Last updated: July 2026.
Medical school tuition is expensive, regardless of what type of medicine you practice or where you attend medical school. We talk about lots of medical schools here on our blog, and they all have one thing in common: a hefty price tag. In addition to medical school tuition, the cost of medical school extends to room and board, transportation, food and miscellaneous university costs. That’s why, in addition to writing your personal statement and filling out your AMCAS, many medical school applicants also fill out financial aid forms.
So, exactly how much does medical school cost? That’s what we’re talking about in this article. The more informed you are regarding prices, the better decisions you can make as you apply to medical school. We’ll cover:
- The cost of medical school in the United States in 2026
- The cost of medical school in Canada
- Medical school and DO school tuition rates
- Major federal loan changes taking effect in 2026
- How to think about tuition from enrollment through loan repayment
- Tips for repaying student loans
- Frequently asked questions
Keep reading to learn everything you need to know concerning medical school tuition.
How Much Does Medical School Cost in 2026?
Not only is medical school tuition expensive, but the cost has gone up significantly in recent years. Ten years ago, you’d pay around $25,000 to attend a public university’s medical school. You’d pay about $42,000 to attend a private medical school. And those rates were for in-state medical school for residents.
Non-residents forked out $44,000 for public and private universities. It might seem smarter to attend a school in your home state so that your medical school tuition is lower. But many students opt to attend medical school in a different state. Whether for the program or the experience, paying out-of-state medical school tuition is worth it for some applicants.
Those rates were from over a decade ago. In 2025-2026, the cost of medical school in the United States has increased substantially. The average cost of medical school in the 2025-2026 academic year is $61,110, up 2.33% year over year, according to Education Data Initiative reporting on AAMC data. Median first-year tuition and fees at public medical schools now sit at $43,648 for in-state students, while private medical schools report a median of $74,661. Non-residents at public schools can expect to pay figures competitive with or exceeding private school rates.
So, how much does medical school cost for four years? According to the AAMC, the median four-year cost of attendance for the Class of 2026 is $297,745 at public schools and $408,150 at private schools. Those figures include tuition, fees, health insurance, and living expenses. On tuition alone, in-state public graduates in 2026 paid roughly $165,134 for their degree, while private school graduates paid about $262,786. Depending on your residency and specialty, it could take years to pay off your loans.
Between academic year 2005-2006 and 2025-2026, medical school tuition increased approximately 89.6%. If current trends continue, students can expect tuition costs to increase at an average annual rate of about $1,500, meaning the Class of 2030 could face even steeper totals. For a broader look at where these numbers have been heading, see our article on medical school tuition trends to know.
What 2026 Medical School Debt Actually Looks Like
Understanding the sticker price is only part of the picture. Knowing what graduates actually owe matters just as much.
According to AAMC data for the Class of 2025 (the most recent graduating class with complete data), 70% of graduates carried education debt. Among those with debt, the mean total was $223,130 and the median was $215,000, up about 5% from the prior year. Public school graduates held a mean of $210,147, while private school graduates averaged $244,964.
The distribution is worth noting: 59% of all graduates owe $200,000 or more, and 28% owe $300,000 or more. Beyond medical school loans, 27% of graduates also report pre-medical education debt (median $28,000), and 12% carry credit card debt (median $6,000). These layers of debt can shape your financial reality for a decade or longer after graduation.
There is some good news. More than half of 2025 graduates (57.6%) intend to pursue federal student loan forgiveness, with the vast majority (88.5% of those pursuing forgiveness) planning to apply for Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF). If you’re considering this route, keep in mind that PSLF requires 120 qualifying payments while working for a qualifying employer, which typically means 10 years of payments during residency and early practice.
Before you apply, it helps to know where you stand academically. The IMA Pathfinder medical school admissions calculator can help you assess your competitiveness and decide which schools fit your profile, including schools at different price points.
Major Federal Student Loan Changes Starting July 2026
If you’re planning to start medical school in 2026 or later, one of the most significant financial shifts in recent memory is already underway. The One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) eliminates the Federal Grad PLUS Loan Program effective July 1, 2026. This program has been the primary way medical students have covered costs above the standard federal loan limits. Its removal changes the borrowing landscape considerably.
What Changes for New Medical Students
Starting with the 2026-2027 academic year, Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loans for graduate students will be capped at $50,000 per year and $200,000 in total aggregate borrowing. For students at schools where annual cost of attendance exceeds $50,000 (which includes the majority of U.S. medical schools), this cap creates a gap that would previously have been covered by Grad PLUS loans.
Students who enrolled in medical school and took out a Federal Direct Loan before July 1, 2026, are grandfathered in. They can continue borrowing through the Grad PLUS Program under earlier limits, either until graduation or for up to three additional academic years, whichever comes first.
For new borrowers, repayment options are also being streamlined. Going forward, the two available plans will be a Tiered Standard Plan (with fixed repayment terms of 10 to 25 years) and a Repayment Assistance Plan (RAP), which replaces previous income-driven repayment options. RAP allows repayment terms of up to 30 years for medical school borrowers and will be the only plan eligible for PSLF for new borrowers.
The AAMC has published detailed guidance on these changes. If you are applying for the 2027 entry cycle or later, understanding this new structure is essential to your financial planning.
