Medical school tuition, including required fees and health insurance, had a median published price of $43,648 for first-year in-state students at public medical schools in 2025-2026. The corresponding medians were $70,730 for out-of-state students at public schools and $74,661 for resident students at private schools. These AAMC figures cover first-year students at MD-granting schools before grants, scholarships or stipends.
Tuition is one part of the medical school bill that you can compare before applying, and residency at a public school changes the median published price by $27,082 a year. It is not the same as the full yearly cost, which also includes living expenses and other budgeted costs. IMA’s guide to how much medical school costs in total covers those expenses, debt and ways to pay. Here, you can focus on tuition and required charges at MD schools, DO schools and Canadian faculties of medicine.
Medical School Tuition at a Glance
- For 2025-2026, median first-year tuition, fees and health insurance were $43,648 at public schools for in-state students, $70,730 at public schools for out-of-state students and $74,661 at private schools for resident students.
- Among public schools, the published 2025-2026 in-state price ranged from $19,686 at the University of Puerto Rico to $67,597 at Virginia Tech Carilion, apart from the $0 service-based price at the Uniformed Services University.
- The public in-state median rose about 31% from 2013-2014 to 2025-2026 and increased in every year of that series.
- Outside Quebec, fall 2024 tuition for Canadian citizens ranged from C$11,658 at the University of Manitoba to C$26,270 at Dalhousie University, before other compulsory fees.
Tuition by School Type and Residency
The headline figures combine tuition with required fees and student health insurance. The AAMC’s 2025-2026 report covers 94 public and 66 private participating MD-granting schools, although a participating school may not have reported every cost type. The prices are what schools published for first-year students, not what a particular student paid after receiving aid.
The AAMC Tuition and Student Fees Reports provide the 2025-2026 medians below by school ownership, residence status and cost type.
| Cost (2025-2026 median) | Public school, in-state | Public school, out-of-state | Private school, in-state | Private school, out-of-state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition | $37,427 | $62,846 | $68,176 | $69,538 |
| Fees | $2,427 | $2,453 | $2,247 | $2,270 |
| Health insurance | $3,438 | $3,438 | $4,314 | $4,314 |
| Tuition, fees and health insurance together | $43,648 | $70,730 | $74,661 | $76,605 |
The table above shows why you should identify what a quoted price includes. Tuition alone had medians of $37,427 at public schools for in-state students, $62,846 at public schools for out-of-state students and $68,176 at private schools for resident students. A school quoting only tuition may therefore look less expensive than one presenting tuition, fees and insurance together.
The separate cost-type medians do not necessarily add up to the combined median because each is the midpoint of its own set of reported prices. For a consistent comparison, use the combined tuition, fees and health insurance figure for the same residence category.
Tuition is also not the full yearly cost. For in-state students in 2025-26, the AAMC reported median first-year cost of attendance of $75,654 at public schools and $106,787 at private schools, about $32,000 above the respective tuition and fee medians based on IMA’s calculation from those figures.
Fees and Health Insurance Beyond Tuition
Required school fees can materially change the price. In 2025-2026, median first-year fees were $2,427 for in-state students at public schools and $2,247 for resident students at private schools. The highest reported fees were much larger at $32,741 for a public school and $10,723 for a private school. That variation is another reason to compare the combined figure rather than tuition alone.
These are charges imposed by the school after you enroll. They are separate from the costs of submitting applications, which belong in your pre-enrollment budget and are covered in IMA’s guide to medical school application cost.
Median first-year health insurance was $3,438 at public schools and $4,314 at private schools in 2025-2026. For comparison, the medians were $1,950 and $2,500 in 2013-2014. Federal Student Aid treats health insurance premiums charged to all students as part of tuition and fees for cost-of-attendance purposes.
Health coverage is usually required, but the school’s plan may be waivable. An IMA count of the AAMC school-level sheet found that 159 of 160 schools reported requiring health insurance, while 153 answered yes in the column recording whether the school’s charge could be waived. Ask each school what proof of other coverage it accepts before assuming you can remove that charge.
The Lowest and Highest Published Prices
If price is a major factor in your school list, IMA’s guide to the cheapest medical schools in the US provides the broader school-by-school context. The table below uses the school-level workbook for 2025-2026 published by the AAMC to compare the ten lowest and ten highest published in-state figures at public MD schools, alongside each school’s out-of-state figure.
