Paying for Medical School

How can I afford medical school?

Medical school costs vary depending on the type of school you attend and your residency status. Don’t let the costs discourage you. A medical education is an investment that will eventually pay for itself. Upon acceptance to a medical school, you will begin working closely with your financial aid office to discuss costs of attendance, federal student loans, and repayment options. A variety of scholarships and grants may also be available. Some are need-based, some are merit based and some require a service commitment. Medical students have a variety of options, grants to fellowships to scholarships. The AAMC “First” (Financial Information, Resources, Services, and Tools) provides information regarding financial aid maintains a list of consumer and federal financial aid resources, see https://students-residents.aamc.org/financial-aid . Other sources include the American Academy of Family Physicians.

Military Scholarship Programs

Various military programs have been designed to help students pay for the costs of medical school in exchange for an active duty service obligation. Many of these programs allow you to attend whichever medical school you desire and even offer monthly stipends during your education. After graduation, most scholarship recipients will complete their training through a military residency. Following clinical training, you will be required to fulfill a minimum service obligation lasting at least four years. For more information on these programs, contact information for medical military recruiters is in our office. Listed are links to some of the common programs that students take part in.

Health Professions Scholarship Program (HPSP)

Health Services Collegiate (HSCP)

Uniformed Services University of Health Sciences

National Health Service Corps

Students pursuing a career in primary health care are eligible to receive educational funding (tuition, fees, and stipend) in exchange for practicing in rural, urban, and tribal communities with limited access to health care. There is a 1-year service commitment for each year the scholarship is awarded, with a 2-year minimum, and 4-year maximum. The greatest number of NHSC- approved sites are part of the Indian Health Service (IHC).

Scholarships are offered on a competitive basis to students that have been accepted to an accredited medical school (MD or DO). It is also understood that the student will pursue a residency in one of the primary care areas: family practice, pediatrics, OB/GYN, internal medicine, geriatrics, or sometimes, general psychiatry (child and adolescent psychiatrists). NHSC scholarship opportunities are also available to students enrolled in the following programs: Dental (DDS or DMD), physician assistant (PA), nurse practitioner(NP), or certified nurse-midwife (CNM).

• Payment: NHSC will make a direct payment to the participant’s school for the standard tuition and fees of the first year of medical school. This same amount will be paid in subsequent years. (i.e. the program will not pay for increased tuition rates). A monthly stipend will also be paid to help cover living expenses.

• Service Obligation: For each year of financial aid received the student incurs one year of obligated service on the NHSC’s list of underserved communities. The minimum service obligation is two years, and a maximum of four years of support may be awarded. Salaries are negotiated with the health care facilities in the community being served.

Federal Loan Repayment Options

The NHSC also offers Loan Repayment Programs, which are available on a less competitive basis to physicians upon completion of a “residency” program in a primary care field.

Payment: NHSC will pay up to $25,000 per year for a two year full-time commitment. These payments are in addition to negotiated salary and can only be applied toward repayment of loans. The program will also make an additional payment towards the participant’s tax liabilities resulting from the original repayment amount. So, in effect, the loan repayments are tax-free money.

Service Obligation: For each year of loan repayment aid, the student must serve in a NHSC Loan Repayment Site. The minimum service obligation is two years. Salaries will be negotiated with the facilities in the community being served.

For more information on these programs, visit http://nhsc.hrsa.gov/

Other loan forgiveness programs are associated with the Indian Health Service, National Institutes of Health, Centers for Disease Control, and the US Dept. of Health and Human Services. Another option is the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program. If the student makes 120 on-time monthly payment while working for an approved public-service entity, their remaining loans will be forgiven.

State Programs

Many states also offer programs similar to those of the NHSC consisting of Scholarship and Loan Repayment Programs. For state-specific information, visit U.S. Department of Health and Human Services website: https://nhsc.hrsa.gov/scholarships/overview