What This Means Practically
If you attend a school with an annual cost of attendance of $75,000 (a common figure at private schools), the $50,000 annual cap leaves a $25,000 gap per year, or $100,000 over four years, that you will need to cover through other means. That might include institutional aid, private loans, scholarships, savings, or choosing a less expensive program.
This makes the choice of school, the pursuit of medical school scholarships, and careful budgeting more consequential than ever. It also means that for the first time in years, medical school tuition is not just a sticker price issue; it’s a borrowing-access issue.
From Tuition to Loan Payment: Thinking About the Full Cost
Many students fixate on annual tuition when comparing schools, but the real question is: what will my monthly payment be after I graduate, and for how long?
Consider this example. A student who graduates with $250,000 in federal loans at the current 2026-2027 interest rate of 8.07% on a standard 10-year repayment plan would face monthly payments of roughly $3,040. During residency, when the median first-year stipend is about $66,986, that payment would consume more than half of gross monthly income. That’s why most residents enroll in income-driven repayment plans (or the new RAP) to lower payments during training.
If you extend repayment to 25 years under the new Tiered Standard Plan, monthly payments drop, but total interest paid over the life of the loan increases substantially. A $250,000 balance at 8% over 25 years would result in more than $325,000 in interest alone.
To see how different tuition amounts, interest rates, and repayment timelines affect your actual monthly payment, use the IMA Student Loan Repayment Calculator. It lets you plug in your expected debt, interest rate, and repayment period to get a concrete picture of what your post-graduation finances could look like. Running these numbers before you choose a school can help you weigh a $40,000-per-year program against a $70,000-per-year program in terms that actually matter: what you’ll pay each month, for how many years.
For context, interest rates for federal loans disbursed between July 1, 2025, and June 30, 2026, are 7.94% for Direct Unsubsidized loans and 8.94% for Grad PLUS loans. For loans disbursed starting July 1, 2026, the Direct Unsubsidized rate rises to 8.07%. Origination fees for 2026-2027 are 1.057% for Stafford loans and 4.228% for PLUS loans (for grandfathered borrowers).
Tuition-Free and Reduced-Tuition Medical Schools in 2026
Not every medical school comes with a six-figure price tag. A small but growing number of schools now offer full-tuition scholarships or tuition-free education. Here are the programs with the most notable commitments as of 2026:
- NYU Grossman School of Medicine (NY): Full-tuition scholarships to all MD students regardless of financial need. The 2025-2026 scholarship covers $64,250 per student annually.
- Albert Einstein College of Medicine (NY): Beginning with the August 2024 entering class, all medical students receive free tuition.
- Kaiser Permanente Bernard J. Tyson School of Medicine (CA): Tuition and fees are waived for the first seven cohorts, through the class entering fall 2026.
- Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine (OH): All students (up to 32 per year) receive a full-tuition scholarship, saving $72,526 per year.
- Uniformed Services University F. Edward Hébert School of Medicine (MD): Always tuition-free. Students receive active-duty officer pay during enrollment, roughly $86,500 to $88,000 depending on dependent status.
- Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine (MD): Beginning fall 2024, tuition is free for students from families earning under $300,000 per year. Living expenses are also covered for families earning under $175,000.
- Alice L. Walton School of Medicine (AR): This new school welcomed its inaugural class of 48 students in July 2025 and will cover tuition for its first five cohorts. Listed tuition before the waiver is $72,010.
Applying to these schools is competitive, but they’re worth knowing about, especially now that Grad PLUS loans are being eliminated. You can learn more about the broader landscape in our guide to the cost of medical school.
Medical School Tuition / DO School Tuition in the United States
It’s important to know the cost of each medical school you’re considering. Here’s the breakdown for every medical school in the United States. Note that the tuition figures in the tables below reflect the most recent data available at the time of publication. Because tuition changes annually, always verify current rates directly with each school or through the AAMC’s MSAR database before making financial decisions.