| Public medical school | Group | In-state, 2025-2026 | Out-of-state, 2025-2026 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences F. Edward Hebert School of Medicine | Ten lowest | $0 | $0 |
| University of Puerto Rico School of Medicine | Ten lowest | $19,686 | $37,186 |
| Texas A&M University Naresh K. Vashisht College of Medicine | Ten lowest | $22,998 | $36,098 |
| University of New Mexico School of Medicine | Ten lowest | $24,095 | $52,331 |
| University of Texas Rio Grande Valley School of Medicine | Ten lowest | $24,970 | $38,070 |
| The University of Texas at Tyler School of Medicine | Ten lowest | $25,880 | $41,820 |
| The University of Texas at Austin Dell Medical School | Ten lowest | $26,106 | $41,170 |
| Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center Paul L. Foster School of Medicine | Ten lowest | $26,526 | $41,647 |
| Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center School of Medicine | Ten lowest | $26,924 | $40,024 |
| Marshall University Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine | Ten lowest | $27,662 | $62,246 |
| Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine | Ten highest | $67,597 | $67,597 |
| University of Michigan Medical School | Ten highest | $62,934 | $83,772 |
| Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine | Ten highest | $61,484 | $61,484 |
| Oregon Health & Science University School of Medicine | Ten highest | $59,642 | $85,950 |
| University of Virginia School of Medicine | Ten highest | $59,154 | $73,102 |
| University of Washington School of Medicine | Ten highest | $57,968 | $102,319 |
| Carle Illinois College of Medicine | Ten highest | $57,713 | $70,831 |
| Renaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook University | Ten highest | $56,659 | $79,309 |
| University of California, Davis, School of Medicine | Ten highest | $56,275 | $68,520 |
| Northeast Ohio Medical University | Ten highest | $56,129 | $102,657 |
The table above shows an in-state range from $19,686 at the University of Puerto Rico School of Medicine, the lowest public-school price among schools charging tuition, to $67,597 at Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine. Six of the ten lowest public in-state figures belong to Texas schools. A low resident price only helps if the school classifies you as a resident.
The Uniformed Services University reported $0. Students accepted to its MD program pay no tuition and become commissioned officers before classes begin. In return, the service commitment after graduation is seven years for the Army, Navy, Air Force and Coast Guard or ten years for the Public Health Service.
Out-of-state prices can reorder the comparison. Northeast Ohio Medical University reported the highest figure in the workbook at $102,657 for nonresidents, compared with $56,129 for Ohio residents. The University of Washington reported $102,319 for out-of-state students.
Private-school published prices also vary. The 2025-2026 combined figure reached $84,425 at Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine. Kaiser Permanente reported $0 and NYU Grossman reported $4,350, but those figures reflect a tuition waiver and a scholarship for every student, which the section on tuition-free programs below explains.
In-State and Out-of-State Tuition
Public medical school is usually cheaper when the school counts you as an in-state resident. In 2025-2026, the public out-of-state median of $70,730 was $27,082 above the in-state median of $43,648. Extending that median difference across four years produces a gap of about $108,000, based on IMA’s calculation from the AAMC figures. These are medians from two groups of schools, not the exact four-year difference at any one program.
Not every public school uses two prices. Three of the 94 public schools reported the same combined figure for residents and nonresidents: Virginia Tech Carilion, Oakland University William Beaumont and the Uniformed Services University.
Private medical schools mostly charge one price regardless of state residency. In the first table above, their resident and nonresident medians sit close together. Exceptions exist. Baylor College of Medicine reported $29,697 for Texas residents and $42,793 for nonresidents.
Each state establishes its own legal residency qualifications. Under the legal residence chapter of the AMCAS Applicant Guide, which the AAMC publishes, schools may request supporting documents and applicants are responsible for researching the relevant state rules. You may select only one state of legal residence in AMCAS, although you can request a change after submitting.
Read the residency policy for every public school you are considering. Also ask whether enrolled nonresidents can later be reclassified, since the answer varies by school and state. Do not build a four-year estimate around an in-state price until you know that you qualify for it.
How Has Medical School Tuition Changed Over Time?
The same AAMC report tracks median first-year tuition, fees and health insurance from 2013-2014 through 2025-2026. The figures below are published prices and have not been adjusted for inflation.
| Academic year | Public school, in-state | Public school, out-of-state | Private school, in-state | Private school, out-of-state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-2026 | $43,648 | $70,730 | $74,661 | $76,605 |
| 2024-2025 | $42,668 | $68,558 | $72,689 | $73,682 |
| 2023-2024 | $41,737 | $67,308 | $69,673 | $70,596 |
| 2022-2023 | $40,910 | $65,744 | $67,294 | $67,855 |
| 2021-2022 | $40,742 | $65,486 | $65,499 | $66,635 |
| 2020-2021 | $39,157 | $63,638 | $63,556 | $64,457 |
| 2019-2020 | $39,052 | $64,268 | $62,581 | $63,083 |
| 2018-2019 | $38,202 | $64,054 | $61,421 | $61,982 |
| 2017-2018 | $36,817 | $62,402 | $59,605 | $60,300 |
| 2016-2017 | $36,453 | $61,405 | $57,880 | $58,733 |
| 2015-2016 | $35,286 | $60,147 | $55,880 | $56,904 |
| 2014-2015 | $34,133 | $58,797 | $53,714 | $55,044 |
| 2013-2014 | $33,220 | $56,922 | $52,218 | $53,184 |
Based on IMA’s calculations from the table above, the public in-state median rose from $33,220 to $43,648, an increase of about 31%. The public out-of-state median rose from $56,922 to $70,730, or about 24%. The private resident median increased from $52,218 to $74,661, or about 43%.
