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Obstetrician/gynecologist education requirements

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read

There are several educational requirements to become an obstetrician/gynecologist. Obstetrician/gynecologists usually study medicine, nursing, or medical assisting services. 34% of obstetrician/gynecologists hold a bachelor's degree, and 33% hold an doctoral degree. We analyzed 268 real obstetrician/gynecologist resumes to see exactly what obstetrician/gynecologist education sections show.

The most common colleges for obstetrician/gynecologists are the New York University and the New York University.

There are also many online obstetrician/gynecologist courses to help get the education required to be an obstetrician/gynecologist.

There are certain obstetrician/gynecologist certifications that you should consider. These obstetrician/gynecologist certifications include Obstetrics and Gynecology and Obstetrics & Gynecology.

What education do you need to become an obstetrician/gynecologist?

What degree do you need to be an obstetrician/gynecologist?

The most common degree for obstetrician/gynecologists is bachelor's degree, with 34% of obstetrician/gynecologists earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are doctoral degree degree at 33% and doctoral degree degree at 7%.
  • Bachelor's, 34%
  • Doctorate, 33%
  • Master's, 7%
  • Diploma, 7%
  • Other Degrees, 19%

What should I major in to become an obstetrician/gynecologist?

You should major in medicine to become an obstetrician/gynecologist. 38% of obstetrician/gynecologists major in medicine. Other common majors for an obstetrician/gynecologist include nursing and medical assisting services.

Most common colleges for obstetrician/gynecologists

Obstetrician/gynecologists often get their degrees at New York University, University of the Sciences, and University of Maryland - College Park. Here are the most common colleges for obstetrician/gynecologists in the US based on their resumes.
Obstetrician/gynecologist common collegePercentages
New York University9.68%
University of the Sciences9.68%
University of Maryland - College Park9.68%
Ohio University6.45%
Bryan College6.45%

Best majors for obstetrician/gynecologists

RankMajorPercentages
1Medicine38.1%
2Nursing8.2%
3Medical Assisting Services6.8%
4Biology5.4%
5Veterinary Science4.8%

Best colleges for obstetrician/gynecologists

The best colleges for obstetrician/gynecologists are Northwestern University, Emory University, and Case Western Reserve University.

An obstetrician/gynecologist with advanced education typically earns a higher salary and has access to better jobs. That's why Zippia looked into the best colleges for obstetrician/gynecologists. We based this list on several metrics: admissions rate, retention rate, mean earnings of graduates, the ratio of working vs. non-working students ten years after admission, the average cost of attendance, and median debt for graduates who become obstetrician/gynecologists.

1. University of Virginia

Charlottesville, VA • Private

In-state tuition

$17,653

Enrollment

16,405

2. Emory University

Atlanta, GA • Private

In-state tuition

$51,306

Enrollment

6,975

3. Case Western Reserve University

Cleveland, OH • Private

In-state tuition

$49,042

Enrollment

5,131

4. University of Connecticut

Storrs, CT • Private

In-state tuition

$15,730

Enrollment

18,830

5. New York University

New York, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$51,828

Enrollment

26,339

6. Howard University

Washington, DC • Private

In-state tuition

$26,756

Enrollment

6,166

7. Ohio State University

Columbus, OH • Private

In-state tuition

$10,726

Enrollment

45,769

8. Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey

New Brunswick, NJ • Private

In-state tuition

$14,974

Enrollment

35,656

9. University of Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh, PA • Private

In-state tuition

$19,080

Enrollment

19,127

10. University of Missouri - Kansas City

Kansas City, MO • Private

In-state tuition

$8,178

Enrollment

7,681

20 best online courses for obstetrician/gynecologists

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1. Trauma Emergencies and Care

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2. Health After Cancer: Cancer Survivorship for Primary Care

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This course presents basic principles of cancer survivorship to primary-care physicians. Developed by a team of experts in caring for cancer survivors, and narrated by a primary-care physician, this course provides practical tips and tools that can be easily integrated into medical practice. You will learn about the complex physical and psychosocial needs and concerns of the growing number of cancer survivors, along with the key role that primary care physicians have in guiding these patients...

3. Medical Coding: ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code Training

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Learn medical coding and prepare yourself for today's healthcare workplace...

