Credit: Image Credit: Halfpoint Images / Moment / Getty Images
Data Summary
- Medical school costs an average of roughly $40,500 to $66,200 a year in tuition alone.[1]
- With tuition, fees, and health insurance, four years of medical school can cost students roughly $162,000-$265,000.[1]
- Over the past decade, medical school costs have risen roughly 25%.[1]
- On average, medical school tuition costs about $34,550 per year for in-state residents at public colleges.[1]
- Medical school tuition costs an average of roughly $58,000-60,000 at private schools.[1]
- Applying to medical school may cost several hundred to several thousand dollars.
- About two-thirds of medical students receive scholarships or grants for school.[2]
- Some medical schools offer tuition-free programs or waive other costs associated with attending.
Becoming a doctor takes years of preparation, practice, and studying. One crucial step is attending medical school.
Medical school costs may influence which program a student chooses. In an Association of American Medical Colleges survey, 74% of medical students said cost of attendance was important
or very important
to their school choice.[1]
This report covers the average cost of medical school, including how much students spend on the application process.
Average Yearly Cost of Medical School
The average cost of medical school ranges from around $40,500 to $66,200 per year.[1] Average costs tend to be lowest for in-state residents at public colleges.
Average Annual Tuition
Average medical school tuition tends to be highest at private colleges and public colleges for out-of-state students and lower at public schools for in-state students.
| Institution Type | Average Annual Tuition |
|---|---|
| Public, State Residents | $34,550 |
| Public, Nonresidents | $58,010 |
| Private, State Residents | $58,610 |
| Private, Nonresidents | $60,010 |
Average Total Cost
Besides tuition, medical students may also need to pay health insurance and student fees — e.g., for using laboratories or student centers. Health insurance and fees cost about $5,000-$7,000 per year, on average.
The table below shows medical students' average costs including tuition, health insurance, and other fees. However, it does not include costs for books, supplies, or living expenses.
Over four years, students at private schools and out-of-state students at public schools pay close to $100,000 more than in-state students at public schools, on average.
| Institution Type | Average Total Cost Per Year | Average Total Cost for Four Years |
|---|---|---|
| Public, State Residents | $40,490 | $161,960 |
| Public, Nonresidents | $64,470 | $257,880 |
| Private, State Residents | $64,730 | $258,920 |
| Private, Nonresidents | $66,170 | $264,680 |
Most and Least Expensive Medical Schools
The lists below rank the country's most and least expensive medical schools for first-time students in 2021-2022, according to the Association of American Medical Colleges. The average cost listed includes tuition, student fees, and health insurance.
Most Expensive Medical Schools
| Ranking | School Name | Total Annual Cost |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Washington School of Medicine | $96,490 |
| 2 | Northeast Ohio Medical University | $96,030 |
| 3 | University of South Carolina School of Medicine Greenville | $91,890 |
| 4 | University of South Carolina School of Medicine Columbia | $91,840 |
| 5 | Spencer Fox Eccles School of Medicine at the University of Utah | $88,320 |
| 6 | University of Missouri-Columbia School of Medicine | $88,300 |
| 7 | University of Illinois College of Medicine | $86,700 |
| 8 | University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Medicine | $83,780 |
| 9 | Oregon Health & Science University School of Medicine | $82,330 |
| 10 | University of South Dakota, Sanford School of Medicine | $81,380 |
Least Expensive Medical Schools
The country's two least expensive medical schools do not charge students tuition, fees, or health insurance costs.
Uniformed Services University is a federal institution that trains physicians to work in the U.S. medical corps.
