What Are Post-Bacc Programs?

A postbaccalaureate program, or post-bacc program, is a degree or certificate program you can enroll in after college. These programs are typically designed to help you with the transition from undergrad to professional, graduate-level education.

Most post-bacc programs target budding medical and healthcare professionals. Students often enroll in post-bacc programs after college to earn the science prerequisites they still need to get into medical school.

You can also enroll in a post-bacc program to try to improve your grades for med school applications if you didn’t do so well in your pre-med classes while in undergrad.

Post-bacc programs cater to all kinds of students. For example, maybe you majored in a STEM field and took several science courses in college. Or maybe you only took one or two science courses because you weren’t initially planning to go into medicine.

Students of all ages enter post-bacc programs. Once you complete a program, you’ll typically receive either a certificate or master’s degree.

You can often skip doing a post-bacc by completing all medical prerequisites in college. For example, you could major in biology while taking supplemental courses in chemistry and physics.

Post-bacc programs typically last 1-2 years. And while most are in person, some are available online or offer hybrid options.

Here are some of the main types of post-bacc programs you can enter.

Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.

A pre-med post-bacc program can vary in cost depending on a number of factors, such as:

Generally, postbaccalaureate program tuition costs tens of thousands of dollars. Some online programs may be cheaper, while others may be just as or more expensive.

While student scholarships for post-bacc programs are limited, some programs do offer them. These scholarships typically require you to submit the FAFSA to prove financial need. Filing the FAFSA can also make you eligible for federal loans.

Application requirements vary depending on the post-bacc program. Typically, though, you’ll need to submit:

Many post-bacc pre-med programs also require you to submit SAT or ACT scores since you likely won’t have taken the MCAT yet. Some postbaccalaureate programs use a common application, called the PostbacCAS.

Aim to start your applications the summer before applications are due.

No. You do not need to complete a postbaccalaureate program to apply to med school, as long as you’ve already completed medical prerequisites (and earned the grades you wanted to in them).

If you’d like to change careers or strengthen your med school application, a postbaccalaureate program can be a good option. Which type of post-bacc program you enter will depend on your experience and what you hope to get out of it. For example, some programs are designed for career changers who did not take pre-med coursework in college.

A post-bacc can be considered part of your undergraduate or graduate education depending on the credential you earn after completing the program.

When writing your resume, list your post-bacc along with your undergraduate education if you complete a certificate-granting post-bacc that offers bachelor’s-level coursework. If your post-bacc culminates in a master’s degree, list that program as graduate coursework.

The Association of American Medical Colleges explains how to calculate your undergraduate GPA to include post-bacc grades.

Financial aid opportunities are more limited for postbaccalaureate programs than they are for undergraduate and graduate programs. While many institutions offer aid for a post-bacc, you’re less likely to find scholarships specifically for post-bacc programs.

Post-bacc students can take out loans to help pay for their program. Make sure to file the FAFSA every year you’ll be in school to see what loans you’re eligible for.

Spend time considering all of your financial aid options before deciding which post-bacc programs to apply for.