4. ICD 10 & 11 Medical Coding and Billing

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Preparation for Medical Coding Certification Exam...

5. Emergency Care: Pregnancy, Infants, and Children

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Welcome to the final course of lectures in your quest to master EMT basics. In this course, we will cover some of the highest-stress patient populations: pregnant patients and kids, also known as pediatrics. To wrap up your EMT knowledge we will end this course with information about hazmat situations, extricating patients from tight spots and finally how you write a note about your patient care. You will learn to ensure it communicates what your assessment of the patient was, what...

6. Palliative Care Always Capstone Course

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9. Health for All Through Primary Health Care

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This course explores why primary health care is central for achieving Health for All. It provides examples of how primary health care has been instrumental in approaching this goal in selected populations and how the principles of primary health care can guide future policies and actions. Two of the most inspiring, least understood, and most often derided terms in global health discourse are “Health for All” and “Primary Health Care.” In this course, we will explore these terms in the context...

10. Medical Emergencies: Airway, Breathing, and Circulation

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In this course, you will develop the knowledge and skills to assess and stabilize certain types of patients for transport. By the end of this course, you will be able to: 1) assess a basic medical patient 2) describe general pharmacologic principles and the skills associated with medication administration, 3) explain airway physiology, the assessment of the airway and available interventions for airway management, 4) identify, assess and formulate a plan to stabilize a patient with a...

11. Providing Trauma-Informed Care

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Exploring psychological trauma and how to provide care and compassion to trauma survivors...

12. Medical Terminology

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Introduction to the meaning of various roots, terms and combining forms that are components of medical words...

13. Prehospital care of acute stroke and patient selection for endovascular treatment using the RACE scale

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Acute stroke is a time-dependent medical emergency. In acute ischemic stroke, the first objective is to restore brain flow using sistemic thrombolytic treatment and, in patients with large vessel occlusion, by endovascular treatment. In hemorrhagic stroke there are also specific treatments that can improve the clinical outcome. The sooner the initiation of all these therapies the higher the clinical benefit. Thus, the organization of Stroke Code systems coordinated between emergency medical...

14. Health Care Delivery in Healthcare Organizations

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Have you ever needed health care and thought that there must be better ways to get or deliver health care? For example, have you found yourself thinking that there should be a way to get a diagnostic test or treatment at home? Or do you work in a healthcare organization and find yourself thinking that there must be better ways to deliver health care? If you have, this course is for you. Course content includes an overview of health care delivery including healthcare consumerism, the patient's...

15. Traditional herbal medicine in supportive cancer care: From alternative to integrative

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Please join us for an exciting and innovative journey, examining one of the most important and often overlooked aspects of the oncology setting: Traditional Herbal Medicine in Supportive Cancer Care. This course is presented with short lectures offering a wide range of issues related to the principles and practice of herbal medicine in cancer care. The course includes interviews with leading world experts from the field of Integrative Oncology, from the U.S. and Canada, as well as Europe, the...

16. Medical Emergencies: CPR, Toxicology, and Wilderness

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In this course, you will develop the knowledge and skills to assess and stabilize certain types of patients for transport. By the end of this course, you will be able to: (1) Identify the signs and symptoms associated with a patient in shock, to describe the major categories of shock, to assess a patient with signs of shock and formulate a plan for treatment to stabilize the patient for transport, (2) Identify a patient in cardiac arrest and to describe the components of high performance CPR...

17. Value-Based Care: Managing Processes to Improve Outcomes

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COURSE 3 of 7. This course is designed to introduce you to critical office-based processes that a value-based practice must manage in the drive towards improved patient outcomes. In Module 2, we’ll focus on office-based and clinical patient-based supporting functions. At every level in healthcare, guidelines, processes, and functions exist to improve outcomes, and following a consistent process will return the best effect. Refine your understanding of value and learn strategies to provide real...

18. Pain Management: Easing Pain in Palliative Care

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19. Prepare for the EMT Certification Test

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20. COVID-19 Training for Healthcare Workers

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Top 10 most affordable universities for obstetrician/gynecologists

The most affordable schools for obstetrician/gynecologists are University of Florida, florida international university, and florida state university.