The Kaiser Permanente Bernard J. Tyson School of Medicine has waived all four years of its costs for students entering in 2020-2024.[4]
New York University Schools also began offering medical students scholarships to cover the full cost of tuition in 2021-22.[5], [6]
The average cost listed below includes health insurance, which may be waived for some students.
| Ranking | School Name | Public or Private | State Resident Status | Average Cost Per Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kaiser Permanente Bernard J. Tyson School of Medicine | Private | Residents and Nonresidents | $0 |
| 1 | Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences F. Edward Hébert School of Medicine | Public | Residents and Nonresidents | $0 |
| 3 | New York University Grossman School of Medicine | Private | Residents and Nonresidents | $4,150 |
| 4 | New York University Grossman Long Island School of Medicine | Private | Residents and Nonresidents | $4,350 |
| 5 | University of Puerto Rico School of Medicine | Public | Residents | $19,590 |
| 6 | Texas A&M University School of Medicine | Public | Residents | $21,760 |
| 7 | University of New Mexico School of Medicine | Public | Residents | $23,790 |
| 8 | University of Texas Rio Grande Valley School of Medicine | Public | Residents | $24,050 |
| 9 | University of Texas at Austin Dell Medical School | Public | Residents | $24,530 |
| 10 | Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center School of Medicine | Public | Residents | $24,580 |
How Much Does It Cost to Apply to Medical School?
One medical school application costs $175.[7] However, applying to medical school takes testing, interviews, and supplemental applications, which can amount to hundreds or thousands of dollars.
Here are some of the costs of applying to medical school explained:
MCAT Cost: $330+
Medical schools generally require prospective students to take the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) to apply.
Registration for the MCAT is $330.[7]
Optional MCAT preparation courses range in price from $0 to $7,000.
Application Fee: $175-$1,500
Most medical students use The American Medical College Application Service® to create and submit applications. This service charges $175 to send an application to your first school and $46 for each additional school.[7]
Also, many medical schools require applicants to submit a second or supplementary application.
In 2023, first-year medical students completed a median of 19 supplemental applications.[3]
They spent a median of $1,500 on supplemental applications.[3]
Interviews: Varies
Typically, part of the admission process for medical school involves interviewing with representatives from the school. Students may need to cover costs associated with interviews, such as travel, lodging, meals, and technology.
In 2023:[3]
56% of first-year medical students reported having zero costs associated with interviews.
The median amount of money students spent on medical school interviews was $0.
About 26% of first-year students spent $1-$500 on interview expenses.
17.5% of first-year students reported spending over $500 on interview expenses.
Additional Assessments or Exams
Many colleges require students to complete additional school-by-school assessments or exams, such as Casper, a situational judgment test.[8] Students may need to pay additional fees to take and submit these assessments.
Medical School Grants and Scholarships
In 2019, 62% of medical students received scholarships or grants for their education.[2] Students generally received more funding to attend private schools than public schools.
Average Cost of Medical School Over Time
Over the past decade, the average cost of medical school has increased by about 25%. More specifically, between 2013 and 2023, the average cost of medical school has increased roughly:[1]
28% for state residents at public schools.
18% nonresidents at public schools.
28% for state residents at private schools.
27% for nonresidents at private schools.
Frequently Asked Questions About Medical School Costs
Medical school is costly. On average, one year of medical school tuition for in-state students at a public university is about $34,550.[1]
The average cost of four years of medical school — including tuition, fees, and health insurance — is roughly $162,000-$265,000.[1]
References
Tuition and Student Fees for First-Year Students. Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC). November 2023. (back to content ⤶)
Youngclaus J, Frense JA. Physician Education Debt and the Cost to Attend Medical Schools: 2020 Update. Washington, DC: AAMC. October 2020. (back to content ⤶)
Matriculating Student Questionnaire: 2023 All Schools Summary Report. AAMC. December 2023. (back to content ⤶)
A Tuition-Free Medical School. Kaiser Permanente Bernard J. Tyson School of Medicine. 2024. (back to content ⤶)
Financial Aid for MD Students. NYU Long Island School of Medicine. 2024. (back to content ⤶)
Cost of Attendance. NYU Grossman School of Medicine. 2024. (back to content ⤶)
The Cost of Applying to Medical School. AAMC. Accessed June 2024. (back to content ⤶)
Medical School Admission Requirements™ Report for Applicants and Advisors: Additional Required Assessments 2025. AAMC. 2024. (back to content ⤶)
Occupational Outlook Handbook: Physicians and Surgeons. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. May 2024. (back to content ⤶)