Select Fields:
School Name
Out of State Tuition
In-State Tuition
MD DO
| Name of School | State | Out of State Tuition | In-State Tuition |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of South Carolina School of Medicine – Greenville | SC | 91557 | 47295 |
| University of South Carolina School of Medicine – Columbia | SC | 91307 | 47045 |
| Northeast Ohio Medical University | OH | 86164 | 46694 |
| University of Illinois College of Medicine | IL | 84759 | 51582 |
| University of Colorado School of Medicine | CO | 80974 | 45020 |
| University of South Dakota Sanford School of Medicine | SD | 80590 | 36204 |
| University of Utah School of Medicine | UT | 80511 | 43941 |
| University of Connecticut School of Medicine | CT | 79996 | 45916 |
| University of Hawaii John A. Burns School of Medicine | HI | 76765 | 42109 |
| University of Maryland School of Medicine | MD | 76445 | 47350 |
| Oregon Health & Science University School of Medicine | OR | 76393 | 52565 |
| University of Kentucky College of Medicine | KY | 73854 | 40462 |
| Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth | NH | 73659 | 73659 |
| Stony Brook University Renaissance School of Medicine | NY | 73206 | 51716 |
| Florida International University Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine | FL | 72439 | 41067 |
| Tufts University School of Medicine | MA | 71752 | 71752 |
| University of Missouri – Columbia School of Medicine | MO | 71612 | 36710 |
| University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine | CA | 71353 | 71353 |
| Florida Atlantic University Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine | FL | 71140 | 34998 |
| Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons | NY | 70925 | 71107 |
| Rutgers New Jersey Medical School | NJ | 70879 | 47342 |
| Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School | NJ | 70828 | 47292 |
| Harvard Medical School | MA | 70709 | 70709 |
| SUNY – Buffalo Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences | NY | 70557 | 49067 |
| Tulane University School of Medicine | LA | 70492 | 70492 |
| Brown University The Warren Alpert Medical School | RI | 70491 | 70491 |
| Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine | OH | 70339 | 70339 |
| Hackensack-Meridian School of Medicine at Seton Hall University | NJ | 70227 | 70227 |
| SUNY – Downstate Medical Center College of Medicine | NY | 70258 | 48768 |
| The University of Toledo College of Medicine and Life Sciences | OH | 69971 | 38125 |
| SUNY – Upstate Medical University | NY | 69867 | 48377 |
| Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine | PA | 69839 | 63539 |
| Northwestern University The Feinberg School of Medicine | IL | 69658 | 69658 |
| University of Massachusetts T.H. Chan School of Medicine | MA | 69500 | 43181 |
| University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences College of Medicine | AR | 69487 | 37317 |
| University of Washington School of Medicine | WA | 69358 | 38926 |
| Stanford University School of Medicine | CA | 69239 | 69239 |
| Perelman School of Medicine University of Pennsylvania | PA | 69231 | 69231 |
| The University of Vermont Larner College of Medicine | VT | 69148 | 42048 |
| Wayne State University School of Medicine | MI | 68732 | 41354 |
| Yale School of Medicine | CT | 68650 | 68650 |
| Weill Cornell Medical College | NY | 68620 | 68620 |
| Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine | MO | 68480 | 68480 |
| University of Oklahoma College of Medicine | OK | 68460 | 34132 |
| University of Alabama at Birmingham Marnix E. Heersink School of Medicine | AL | 68435 | 35423 |
| University of Louisville School of Medicine | KY | 68028 | 46276 |
| University of Kansas School of Medicine | KS | 67980 | 38785 |
| Ponce Health Sciences University School of Medicine | PR | 67975 | 44793 |
| Georgetown University School of Medicine | DC | 67875 | 67875 |
| Duke University School of Medicine | NC | 67294 | 67294 |
| University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry | NY | 67198 | 67198 |
| Nova Southeastern University Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Allopathic Medicine | FL | 67192 | 60473 |
| Carle Illinois College of Medicine | IL | 67159 | 54425 |
| Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine | VA | 67159 | 43643 |
| Central Michigan University College of Medicine | MI | 66867 | 46757 |
| Cooper Medical School of Rowan University | NJ | 66530 | 42769 |
| Louisiana State University – New Orleans School of Medicine | LA | 66391 | 38213 |
| West Virginia University School of Medicine | WV | 66324 | 34815 |
| Frederick P. Whiddon College of Medicine at the University of South Alabama | AL | 66128 | 35124 |
| Boston University Aram V. Chobanian & Edward Avedisian School of Medicine | MA | 65890 | 65890 |
| University of Missouri – Kansas City School of Medicine | MO | 65867 | 33977 |
| Indiana University School of Medicine | IN | 65503 | 40120 |
| University of Tennessee Health Science Center College of Medicine | TN | 65443 | 39519 |
| University of Nevada Las Vegas School of Medicine | NV | 65428 | 36428 |
| Chicago Medical School at Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science | IL | 65413 | 65413 |
| University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine | PA | 65284 | 63038 |
| Vanderbilt University School of Medicine | TN | 65259 | 65259 |
| Quinnipiac University Frank H. Netter MD School of Medicine | CT | 65180 | 65180 |
| Wake Forest School of Medicine | NC | 65048 | 65048 |
| Creighton University School of Medicine | NE | 64996 | 64996 |
| Loyola University of Chicago Stritch School of Medicine | IL | 64964 | 64964 |
| George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences | DC | 64870 | 64870 |
| University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine | NC | 64712 | 37318 |
| Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University | PA | 64494 | 64494 |
| California Northstate University College of Medicine | CA | 64419 | 64419 |
| New York Medical College | NY | 64053 | 64053 |
| Florida State University College of Medicine | FL | 63996 | 29444 |
| Albert Einstein College of Medicine | NY | 63924 | 63924 |
| Louisiana State University – Shreveport School of Medicine | LA | 63838 | 32016 |
| University of Michigan Medical School | MI | 63638 | 45188 |
| Drexel University College of Medicine | PA | 63573 | 63573 |