If the best universities for obstetrician/gynecologists are out of your price range, check out these affordable schools. After factoring in in-state tuition and fees, the average cost of attendance, admissions rate, average net price, and mean earnings after six years, we found that these are the most affordable schools for obstetrician/gynecologists.

1. University of Florida

Gainesville, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$6,381

Cost of attendance

21,034

2. Florida International University

Miami, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$6,556

Cost of attendance

19,434

3. Florida State University

Tallahassee, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$5,656

Cost of attendance

21,623

4. Florida Atlantic University

Boca Raton, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$4,831

Cost of attendance

19,559

5. University of Missouri - Kansas City

Kansas City, MO • Private

In-state tuition

$8,178

Cost of attendance

20,934

6. SUNY Farmingdale

Farmingdale, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$8,306

Cost of attendance

16,091

7. Purdue University

West Lafayette, IN • Private

In-state tuition

$9,992

Cost of attendance

22,430

8. University of South Florida

Tampa, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$6,410

Cost of attendance

20,456

9. Louisiana State University at Alexandria

Alexandria, LA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,668

Cost of attendance

14,488

10. Hunter College of the City University of New York

New York, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$7,182

Cost of attendance

13,998

Top 10 hardest universities to get into for obstetrician/gynecologists

The hardest universities for obstetrician/gynecologists to get into are Northwestern University, Emory University, and Case Western Reserve University.

Some great schools for obstetrician/gynecologists are hard to get into, but they also set your career up for greater success. The list below shows the most challenging universities to get into for obstetrician/gynecologists based on an institution's admissions rates, average SAT scores accepted, median ACT scores accepted, and mean earnings of students six years after admission.

1. Northwestern University

Evanston, IL • Private

Admissions rate

8%

SAT average

1,508

2. Emory University

Atlanta, GA • Private

Admissions rate

19%

SAT average

1,449

3. Case Western Reserve University

Cleveland, OH • Private

Admissions rate

29%

SAT average

1,443

4. University of Virginia

Charlottesville, VA • Private

Admissions rate

26%

SAT average

1,427

5. New York University

New York, NY • Private

Admissions rate

20%

SAT average

1,419

6. Vanderbilt University

Nashville, TN • Private

Admissions rate

10%

SAT average

1,514

7. Johns Hopkins University

Baltimore, MD • Private

Admissions rate

11%

SAT average

1,513

8. University of Rochester

Rochester, NY • Private

Admissions rate

29%

SAT average

1,422

9. Yale University

New Haven, CT • Private

Admissions rate

6%

SAT average

1,517

10. Duke University

Durham, NC • Private

Admissions rate

9%

SAT average

1,516

Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for obstetrician/gynecologists

The easiest schools for obstetrician/gynecologists to get into are AdventHealth University, university of the incarnate word, and pennsylvania state university - shenango.

Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as an obstetrician/gynecologist without much hassle, check out the list of schools where you will be accepted in no time. We compiled admissions rates, average SAT scores, average ACT scores, and average salary of students six years after graduation to uncover which were the easiest schools to get into for obstetrician/gynecologists.

1. AdventHealth University

Orlando, FL • Private

Admissions rate

87%

SAT average

1,016

2. University of the Incarnate Word

San Antonio, TX • Private

Admissions rate

88%

SAT average

1,044

3. Pennsylvania State University - Shenango

Sharon, PA • Private

Admissions rate

75%

SAT average

989

4. Pennsylvania State University - Fayette (The Eberly Campus)

Lemont Furnace, PA • Private

Admissions rate

80%

SAT average

1,067

5. Midwestern State University

Wichita Falls, TX • Private

Admissions rate

71%

SAT average

1,033

6. D'Youville College

Buffalo, NY • Private

Admissions rate

100%

SAT average

1,072

7. Presentation College

Aberdeen, SD • Private

Admissions rate

97%

SAT average

1,050

8. Washington Adventist Hospital

Takoma Park, MD • Private

Admissions rate

52%

SAT average

958

9. Methodist College

Peoria, IL • Private

Admissions rate

39%

SAT average

1,015

10. Clarkson College

Omaha, NE • Private

Admissions rate

41%

SAT average

1,035

Average obstetrician/gynecologist salary by education level

Obstetrician/gynecologist education levelObstetrician/gynecologist salary
Doctorate Degree$265,024

Obstetrician/gynecologist education FAQs

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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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