How Much Does Medical School Cost?

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.^{Note Reference [1]}

This report covers the average cost of medical school, including how much students spend on the application process.

The average cost of medical school ranges from around $40,500 to $66,200 per year.^{Note Reference [1]} Average costs tend to be lowest for in-state residents at public colleges.

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.

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.

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.

The country’s two least expensive medical schools do not charge students tuition, fees, or health insurance costs.

The average cost listed below includes health insurance, which may be waived for some students.

One medical school application costs $175.^{Note Reference [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:

Medical schools generally require prospective students to take the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) to apply.

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.^{Note Reference [7]}

Also, many medical schools require applicants to submit a second or supplementary application.

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:^{Note Reference [3]}

Many colleges require students to complete additional school-by-school assessments or exams, such as Casper, a situational judgment test.^{Note Reference [8]} Students may need to pay additional fees to take and submit these assessments.

In 2019, 62% of medical students received scholarships or grants for their education.^{Note Reference [2]} Students generally received more funding to attend private schools than public schools.

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:^{Note Reference [1]}