| Western Michigan University Homer Stryker M.D. School of Medicine | MI | 63500 | 63500 |
| Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai | NY | 63462 | 63462 |
| Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University | GA | 63453 | 34529 |
| University of Nevada Reno School of Medicine | NV | 63366 | 35048 |
| Eastern Virginia Medical School | VA | 63318 | 40041 |
| TCU and UNTHSC School of Medicine | TX | 63122 | 63122 |
| California University of Science and Medicine | CA | 62891 | 62891 |
| University of North Dakota School of Medicine and Health Sciences | ND | 62865 | 34762 |
| Marshall University Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine | WV | 62843 | 30059 |
| Temple University Lewis Katz School of Medicine | PA | 62854 | 59598 |
| University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine | IL | 62439 | 62439 |
| Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine | MD | 62397 | 62397 |
| University of Virginia School of Medicine | VA | 62360 | 51554 |
| University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine | IA | 62069 | 41294 |
| Saint Louis University School of Medicine | MO | 61818 | 61818 |
| Meharry Medical College School of Medicine | TN | 61795 | 61795 |
| Medical College of Wisconsin | WI | 61765 | 58065 |
| Albany Medical College | NY | 61741 | 61741 |
| Loma Linda University School of Medicine | CA | 61600 | 61600 |
| Wright State University Boonshoft School of Medicine | OH | 61351 | 42473 |
| Mayo Medical School | MN | 60400 | 60400 |
| Michigan State University College of Human Medicine | MI | 60008 | 33254 |
| University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health | WI | 59964 | 43788 |
| University of Central Florida College of Medicine | FL | 58979 | 32105 |
| University of Arizona College of Medicine – Tucson | AZ | 58239 | 37639 |
| University of California – Davis School of Medicine | CA | 58144 | 45899 |
| Hofstra Northwell School of Medicine | NY | 58129 | 58129 |
| Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine and Research Institute | VA | 58022 | 58022 |
| University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix | AZ | 57705 | 37105 |
| University of Minnesota Medical School | MN | 57358 | 41328 |
| Rush Medical College of Rush University | IL | 57241 | 57241 |
| Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine | MI | 56522 | 56522 |
| University of California – Los Angeles David Geffen School of Medicine | CA | 55971 | 43726 |
| Emory University School of Medicine | GA | 55864 | 55864 |
| The Ohio State University College of Medicine | OH | 55558 | 30638 |
| Medical University of South Carolina College of Medicine | SC | 55434 | 33434 |
| University of California – Riverside School of Medicine | CA | 55090 | 42665 |
| University of California – San Francisco School of Medicine | CA | 55036 | 42791 |
| University of South Florida Health Morsani College of Medicine | FL | 54916 | 33726 |
| University of California – Irvine School of Medicine | CA | 54762 | 42517 |
| University of California – San Diego School of Medicine | CA | 54483 | 42238 |
| Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine | PA | 54473 | 54786 |
| University of Cincinnati College of Medicine | OH | 53990 | 35726 |
| University of Miami Miller School of Medicine | FL | 52639 | 52639 |
| Morehouse School of Medicine | GA | 51671 | 51671 |
| University of Florida College of Medicine | FL | 51413 | 39157 |
| Howard University College of Medicine | DC | 49862 | 49862 |
| University of New Mexico School of Medicine | NM | 49554 | 21477 |
| Universidad Central Del Caribe School of Medicine | PR | 49067 | 41062 |
| San Juan Bautista School of Medicine | PR | 47780 | 37780 |
| East Tennessee State University Quillen College of Medicine | TN | 47627 | 37777 |
| University of Texas Medical Branch School of Medicine | TX | 42349 | 27639 |
| Baylor College of Medicine | TX | 40943 | 27843 |
| University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio Joe R. and Teresa Lozano Long School of Medicine | TX | 40416 | 23750 |
| University of Houston Tilman J. Fertitta Family College of Medicine | TX | 40177 | 27077 |
| University of Texas Southwestern Medical School | TX | 37986 | 24886 |
| University of Texas at Austin Dell Medical School | TX | 36933 | 22613 |
| Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center School of Medicine – Lubbock | TX | 36476 | 22976 |
| University of Texas Rio Grande Valley School of Medicine | TX | 35792 | 22692 |
| Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center Paul L. Foster School of Medicine | TX | 35505 | 20633 |
| Texas A&M Health Science Center College of Medicine | TX | 33870 | 20770 |
| University of Nebraska College of Medicine | NE | 33844 | 22881 |
| University of Puerto Rico School of Medicine | PR | 33786 | 17786 |
| University of Texas McGovern Medical School at Houston | TX | 33067 | 24814 |
| New York University Grossman School of Medicine | NY | 10200 | 10200 |
| New York University Long Island School of Medicine | NY | 10170 | 10170 |
| Alice L. Walton School of Medicine | AR | 0 | 0 |
| Kaiser Permanente Bernard J. Tyson School of Medicine | CA | 0 | 0 |
| Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences F. Edward Hebert School of Medicine | MD | 0 | 0 |
| CUNY School of Medicine | NY | N/A | 41912 |
| East Carolina University Brody School of Medicine | NC | N/A | 25859 |
| Mercer University School of Medicine | GA | N/A | 43783 |
| Southern Illinois University School of Medicine | IL | N/A | 39142 |
| University of Mississippi School of Medicine | MS | N/A | 35287 |
| Washington State University Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine | WA | N/A | 40826 |
| Name of School | State | Out of State Tuition | In-State Tuition |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine of Midwestern University | IL | 74035 | 74035 |
| Arizona College of Osteopathic Medicine of Midwestern University | AZ | 71833 | 71833 |
| Rowan University School of Osteopathic Medicine | NJ | 69668 | 44683 |
| Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine | MI | 65417 | 47060 |
| Nova Southeastern University Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Osteopathic Medicine | FL | 63953 | 57234 |
| New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine | NY | 62066 | 62066 |
| A.T. Still University of Health Sciences School of Osteopathic Medicine in Arizona | AZ | 60802 | 60802 |
