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Reviewed by:
Former Admissions Committee Member, Hofstra-Northwell School of Medicine
Reviewed: 6/14/24
Are you considering medical school but want to avoid accruing massive debt? This guide will go over the cheapest medical schools in the country.
The US is notorious for having some of the highest tuition costs in the world. With that being said, medical school is no exception. In fact, according to the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC), recent data shows that four years of medical school cost $268,476 for public institutions and $363,836 for private institutions.
As you can see, medical schools can be costly. There is financial aid to help students with tuition; however, most students end up with massive student debt. In this guide, we'll go over the cheapest medical schools in the USA and briefly overview each school.
This section will highlight the most budget-friendly medical schools tailored for in-state students. We'll discuss tuition rates, financial aid options, and everything you need to know to make an informed decision about your medical education without breaking the bank.
Chiamaka, Admissions Consultant at Dartmouth, shared these tips for creating an affordable medical school list:
"In-state tuition is always cheaper than out-of-state tuition, but you're going to find that private institutions' in-state and out-of-state tuition are equally the same. MSAR gives you that information. You'll find that some public schools in medicine, the tuition doesn't really correlate with whether it's a public or private school, but MSAR gives you all that information. They tell you if it's an urban, suburban, or rural campus, and you're going to find that some medical schools have multiple campuses."
"When I'm ranking things that matter, tuition and cost is way up there for me. But in the initial phase when you're building your school list, I found that if I considered the tuition that was listed on MSAR, I would have missed out on a few opportunities."
"You never know what financial aid package you're going to get. They give you an acceptance and then the financial aid office reaches out to you and tells you how much in scholarships they can give you, how much in loans you can get, what type of loans they can give you, if it'll be private, public, all of that information. So know that, yes, it's something you should consider, but it should not deter you from applying to a school that you ultimately want to go to."
The University of New Mexico Medical School emphasizes integrating the basic sciences and clinical medicine. The MD program exposes students to patients and communities early on in the program. Early exposure helps students learn and develop the clinical skills needed for their future medical careers.
The MD program at the University of Texas Health Science Center offers students a wide variety of residencies, fellowships, and clinical training to help students succeed in their future careers. The school's Clinician Educator Track program is an opportunity for residents who want to improve their teaching skills and learn about Academic Medicine.
The MD program at East Carolina University Medical School has three phases in its curriculum. Students engage in coursework, clinical experiences, and clerkships in those phases, which teach them the knowledge and technical skills of medicine.
Marshall University Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine was founded in 1977 and is dedicated to providing students with quality medical education. Because most of the student population is from rural West Virginia, the school specializes in rural health issues and trains students in rural and clinical settings.
Below is a list of the cheapest medical schools for out-of-state students.
The University of Texas Health Science Center is the ninth-largest medical school in the US. It was established in 1969, and the first class started in 1970 with 19 students. By 1979, the school consisted of 200 students. Today, the medical school at the University of Texas Health Science Center has nearly 1,000 students.
Texas A&M University Medical School was created to serve underrepresented populations in Texas. The medical school specializes in rural and population health, military medicine, and innovation. Research opportunities are also available to students enrolled in medical school and who want to pursue research.
Students can choose any specialty at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center (TTUHSC) School of Medicine. During the first three years of the M.D. program, students learn basic science, research, and interdisciplinary clinical practice. In their final year, students then pursue a clinical specialization.
The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center teaches students through an innovative curriculum and early clinical experiences. The school also offers students the support of faculty-student mentorship, where the students will learn fundamental skills for the medical field.
Below is a list of the cheapest public medical schools for students.
The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley School of Medicine teaches students in various medical fields during their clerkship. Fields like family medicine, internal medicine, psychiatry, and surgery give students the vast knowledge of medicine they need for their future medical careers.
The University of Texas Dell Medical School teaches its MD students to foster empathy when treating patients. Students learn through case studies, clerkships, and various medical residencies.
Florida State University Medical School offers students early clinical experience, reduced lecture time, and pre-clerkship “boot camp.” The school's curriculum prepares students for their clinical rotations and future careers in the field.
The University of Central Florida Medical School offers students various unique teaching methods. For instance, students are exposed to state-of-the-art technology, interactions with virtual patients, clinical and laboratory experiences, research, and small group sessions.
Below is a list of the cheapest private medical schools for students.
New York University Medical School has a unique approach to tuition for medical school. The school offers students in the M.D. program a full-tuition scholarship. So, if you're looking for a highly affordable medical school, NYU Medical School is the school for you.
Baylor College of Medicine focuses on teaching students to take a more patient-centered approach to treating patients from a diverse population. The school provides students with the curriculum, services, resources, and support they need to excel in their studies and future careers.
William Carey University College of Osteopathic Medicine (WCUCOM) was ranked second by US News for placing graduates in rural areas and fourth for placing graduates in primary care. Physicians from WCUCOM have also been recognized for their innovative work in primary care and population health.
During the first two years at Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine (VCOM), students learn the foundations of medicine and the body's many different systems. During this time, clinical experiences are also integrated, where students will learn from faculty and gain valuable clinical experiences.
During the third year, students learn about clinical education, with monthly case presentations and workshops they must attend. In the fourth year, students participate in clinical rotations where they'll gain valuable experiences and skills.
Below is a list of the cheapest D.O. medical schools for students.
The University of North Texas Health Science Center has an Osteopathic medical program administered by the Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine (TCOM). TCOM is one of the nation's top primary care medical schools with an excellent reputation for innovative curricula.
West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine is ranked #1 for best rural primary care. The school produces a lot of students who pursue medical practice in rural settings. They believe in using a patient-centric approach to diagnosing and treating patients and teach those beliefs to their students.
Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences College of Osteopathic Medicine (OSU-COM) offers students various residency options and research opportunities. The school educates students on osteopathic primary care, emphasizing rural communities.
Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine takes an individualized approach to the curriculum. They've developed different learning styles to best suit a student's needs. The curriculum starts with basic science and an introduction to clinical education. Once a student progresses in the M.D. program, the student then learns more about the medical field.
Looking to compare medical schools? With Inspira's tool, you can easily compare tuition fees along with other key metrics. Just pick your top two choices, and we'll provide you with all the info you need, including in-state and out-of-state tuition.
If you still have questions after reading this guide, check out these frequently asked questions.
According to U.S News, the cheapest medical school in the US is the University of Texas Health Science Center, followed by:
Paying for medical school can be stressful, but there are a few things you can do to reduce the cost:
Medical school can be expensive. If the above options are still not helping with the cost of tuition, try to go to a school with low tuition. Going to school in your state can also help reduce the high cost.
The US has exceptionally high tuition costs, and medical school is the priciest. However, there are ways to fight the high costs of medical school. In this guide, we went over the cheapest medical schools in the country and how to reduce the cost of tuition. Medical school is stressful enough as it is; there's no reason why paying tuition should be, too.
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