The public in-state and private resident medians increased in every year of the series. The public out-of-state median declined once, slipping from $64,268 in 2019-2020 to $63,638 in 2020-2021, before rising again.
Recent annual changes still vary by category. The average public in-state price rose 2.7% in 2025-2026 after increasing 3.5% the year before, while other reported 2025-2026 average increases ranged down to 1.5%. Do not project those percentages forward as if tuition followed a fixed path. Treat a first-year price as your starting point and ask each school how tuition has changed for students already enrolled.
Tuition-Free and Reduced-Tuition Programs
A few schools charge their students little or no tuition. IMA’s guide to tuition-free medical schools covers those programs, and its guide to paying for medical school without loans explains how scholarships and school aid reduce the published price elsewhere. The AAMC data show $0 at Kaiser Permanente because tuition is waived for students enrolling through 2026, although the school lists first-year tuition including books and supplies of $69,212 for 2027/2028. NYU Grossman appears at $4,350 because every MD student receives a full-tuition scholarship. Other scholarship programs may still appear at full price because the report lists published charges before grants and scholarships. The AAMC also notes that costs may be waived because of a school’s mission, a special scholarship or a service commitment.
Osteopathic (DO) School Tuition and Fees
The most recent AACOM Cost of Attendance Report covers 2023-24, so its DO school figures should not be treated as a same-year comparison with the 2025-2026 MD figures above. AACOM reported average first-year tuition and fees of $58,663 at private osteopathic medical colleges and $38,282 at public colleges. Across all reporting colleges, the average was $54,863.
Individual first-year tuition and fee figures in the 2023-24 workbook ranged from $26,500 to $81,913. Median four-year tuition and fees were $244,376 at private colleges and $204,930 at public colleges. Because 48 of the 59 reporting colleges were private, the overall average reflects a group weighted heavily toward private institutions.
AACOM averages in-state and out-of-state amounts when a college charges both. If you are comparing a specific public DO school with an MD school, use the residency-specific amount from the college rather than relying on the overall DO average.
Medical School Tuition in Canada
Canadian medical school tuition depends on the province, your provincial residency and whether you are a Canadian or international student. Unless noted otherwise, the figures below are for in-province residents. All amounts in this section are Canadian dollars, and other compulsory fees are added to tuition.
The Association of Faculties of Medicine of Canada (AFMC) reports year-one tuition for the session beginning in fall 2024 in its Canadian Medical Education Statistics 2024.
| Faculty of medicine | Year 1 tuition, Canadian citizen (fall 2024) | Notes | Year 1 tuition, foreign student |
|---|---|---|---|
| Memorial University of Newfoundland | $14,250 | Same in each year listed | $30,000 |
| Dalhousie University | $26,270 | Same in each year listed | Not applicable |
| Université Laval | $4,946 | Quebec resident; $15,436 for other Canadians | $42,566 |
| Université de Sherbrooke | $4,946 | Quebec resident; $15,436 for other Canadians | $46,350 |
| Université de Montréal | $4,225 | Quebec resident; $13,188 for other Canadians | Not applicable |
| McGill University | $6,231 | Quebec resident; $25,956 for other Canadians | $64,382 |
| University of Ottawa | $25,487 | Same in each year listed | Not applicable |
| Queen’s University | $23,613 | Same in each year listed | Not applicable |
| University of Toronto | $23,090 | Same in each year listed | Not applicable |
| McMaster University | $25,130 | Three-year program | Not applicable |
| Western University | $25,703 | Same in each year listed | Not applicable |
| NOSM University | $23,247 | Same in each year listed | Not applicable |
| University of Manitoba | $11,658 | $11,171 in years 2 to 4 | Not applicable |
| University of Saskatchewan | $21,056 | Same in each year listed | Not applicable |
| University of Alberta | $15,877 | Same in each year listed | Not applicable |
| University of Calgary | $21,567 | Three-year program; $20,443 in year 3 | Not applicable |
| University of British Columbia | $20,395 | Same in each year listed | Not applicable |
Outside Quebec, fall 2024 tuition for Canadian citizens ranged from $11,658 at the University of Manitoba to $26,270 at Dalhousie University. Ontario’s faculties listed first-year tuition from $23,090 at the University of Toronto to $25,703 at Western University. Western Canadian examples include $15,877 at the University of Alberta, $20,395 at the University of British Columbia and $21,567 at the University of Calgary.
