It’s no secret that medical school can be an expensive process. From preparing for the MCAT to actually applying to medical school and matriculating, the average cost of medical school is steadily increasing. In this article, we’ll be giving an overview what expenses you should expect when applying and then look at options you have for paying for medical school.
How Much Does Medical School Cost?
According to AAMC, the total median cost of medical school for the class of 2025 is $286,454 for those attending public schools and $390,848 for private schools. The most expensive medical school is Nova Southeastern University and the most affordable medical school is Texas A&M University.
However, these numbers don’t take into account the other expenses you’ll need to make it into medical school and then just…live. Check out this chart for a high-level look at the things you’ll also need to add to your medical school budget.
Disclaimer: Many of these figures are totally subjective and no two students will have the same total. Cost of living, especially, will differ based on where you attend medical school—your expenses will likely always be higher in a big city than in a smaller town.
| Expense Category | Necessary Expenses | Variable Expenses | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| MCAT and MCAT Prep | Registration Fee: $355 | Prep Courses: $1,199+ | $1,554+ |
| Med School Applications | $175 for primary application and one school
$100 average secondary application fee |
Additional $47 fee per school for primary
$100 per school for each secondary $500 (est.) for traveling to in-person interviews |
Highly variable, but can exceed $3,000 |
| Medical School Tuition | Varies. Average: $59,605 per year | Additional years for med school (dual degree, etc.) | Highly variable: average $275,068 |
| Cost of Living | Rent, Utilities, Food, Insurance, USMLE Step 1 registration, USMLE Step 2 registration, etc. | Going Out, Travel, Personal, Study Materials, etc. | Variable, dependent on school but info can be found on school websites. |
How To Afford Medical School
One obvious way to pay for medical school is through grants and scholarships. Nearly every medical school offers students some sort of financial award, sometimes even full-rides. NYU Medical School offers its students full-tuition scholarships to all current students and future matriculated students in their M.D. program, regardless of merit or financial need.
While some schools offer significant financial aid based on need and/or merit, it is often not enough for a lot of students trying to figure out how much does medical school cost. This is especially true for students who are younger than 25-years-old because their financial need is determined based on the candidates’ FAFSA application that includes their parents.
A wide majority of students pay their tuition and living expenses with federal loans. One resource the AAMC endorses for helping students manage their education debt is the MedLoans Organizer and Calculator. Another resource the AAMC has free to students is the AAMC Financial Wellness program, which can help students navigate this ongoing financial journey and adapt as their situation changes.
Don’t forget about your own schools’ financial aid officers. Both in undergrad and med school, financial aid officers are well-versed in financial aid and planning, so take advantage of that resource whenever you need it. More often than not, they are happy to help you and can give you advice unique to your own financial situation. Your premed advisor might also offer you some advice.
Further Reading
💰 The Types of Medical School Loans
Final Thoughts
Regardless of what you use to pay for medical school, you will likely need to create and stay committed to a budget. Where you live can play a huge part in how much you need to allocate for personal expenses like rent, food, etc. and the estimated costs of this are often included in medical school websites.
To create your own budget, make sure you are tracking your income, fixed expenses, and variable expenses. An example of what that can look like can be found here.
That being said, you need to make sure that you maintain balance. Should you have take-out every night while you’re in med school? No, but that does not mean you should feel guilty if you budget to treat yourself every once in a while or book a flight to see family or friends. The journey through medicine is expensive but there are tools in place that can help.
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