| University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine | ME | 60690 | 60690 |
| Noorda College of Osteopathic Medicine | UT | 59437 | 59437 |
| A.T. Still University of Health Sciences Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine | MO | 59368 | 59368 |
| Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine – New York | NY | 59150 | 59150 |
| Sam Houston State University College of Osteopathic Medicine | TX | 59125 | 59125 |
| California Health Sciences University College of Osteopathic Medicine | CA | 59125 | 59125 |
| Burrell College of Osteopathic Medicine at New Mexico State University | NM | 58790 | 58790 |
| Western University of Health Sciences College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific | CA & OR | 59560 | 59560 |
| Rocky Vista University College of Osteopathic Medicine | CO & UT | 58530 | 58530 |
| Touro University Nevada College of Osteopathic Medicine | NV | 58350 | 58350 |
| Touro University College of Osteopathic Medicine – California | CA | 58100 | 58100 |
| University of the Incarnate Word School of Osteopathic Medicine | TX | 58000 | 58000 |
| Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences College of Osteopathic Medicine | WA | 57650 | 57650 |
| Campbell University Jerry M. Wallace School of Osteopathic Medicine | NC | 56600 | 56600 |
| Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences College of Osteopathic Medicine | OK | 56386 | 28884 |
| Alabama College of Osteopathic Medicine | AL | 55440 | 55440 |
| Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine | OH | 55396 | 39600 |
| Idaho College of Osteopathic Medicine | ID | 55270 | 55270 |
| West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine | WV | 54910 | 23672 |
| Marian University College of Osteopathic Medicine | IN | 53920 | 53920 |
| Des Moines University College of Osteopathic Medicine | IA | 53809 | 53809 |
| Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine | PA & GA | 53502 | 53502 |
| Lincoln Memorial University DeBusk College of Osteopathic Medicine | TN | 53200 | 53200 |
| Liberty University College of Osteopathic Medicine | VA | 50985 | 50985 |
| Kansas City University College of Osteopathic Medicine | MO | 49130 | 49130 |
| University of Pikeville – Kentucky College of Osteopathic Medicine | KY | 48850 | 48850 |
| Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine | AL, LA, SC, & VA | 46900 | 46900 |
| Arkansas College of Osteopathic Medicine | AR | 46450 | 46450 |
| William Carey University College of Osteopathic Medicine | MS | 44000 | 44000 |
| Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine – Elmira | NY | 39900 | 39900 |
| University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth – Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine | TX | 38836 | 23148 |
| Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine – Bradenton | FL | 37840 | 36030 |
| Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine – Erie & Seton Hill | PA | 37200 | 37200 |
The average 2025 tuition and fees for osteopathic medicine programs is approximately $56,053 for state residents and $59,990 for out-of-state students. DO programs have continued to expand; according to the AACOM, there are now 48 accredited colleges of osteopathic medicine delivering instruction at 75 teaching locations across 36 states and educating more than 38,000 future physicians. In the 2026 NRMP Main Residency Match, DO seniors reached a record 93.2% PGY-1 match rate, nearly equal to the 93.5% rate for U.S. MD seniors.
Medical School Tuition / DO School Tuition in Canada
Are you interested in applying to medical schools in Canada? We’ve compiled this next list for Canadian applicants or for American students who want to attend medical school in Canada. Canada has 17 accredited medical schools, far fewer than the approximately 160 MD-granting and 48 DO-granting schools in the United States. For Canadian citizens and permanent residents, annual tuition typically ranges from $13,000 to $26,000 CAD. International students, where eligible, can face rates upward of $95,000 CAD per year. Once living expenses in major cities like Toronto or Vancouver are factored in, total four-year costs can exceed $300,000 CAD.
Select Fields:
Canadian Province
In-State Tuition
Out of State Tuition
| Name of School | Canadian Province | In-State Tuition | Out of State Tuition |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary | Alberta | $16,063.02 | $16,063.02 |
| Dalhouise University Faculty of Medicine | Nova Scotia | $23,000 | $23,000 |
| Faculty of Medicine Universite Laval | Quebec | $4,070 | $12,550 |
| McGill University Faculty of Medicine | Quebec | $8,036.70 | $19,720.05 |
| Memorial University Faculty of Medicine | Newfoundland | $13,260 | $13,260 |
| Michael G. DeGroote School of Medicine at McMaster University | Ontario | $26,126.64 | $26,126.64 |
| Northern Ontario School of Medicine | Ontario | $24,173.90 | $24,173.90 |
| Queen’s University School of Medicine | Ontario | $27,483 | $27,483 |
| Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry at Western University | Ontario | $25,456 | $25,456 |
| University of Alberta Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry | Alberta | $12,887.20 | $12,887.20 |
| University of British Columbia Faculty of Medicine | British Columbia | $21,006 | $21,006 |
| University of Manitoba Max Rady College of Medicine | Manitoba | $10,000 | $10,000 |
| University of Montreal Faculty of Medicine | Montreal | $3,601 | $11,193 |
| University of Ottawa Faculty of Medicine | Ottawa | $28,500 | $28,500 |
| University of Saskatchewan College of Medicine | Saskatchewan | $18,945 | $18,945 |
| University of Sherbrooke Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences | Sherbrooke | $4,767 | $12,285 |
| University of Toronto Faculty of Medicine | Toronto | $24,835.40 | $24,835.40 |
The Hidden Costs Beyond Medical School Tuition
The numbers in the tables above represent tuition and fees, but the total cost of attending medical school goes well beyond those line items. When the AAMC calculates cost of attendance, it includes living expenses, transportation, health insurance, and personal costs. That’s why the median first-year cost of attendance rises to $75,654 at public schools and $106,787 at private schools, even though median tuition alone is $43,648 and $74,661 respectively.