Provincial residency makes the largest visible difference in Quebec. Year-one tuition was $4,225 for Quebec residents and $13,188 for other Canadians at Université de Montréal. At McGill University, the corresponding amounts were $6,231 and $25,956. Across Quebec faculties in the table above, resident rates ran from $4,225 to $6,231 while rates for other Canadians ran from $13,188 to $25,956.
International applicants face a different set of prices and options. AFMC listed a foreign student tuition fee at only four faculties: $30,000 at Memorial University of Newfoundland, $42,566 in year one at Université Laval, $46,350 at Université de Sherbrooke and $64,382 in year one at McGill University. The other faculties were marked not applicable, and AFMC states that not every Canadian faculty accepts international applications.
Use these fall 2024 amounts as a comparison point rather than a current quote. Tuition is commonly approved over the summer, so check each faculty’s own fee page for your entry year and confirm whether its listed rate applies to your citizenship and provincial residency.
Tuition and the Annual Federal Loan Limit
If you expect to rely on federal borrowing, review IMA’s medical school loans guide alongside the Federal Student Aid loan limits. For new professional student borrowers, Direct Unsubsidized Loans made on or after July 1, 2026 are limited to $50,000 per year, and Grad PLUS is eliminated.
IMA’s calculation places that annual limit $20,730 below the AAMC’s 2025-2026 public out-of-state median and $24,661 below the private resident median for tuition, fees and health insurance alone. It is $6,352 above the public in-state median, but that comparison still excludes living expenses.
This makes the tuition difference between two schools relevant to how much you may need from scholarships, savings, family or private loans. Once you have estimates for the schools on your list, the student loan repayment calculator can help you translate different borrowing amounts into estimated monthly payments.
Building a Tuition Comparison You Can Use
Start with the combined tuition, fees and health insurance figure for each school on your list. Confirm that amount on the school’s own tuition page, identify whether it applies to your residency category and then subtract any scholarship or tuition waiver the school has actually offered you.
For public schools, confirm your residency status early rather than assuming you will receive the in-state rate. Look at how each school has changed tuition for enrolled students, not just the latest first-year price. In Canada, verify both provincial residency and citizenship categories.
Finally, compare tuition with the educational and career factors that matter to you. If you are deciding whether the overall commitment makes sense, IMA’s discussion of whether medical school is worth it can help you place the price beside the demands and potential benefits of becoming a physician.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Much Is Medical School Tuition?
For 2025-2026, median first-year tuition, fees and health insurance were $43,648 for in-state students at public MD schools, $70,730 for out-of-state students at public schools and $74,661 for resident students at private schools. These are published prices before grants, scholarships or stipends.
How Much Is Medical School Tuition Per Year?
Medical school tuition is quoted by academic year, but the amount depends on school type and residency. In 2025-2026, tuition alone had first-year medians of $37,427 for public in-state students, $62,846 for public out-of-state students and $68,176 for private resident students. Required fees and health insurance increase the yearly published price.
What Is the Cheapest Medical School?
Among public MD schools charging tuition, the University of Puerto Rico had the lowest published in-state combined price at $19,686 in 2025-2026. Texas schools occupied six of the ten lowest positions. The Uniformed Services University charged no tuition, but students commission as officers and accept a service commitment. IMA’s cheapest medical schools guide provides a longer comparison.
Is Medical School Cheaper In State?
Yes, public medical schools are generally cheaper for students classified as state residents. The 2025-2026 public out-of-state median was $27,082 higher than the in-state median. Each state sets its own residency qualifications, so verify the policy and documentation requirements for every public school you are considering.
How Much Is Medical School in Canada?
For Canadian citizens outside Quebec, fall 2024 tuition ranged from C$11,658 at the University of Manitoba to C$26,270 at Dalhousie University. Quebec residents paid lower rates at Quebec faculties than other Canadians. Other compulsory fees are added, and international tuition was listed at only four faculties in the AFMC table.
Does Medical School Tuition Go Up Every Year?
Not in every category every year, but the long-term direction has been upward. From 2013-2014 through 2025-2026, the public in-state and private resident medians increased every year. The public out-of-state median declined once, in 2020-2021. Ask each school how it has changed tuition for students already enrolled rather than projecting a national percentage forward.
Is DO School Tuition Cheaper Than MD School Tuition?
It can be, particularly at a public DO school, but the available national figures cover different years and should not be treated as a direct comparison. AACOM reported average first-year tuition and fees of $38,282 at public DO colleges and $58,663 at private DO colleges in 2023-24. The AAMC’s MD figures on this page are 2025-2026 medians and include health insurance.
