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Residency in internal medicine education requirements

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read

There are several educational requirements to become a residency in internal medicine. Residencies in internal medicine usually study medicine, biology, or veterinary science. 42% of residencies in internal medicine hold a doctoral degree, and 35% hold an bachelor's degree. We analyzed 1,655 real residency in internal medicine resumes to see exactly what residency in internal medicine education sections show.

The most common colleges for residencies in internal medicine are the University of the Sciences and the University of the Sciences.

There are also many online residency in internal medicine courses to help get the education required to be a residency in internal medicine.

There are certain residency in internal medicine certifications that you should consider. These residency in internal medicine certifications include Internal Medicine and Family Medicine.

What education do you need to become a residency in internal medicine?

What degree do you need to be a residency in internal medicine?

The most common degree for residencies in internal medicine is doctoral degree, with 42% of residencies in internal medicine earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are bachelor's degree degree at 35% and bachelor's degree degree at 10%.
  • Doctorate, 42%
  • Bachelor's, 35%
  • Master's, 10%
  • Associate, 2%
  • Other Degrees, 11%

What should I major in to become a residency in internal medicine?

You should major in medicine to become a residency in internal medicine. 46% of residencies in internal medicine major in medicine. Other common majors for a residency in internal medicine include biology and veterinary science.

Most common colleges for residencies in internal medicine

Residencies in internal medicine often get their degrees at University of the Sciences, Butler University, and University of Florida. Here are the most common colleges for residencies in internal medicine in the US based on their resumes.
Residency in internal medicine common collegePercentages
University of the Sciences8.23%
Butler University6.33%
University of Florida5.70%
Western University of Health Sciences5.70%
George Washington University, The5.70%

Best majors for residencies in internal medicine

RankMajorPercentages
1Medicine45.7%
2Biology10.8%
3Veterinary Science5.6%
4Osteopathic Medicine4.4%
5Physician Assistant4.1%

Best colleges for residencies in internal medicine

The best colleges for residencies in internal medicine are Duke University, University of Pennsylvania, and Columbia University in the City of New York.

A residency in internal medicine with advanced education typically earns a higher salary and has access to better jobs. That's why Zippia looked into the best colleges for residencies in internal medicine. 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 residencies in internal medicine.

1. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Ann Arbor, MI • Private

In-state tuition

$15,262

Enrollment

30,079

2. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Chapel Hill, NC • Private

In-state tuition

$8,987

Enrollment

18,946

3. Duke University

Durham, NC • Private

In-state tuition

$55,695

Enrollment

6,596

4. University of Southern California

Los Angeles, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$56,225

Enrollment

19,548

5. University of California, Irvine

Irvine, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$13,700

Enrollment

29,722

6. Northeastern University

Boston, MA • Private

In-state tuition

$51,522

Enrollment

13,760

7. University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, PA • Private

In-state tuition

$55,584

Enrollment

10,764

8. University of Wisconsin - Madison

Madison, WI • Private

In-state tuition

$10,555

Enrollment

30,360

9. Yale University

New Haven, CT • Private

In-state tuition

$53,430

Enrollment

5,963

10. University of California - Los Angeles

Los Angeles, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$13,226

Enrollment

31,568

20 best online courses for residencies in internal medicine

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5. Health After Cancer: Cancer Survivorship for Primary Care

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Top 10 most affordable universities for residencies in internal medicine

The most affordable schools for residencies in internal medicine are University of Florida, hunter college of the city university of new york, and florida international university.

If the best universities for residencies in internal medicine 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 residencies in internal medicine.

1. University of Florida

Gainesville, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$6,381

Cost of attendance

21,034

2. Hunter College of the City University of New York

New York, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$7,182

Cost of attendance

13,998

3. Florida International University

Miami, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$6,556

Cost of attendance

19,434

4. University of South Florida

Tampa, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$6,410

Cost of attendance

20,456

5. Florida State University

Tallahassee, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$5,656

Cost of attendance

21,623

6. Brigham Young University

Provo, UT • Private

In-state tuition

$5,620

Cost of attendance

18,136

7. California State University - Long Beach

Long Beach, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,798

Cost of attendance

18,306

8. California State University - Los Angeles

Los Angeles, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,749

Cost of attendance

14,823

9. Florida Atlantic University

Boca Raton, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$4,831

Cost of attendance

19,559

10. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Chapel Hill, NC • Private

In-state tuition

$8,987

Cost of attendance

25,527

Top 10 hardest universities to get into for residencies in internal medicine

The hardest universities for residencies in internal medicine to get into are Duke University, University of Pennsylvania, and Columbia University in the City of New York.

Some great schools for residencies in internal medicine 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 residencies in internal medicine 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. Duke University

Durham, NC • Private

Admissions rate

9%

SAT average

1,516

2. University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, PA • Private

Admissions rate

8%

SAT average

1,492

3. Columbia University in the City of New York

New York, NY • Private

Admissions rate

6%

SAT average

1,512

4. Johns Hopkins University

Baltimore, MD • Private

Admissions rate

11%

SAT average

1,513

5. Yale University

New Haven, CT • Private

Admissions rate

6%

SAT average

1,517

6. Vanderbilt University

Nashville, TN • Private

Admissions rate

10%

SAT average

1,514

7. Georgetown University

Washington, DC • Private

Admissions rate

15%

SAT average

1,456

8. Northeastern University

Boston, MA • Private

Admissions rate

19%

SAT average

1,466

9. University of Southern California

Los Angeles, CA • Private

Admissions rate

13%

SAT average

1,445

10. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Ann Arbor, MI • Private

Admissions rate

23%

SAT average

1,434

Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for residencies in internal medicine

The easiest schools for residencies in internal medicine to get into are D'Youville College, curry college, and felician university.

Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as a residency in internal medicine 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 residencies in internal medicine.

1. D'Youville College

Buffalo, NY • Private

Admissions rate

100%

SAT average

1,072

2. Curry College

Milton, MA • Private

Admissions rate

93%

SAT average

1,026

3. Felician University

Lodi, NJ • Private

Admissions rate

81%

SAT average

999

4. Barry University

Miami, FL • Private

Admissions rate

91%

SAT average

1,006

5. University of the Incarnate Word

San Antonio, TX • Private

Admissions rate

88%

SAT average

1,044

6. AdventHealth University

Orlando, FL • Private

Admissions rate

87%

SAT average

1,016

7. Saint Joseph's College of Maine

Standish, ME • Private

Admissions rate

84%

SAT average

1,069

8. MCPHS University

Boston, MA • Private

Admissions rate

93%

SAT average

1,144

9. The University of Texas at El Paso

El Paso, TX • Private

Admissions rate

100%

SAT average

1,035

10. Marymount University

Arlington, VA • Private

Admissions rate

91%

SAT average

1,065

Average residency in internal medicine salary by education level

Residency in internal medicine education levelResidency in internal medicine salary
Doctorate Degree$172,016

Residency in internal medicine 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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