Before you even start medical school, there are significant costs. MCAT registration is $355 for 2026 testing dates. AMCAS fees for the 2027 cycle are $180 for the first school and $48 for each additional school. With applicants applying to an average of 19.5 schools, primary application fees alone can run over $1,000. Secondary application fees, interview travel, and USMLE exam fees ($695 per exam in 2026) add thousands more.
If you are still building your application and want to understand what to know before getting into medical school, it’s worth factoring in these pre-enrollment costs when you plan your budget. Students who prepare financially before they apply tend to feel less pressure once they’re in.
Tips for Repaying Your Student Loans
Medical school costs quickly add up. Even if you have savings, scholarships and family to help, you’ll likely need to take out some student loans. So, instead of freezing at the very idea of student loans, let’s look at ways to address them.
Federal Student Loans
There are two types of student loans: federal and private. For students who borrowed before July 1, 2026, there are several options for repaying federal student loans.
- Income-driven repayment: This is a good option if you want to repay your student loans based on your income. You generally have a lower monthly payment this way.
- Student loan forbearance: This option allows you to temporarily stop making payments. Situations like a cancer diagnosis, loss of a job, insufficient income or being active duty in the military can grant you student loan forbearance.
- Debt consolidation: If you have a ton of student loans with varying interest rates and due dates, you can apply to consolidate them. This will combine all your loans into one and allow you to make one monthly payment at a rate you can afford.
- Loan forgiveness or cancellation: This option is usually only available to government, federal or state employees and individuals who work for non-profits.
For new borrowers starting after July 1, 2026, repayment options are different. The two available plans going forward are the Tiered Standard Plan and the Repayment Assistance Plan (RAP). RAP is the only income-driven option and the only plan that qualifies for Public Service Loan Forgiveness. If you expect to work in academic medicine, at a nonprofit hospital, or for a government agency during or after residency, RAP plus PSLF could substantially reduce what you ultimately pay.
Private Loans
Private loans work differently than federal loans, so repayment options are different. We can’t advise you on how these repayment options work because every private loan provider is different. You’ll need to contact your student loan provider to know your repayment options.
But we can offer some repayment tips! There are practical ways you can pay off your student loans. These tips work for any type of private (or federal, for that matter) loan.
- Work part-time while you’re in school. Having some income coming in while you’re in medical school can help you stay on top of your student loans. If you want to immerse yourself in medicine 24/7, we recommend finding a position as a TA or an RA. This will help pad your resume while keeping your loans under control.
You can also work a part-time job at a fast-food restaurant or retail store. These jobs are often flexible with school schedules. Working while you’re in medical school, whether on or off of your campus, shows hard work, tenacity and responsibility.
- Learn how to budget. It’s easy for finances to get out of hand. There are budgeting apps that you can easily download onto your phone. That, or you can use a traditional spreadsheet or notebook. Keep track of the income you have coming in, as well as your expenses. Set aside part of your monthly income for student loan payments. If nothing else, you can pay down the interest.
- Live as frugally as possible. There’s no substitute for keeping your expenses down. The less money you spend, the more money you make. You can use the money you save to pay down your student loans.
- Make lump-sum payments. In addition to paying down your interest and living frugally, you can use any excess money you have to make a lump-sum payment. These payments can be irregular, just whenever you have extra money. They can be for any amount but are generally larger payments.
Following these tips might not seem to make that big of a difference. But as you work hard over time, you’ll see a difference.
How to Think About School Choice and Medical School Tuition Together
Choosing a medical school based on cost alone is rarely the right call. But ignoring cost entirely isn’t smart either. Here are a few practical considerations that can help you weigh tuition against other factors.
Residency status matters more than ever. The difference between in-state and out-of-state tuition at public medical schools can be $20,000 to $45,000 per year. Over four years, that’s the equivalent of an entire house down payment. If you have strong in-state options, they deserve serious consideration. That said, if a specific out-of-state program aligns with your specialty interests or offers institutional scholarships, the extra cost may be justified.
Rankings are not the only measure of value. A school’s reputation matters, but so does match rate in your desired specialty, research opportunities, clinical exposure, location, and financial aid offerings. Our article on why medical school ranking doesn’t always matter goes into this in more detail.
Run the numbers before you commit. Use the IMA Student Loan Repayment Calculator to compare what your monthly payments would look like for different debt amounts. A $200,000 debt versus a $350,000 debt produces very different financial realities during residency and early practice. Seeing those numbers concretely can help you decide whether a less expensive school makes more sense for your situation.
Don’t overlook three-year programs. A growing number of schools offer accelerated three-year MD programs that can reduce total tuition costs by 25%. Fewer schools offer them, and they’re competitive, but they’re worth researching if you’re already committed to a primary care specialty. You can learn more in our article on three-year medical school programs in the United States.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does medical school cost in the United States in 2026?
Medical school costs in the United States vary based on whether you attend a public or private university and whether you have in-state residency status. For the 2025-2026 academic year, median first-year tuition and fees are approximately $43,648 at public medical schools and $74,661 at private medical schools. The median four-year cost of attendance for the Class of 2026 is $297,745 at public schools and $408,150 at private schools, according to AAMC data. These figures include tuition, fees, health insurance, and estimated living expenses.
