based curriculum, longitudinal experiences, sub-internships, and clerkships. This program has a special focus on primary care in rural areas, with available tracks in pediatrics, family medicine, and internal medicine, and students must commit to a 3-year medical practice experience in rural or underserved areas of Georgia. </p> <h2 id="section---PennsylvaniaStateUniversity"> Pennsylvania State University</h2> <p>The Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine offers several accelerated 3-year MD programs, including in family medicine with a 3-year residency, emergency medicine with a 3-year residency, orthopedics with a 5-year residency, neurology with a 4-year residency, neurosurgery with a 7-year residency, and internal medicine with a 3-year residency (with most residencies taking place at Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center). In these programs, students begin certain longitudinal clinical electives and rotations early and do not receive a summer break, allowing them to condense their medical training. </p> <h2 id="section---TexasTechUniversityHealthSciencesCenter"> Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center</h2> <p>Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center's Family Medicine Accelerated Track (FMAT) lets students earn an MD in just 3 years with a residency in Amarillo, Lubbock, or the Permian Basin. This program alters the traditional 4-year curriculum by including a concentrated course during the summer, a longitudinal family medicine clerkship that includes patient care experiences, and an 8-week capstone course that consists of ICU, critical, and inpatient care activities. </p> <h2 id="section---RowanUniversity">Rowan University</h2> <p>Rowan University offers an accelerated 3-year MD program for students who wish to pursue a career in pediatrics or primary care internal medicine and includes a residency at Cooper University Hospital. Students in this program begin studying during the summer, 5 weeks earlier than normal, get clinical practice within their discipline, complete clerkships and rotations, and complete the third year with a sub-internship. </p> <h2 id="section---NewYorkUniversity"> New York University</h2> <p>New York University has an accelerated MD program that allows students to apply directly to the program or opt-in after they are accepted to the 4-year program and have completed the first year. Students in this program spend year 1 and 2 taking basic science and skills courses, start clerkships in year 2, and complete them in year 3 where they also complete electives and a sub-internship. They are also given conditional, early admittance to a residency program at NYU Langone Health. </p> <p /> <table border="1"><tr><th>School Name </th><th>Program Offered </th><th> Graduate Tuition (in-state; 2019-2020)</th></tr> <tr><td> Medical College of Wisconsin</td><td> Doctor of Medicine (MD) </td><td> $30,000</td></tr> <tr><td> Rutgers University, Newark </td><td> Doctor of Medicine (MD) </td><td> $17,736</td></tr> <tr><td> University of California, Davis </td><td> Doctor of Medicine (MD) </td><td>$11,442</td></tr> <tr><td> Ohio State University</td><td> Doctor of Medicine (MD) </td><td>$11,560</td></tr> <tr><td> Mercer University</td><td> Doctor of Medicine (MD) </td><td> $15,422</td></tr> <tr><td> Pennsylvania State University </td><td> Doctor of Medicine (MD) </td><td> $23,424</td></tr> <tr><td> Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center </td><td> Doctor of Medicine (MD) </td><td>$6,168</td></tr> <tr><td>Rowan University </td><td> Doctor of Medicine (MD) </td><td>$12,879</td></tr> <tr><td> New York University </td><td> Doctor of Medicine (MD) </td><td>$33,408</td></tr> </table><p><i>Source: National Center for Education Statistics</i> </p> <p>There are now several universities that offer aspiring physicians the opportunity to complete their MD in only 3 years of study and medical training. Usually, these MD programs make it simple for med students to transition into a residency program as well.</p>