What are the differences between nursing school vs. medical school? The nursing model of care is holistic and patient-centered, whereas medical school teaches the medical model, focusing on making quick diagnoses and treating symptoms. There are many benefits of being a nurse, like great pay and opportunities for advancement.
"Is nursing school harder than med school?” “What are the differences in curriculum in nursing school vs. medical school?” If you’re debating whether to become a nurse or a physician, these are the types of questions you’re likely asking yourself. There are advantages and drawbacks to both career pathways. You’ll need to evaluate both possibilities and consider your career goals before deciding which path is right for you.
If you want to switch careers to healthcare as soon as possible, then becoming a nurse is likely your best option. At Felician University, our Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN) program allows you to graduate in as few as 16 months. It’s a fast-paced and rigorous program that provides comprehensive nursing skills training and paves the way to pursuing career advancement after you gain clinical experience.
How does an Accelerated BSN differ from a traditional BSN?
Before making a decision, consider the key differences between nursing vs. medical school, like the curriculum and program length. You’ll also want to look at the many benefits of choosing a nursing career, including the high earning potential, strong job growth rate, and potential for career advancement.
Medical School vs. Nursing School: What Are the Key Differences?
You probably know that the main difference between nursing vs. medical school is that the former is intended for future nurses, and the latter is intended for future doctors. There are other significant differences to consider, however.
Nursing Model vs. Medical Model
Physicians use the medical model, a care approach that focuses on diagnostics and disease treatment. It emphasizes treating the symptoms to correct the problem. Usually, physicians diagnose patients as quickly as possible and then prescribe medications or other treatments. They may also order diagnostic tests to confirm their diagnoses.
In contrast, the nursing model is a holistic, humanistic approach to patient care. Nurses spend more time with patients than physicians and look beyond the symptoms to care for patients’ minds and bodies as they carry out treatment plans.
Nurses make nursing diagnoses and develop nursing care plans. They may also go the extra mile to help patients connect to needed resources in their community, such as transportation to medical appointments or home health services.
Curriculum
Both nursing and medical students study health science topics, such as pharmacology and pathophysiology. Medical students, however, focus more on general science, physiology, and anatomy. Nursing students dive into health assessments, nursing informatics, mental health nursing, and ethical issues applicable to healthcare.
The structure of the curriculum also differs. In medical school, students typically spend the first half of the program on didactic learning and labs, while the second half focuses on immersive practicum experiences.
This structure is typically mimicked in a traditional four-year BSN program, but the ABSN program curriculum is different. At Felician University, students complete classes, labs, and immersive clinical rotations during the first semester. The classes, nursing labs, and clinicals are sequential and progressive. In other words, during the same semester that you’re studying adult health in didactic classes, you’ll practice relevant nursing skills in labs and reinforce those skills in a corresponding practicum.
Program Length
Another significant difference between nursing school vs. medical school is the length of the programs. After earning a four-year undergraduate degree, medical school typically takes another four years to complete, followed by a three-to seven-year residency. In contrast, a traditional BSN program only requires four years.
Felician University’s ABSN program can be completed in as few as 16 months, although this timeline does not include your prior college education or the prerequisites you may need to complete. After graduation, you’ll need to pass the NCLEX-RN for licensure. In short, if you want to begin a career in healthcare sooner, becoming a nurse could be right for you.
Explore the nursing school requirements you’ll need to meet.
Tuition and Expenses
A medical school education can be prohibitively expensive. Each year since 2014, the average cost has risen by 2.5%. As of 2024, the average cost of medical school in the U.S. was $238,420. While federal Grad PLUS loans could previously fund the entire cost of medical school, recent federal legislation significantly limited the amount of federal loans available to medical school students. Medical students must also contend with living expenses, books, and other fees.
In contrast, nursing school is far more affordable, and it’s not affected by the recent federal limitations on borrowing for professional schools like medical school. At Felician University, for example, the total program cost is $60,735, as of August 2025. Plus, our financial aid counselors are ready to help you figure out how to finance your education.
5 Top Benefits of a Nursing Career
While the differences between medical school vs. nursing school might be enough to help you decide on a career, it’s worth looking at some of the top benefits of becoming a nurse.
1. Plenty of Career Growth Opportunities
Your career pathway doesn’t have to stop at becoming an RN. There are lots of career advancement opportunities in nursing. You could work your way up to become a charge nurse or earn a graduate degree and become a nurse administrator, nurse manager, nurse educator, or nurse researcher.
Another option is to become an advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) by earning a graduate degree, board certification, and licensure in your specialty area. APRNs, such as nurse practitioners (NP) and certified nurse midwives (CNMs), serve as leaders who enjoy much higher salary command than RNs.
2. Strong Job Growth Rate
There is an ongoing shortage of registered nurses in the U.S., and so the projected job growth rate is robust. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) expects the job growth rate for RNs to be 6% from 2023 through 2033, faster than average, indicating that healthcare employers will need to hire about 197,200 new nurses during this time period.
3. High Earning Potential
Even entry-level RNs have high earning potential. As you gain clinical experience and earn professional certifications in your specialty area, you can expect higher earnings, depending on other factors like geographic location and your employer. According to the BLS, the median annual salary for an RN was $93,600 as of May 2024.
4. Work More Closely With Patients
Another top benefit of choosing nursing school over medical school is the opportunity to work closely with patients. Many types of nurses, such as family care providers and home health nurses, can develop long-lasting working relationships with patients based on mutual trust and respect. It can be rewarding to watch a patient’s health improve over time under your guidance and care.
5. Public Perceptions and Professional Respect
Nurses have long held widespread respect in society. For over 20 years, Americans have rated nurses as the most trusted professionals, according to Gallup’s 2025 Honesty and Ethics poll. As a nurse, you’ll serve your community every day as a well-respected professional.
How hard is it to get into nursing school? Get some food for thought and start planning your nursing education.
Ready to Pursue a Career in Nursing?
After considering the differences between medical school vs. nursing school, you might have decided that becoming a nurse is the right choice for you. Felician University is here to help you achieve a successful career transition into healthcare.
We offer dynamic learning options to support your learning preferences. Choose from our On-Ground ABSN on our main campus in Rutherford, New Jersey, or our Hybrid ABSN, which offers online coursework paired with in-person learning experiences at our ABSN learning site in Parsippany, New Jersey. No matter which learning option you choose, you’ll be able to graduate in as few as 16 months upon successful completion of any needed prerequisites. You’ll also benefit from our Franciscan values-based education. Contact an admissions counselor today to explore the next steps.