How much does medical school cost in Canada?
Medical school costs an average of $13,000 to $26,000 CAD per year for Canadian citizens and permanent residents. The province of Ontario has the highest average rates. International students at Canadian medical schools, where eligible, can face tuition upward of $95,000 CAD per year. With living expenses, the total four-year cost can exceed $300,000 CAD in expensive cities like Toronto or Vancouver.
Can I afford medical school? And is it even worth it?
Medical school costs quickly add up. Between the sticker shock and the mountain of applications for scholarships, grants and loans, you may question whether you even want to attend medical school.
Is it worth it? The answer to this question entirely depends on your reasons for becoming a doctor. Do you want to help others? Do you feel like there’s a purpose for you in medicine? If so, then getting into medical school (and getting through it!) will likely be worth it to you.
But if you’re just in it for the money, then it might not be worth all the effort. You can find other rewarding careers that will earn (over time) as much as doctors in some specialties.
There is also a light at the end of the tunnel. Most physicians earn enough money to pay back their student loans within several years. Once you’ve paid back your student loans, you can enjoy your salary. You’ll feel like you make significantly more once your student loans are paid off!
How long will it take for me to pay off my loans?
It will probably take you at least 10 years to pay off your student loans. If you subspecialize and have a longer residency, then it could take even longer. Standard federal repayment plans range from 10 to 25 years. The new Repayment Assistance Plan (RAP) for post-July 2026 borrowers allows terms of up to 30 years for medical school debt. Over 57% of recent graduates plan to pursue Public Service Loan Forgiveness, which requires 120 qualifying monthly payments (roughly 10 years) while working for a qualifying employer.
How much do Ivy League medical schools cost?
Medical school tuition for the Ivy Leagues and top research universities is usually in the $60,000 to $75,000 per year range. You can check out our definitive guides for Brown University, Stanford University, Duke University, Harvard University and Johns Hopkins University to see average rates for these schools. However, several of these institutions now offer substantial need-based aid. Johns Hopkins, for example, covers full tuition for families earning under $300,000 per year.
What is included in medical school tuition and fees?
Medical school tuition includes the cost of your classes. You pay a certain amount for each course credit that you take. Fees are associated charges that you must pay the university. Medical school tuition and fees do not cover other expenses. Housing, transportation, food, health insurance, and supplies like scrubs and medical equipment are all additional costs to consider.
So, if a university advertises $40,000 yearly in tuition and fees, anticipate paying more like $60,000 per year. After all, you do need a place to sleep at night and a doctor to go to when you get sick.
How has the elimination of Grad PLUS loans changed medical school financing?
Starting July 1, 2026, the Federal Grad PLUS Loan Program is no longer available to new borrowers. Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loans are now capped at $50,000 per year and $200,000 total. For students at schools where annual costs exceed $50,000, this creates a gap that must be filled through institutional aid, private loans, scholarships, or savings. Students already enrolled before July 1, 2026, are grandfathered into the prior system for up to three years or until graduation.
How do I pay for medical school?
First, we recommend saving as much money as you can. As soon as you know you want to be a doctor, you should start saving. You can do this by working full-time during the summer months or part-time during the school year. In addition to saving your own money, you can also ask family and friends to contribute to your medical school fund.
Next, apply for scholarships and grants. Unlike student loans, you don’t need to pay these back. Any scholarship or grant that’s awarded to you is free money. You can apply for as many scholarships and grants as you can find. Some students have funded their entire education with scholarships and grants.
Finally, apply for loans. You have to pay these back with interest, so we only recommend this option as a last resort. We also highly recommend applying for public, federal student loans. These loans have better repayment terms and lower interest rates than private loans. Only apply for private loans if you really need them, and be especially mindful of this now that the Grad PLUS program has been eliminated for new borrowers.
Tell me about the cheapest medical school out there!
We can’t tell you which medical school is the cheapest because the cost of attendance varies significantly based on residency. For example, an in-state student might pay $20,000 per year in tuition at a Texas public school, while an out-of-state student at that same school could pay $40,000. That’s a $20,000 difference per year simply based on residency status. Then, you have to add in the cost of living.
We recommend researching the schools you’re interested in attending. A Google search like, “affordable medical schools in [your state]” can help you find available options. Many medical schools have a financial calculator on their website. You can plug in your residency status, when you’ll be enrolled and other select information. The calculator will generate an estimated cost for you.
Should I attend a public or private university for medical school?
We can’t answer this question for you. It really is a personal decision that you’ll need to make based on your circumstances. Having said that, we have some tips you can use as a guide for making your decision.
First, private medical school tuition is usually higher. Out-of-state tuition for a public university is often comparable to tuition at a private university. You could be looking at tens of thousands more per year depending on the school.
But attending a private school could be worth it if you want to be part of a specific program. You might also consider the medical school’s facilities, technology, teacher-student ratio and other resources.
If you want the most affordable education you can find, attend a public university in your state. If you want the highest quality education you can find, research schools in your state first, and then branch out to search for other schools.
It might surprise you to find that a public university in your state could offer exactly what you’re looking for. Or, you might decide that paying a higher price is worth it to enroll in a specific program.
Preparing for Your Application and Your Finances
It’s no secret that medical school isn’t cheap. But just because it’s expensive doesn’t mean you should give up on following your goals. There are real ways to pay medical school tuition. There are also multiple ways to manage student loans, should you need them to get through medical school.
Feeling overwhelmed? We understand. It’s a lot to process. Start by getting clear on where you stand as an applicant. The IMA Pathfinder medical school admissions calculator can help you identify schools that match your profile, and from there, you can compare costs and build a realistic school list. If you want foundational guidance on building your application, our Premed 101 guide is a good starting point.
While you’re here, we recommend checking out our series of definitive guides to getting into medical school. We’ve covered Ivy League colleges with notoriously low acceptance rates and high tuition prices. But we’ve also covered medical schools that are easier to get into and come with lower tuition rates. Check out what those schools have to offer.
- University of Oklahoma College of Medicine
- Marshall University Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine
- Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University
- Georgetown University Medical School
- Yale School of Medicine
- West Virginia University School of Medicine
- West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine
- Indiana University School of Medicine
- Des Moines University College of Osteopathic Medicine
- University of Iowa Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine
- Marian University College of Osteopathic Medicine
- Meharry Medical College
- Howard University College of Medicine
- University of Kansas School of Medicine (KUMC)
- Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science College of Medicine
- Loma Linda University School of Medicine
- John A. Burns School of Medicine (JABSOM)
- Kansas College of Osteopathic Medicine (KansasCOM)
- UC Irvine School of Medicine
- Nova Southeastern University College of Allopathic Medicine
- Florida Atlantic University Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine
- Touro University Nevada College of Osteopathic Medicine
- University of Miami Miller School of Medicine
- Arkansas College of Osteopathic Medicine (ARCOM)
- University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS)
- Tulane University School of Medicine
- LSU Health New Orleans School of Medicine
- LSU Shreveport Medical School
- Kirk Kerkorian School of Medicine at UNLV
- University of Nevada Reno School of Medicine
- University of Arizona College of Medicine-Tucson
- University of Arizona College of Medicine-Phoenix
- Burrell College of Osteopathic Medicine (BCOM)
- The University of New Mexico School of Medicine
- Alabama College of Osteopathic Medicine (ACOM)
- University of South Alabama College of Medicine
- University of Alabama School of Medicine
- FIU College of Medicine
- UCF College of Medicine
- USF Morsani College of Medicine
- Florida State University College of Medicine
- Morehouse School of Medicine
- Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University
- Mercer University School of Medicine (MUSM)
- Campbell University School of Osteopathic Medicine (CUSOM)
- ECU Brody School of Medicine
- Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine (VCOM)
- University of South Carolina Medical School
- Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC)
- Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University
- Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (PCOM)
- Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine (GCSOM)
- Penn State Medical School
- CUNY School of Medicine
- SUNY Downstate Medical School
- NYIT College of Osteopathic Medicine
- NYU Long Island School of Medicine
- TOURO College of Osteopathic Medicine
- Albany Medical College
- Norton College of Medicine at Upstate Medical University
- Jacobs School of Medicine at the University at Buffalo
- Hofstra Zucker School of Medicine
- Weill Medical College of Cornell University
- University of Rochester Medical School
- Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
- Renaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook University
- Albert Einstein College of Medicine
- Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine
- Northeast Ohio Medical University (NEOMED)
- University of Cincinnati College of Medicine
- University of Toledo College of Medicine
- Wright State University Boonshoft School of Medicine
- Ohio State University College of Medicine
- Rowan University School of Osteopathic Medicine
- Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine (HMSOM)
- Rutgers New Jersey Medical School (NJMS)
- Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School
- Cooper Medical School of Rowan University (CMSRU)
- A.T. Still University Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine
- Saint Louis University School of Medicine
- University of Missouri Medical School
- Kansas City University (KCU)
- UMKC School of Medicine
- New York Medical College
- University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine
- University of Wisconsin Medical School
- VCU School of Medicine
- University of Maryland School of Medicine
- Case Western Medical School
- University of North Carolina Medical School
- University of Florida Medical School
- Emory University School of Medicine
- Boston University College of Medicine
- California University of Science and Medicine
- UC San Diego Medical School
- California Northstate University College of Medicine
- Touro University of California
- CHSU College of Osteopathic Medicine
- UC Davis School of Medicine
- Harvard Medical School
- UC Riverside School of Medicine
- USC Keck School of Medicine
- UT Southwestern Medical School
- Long School of Medicine at UT Health San Antonio
- University of the Incarnate Word School of Osteopathic Medicine
- UT Austin’s Dell Medical School
- UTMB School of Medicine
- McGovern Medical School at UT Health
- Johns Hopkins School of Medicine
- The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley School of Medicine
- UNT Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine
- University of Houston College of Medicine
- Texas A&M College of Medicine
- Johns Hopkins Medical School
- Baylor College of Medicine
- George Washington University School of Medicine
- Vanderbilt University School of Medicine
- St. George’s University School of Medicine
- Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine (in Pennsylvania)
- Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University
- Wake Forest University School of Medicine
- Western University of Health Sciences (in California)
- Drexel University College of Medicine
- Stritch School of Medicine at Loyola University Chicago
- Perelman School of Medicine
- UCLA Medical School
- NYU Medical School
- Washington University School of Medicine
Good luck on your path to medical school. We believe in you and your ability to become a great doctor.