How Much Does Medical School Cost in 2025?

By Corey Buhay | Published on October 21, 2025

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It’s no secret that medical school can get spendy. And according to the Education Data Initiative, the cost of medical students’ tuition has risen consistently over the past decade — as much as $1,158 per academic year. Today, those costs are higher than ever.

In 2024, the average cost of medical school is $58,968 per year, or $235,827 total, according to the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC). Note that these numbers only include medical school tuition, fees, and health insurance. They don’t include school supplies, living expenses, or any other additional costs. Also keep in mind that the above numbers are just averages; the actual cost of medical school can vary widely depending on whether you attend a public or private university and in what state.

So, how much will medical school cost you personally? And what are the best ways to bring those costs down? Here’s what you need to know.

How Much Does Medical School Cost: Public vs Private Schools

Private medical schools tend to cost much more than public medical schools, which is one of the reasons tuition prices vary so widely. For some examples, just take a look at U.S. News and World Report’s list of best medical school programs. In the top 10 alone, you’ll see tuition ranging from $15,480 per year for in-state students at the University of New Mexico, to a whopping $93,996 per year for out-of-state tuition at University of Washington’s School of Medicine.

According to AAMC data, the average cost of an in-state public school in 2024 is $40,493 per year. The average cost of a private school is $66,176 per year.

Why is Medical School So Expensive?

Med school can feel prohibitively expensive for many students. But why does it cost so much more than an undergraduate degree? For one thing, there’s the cost of equipment. Cadavers, medical instruments, training tools, and imaging equipment all cost money — and may cost more as the field gets more advanced. Then there’s the level of specialty required to teach medicine. Professors in medical fields tend to be more highly paid because they have so much education and expertise. That high instructional cost gets passed on to the student in the form of high tuition.

There are also a number of other costs, including medical school application fees, Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) fees, and the cost of traveling for interviews. All that comes on top of the cost of tuition.

The good news is that few students actually pay the listed sticker price. This is especially true at private schools, which tend to have higher endowments — i.e., more scholarships and financial aid money — at their disposal. There are also a number of different ways to get creative with paying for medical school, including applying for scholarships, grants, and loans.

Is Medical School Worth it?

Medical school is expensive, and it can take a long time to see the return from your investment. First, there’s the period of intense medical school education — four years for most aspiring MDs. Then there are the years of residency.

The average first-year resident makes around $60,000 per year — which isn’t a ton given the long hours and high cost of living in many big cities. While some medical school students choose to defer their student loan payments until after their residency, others choose to get a head start, making these years more financially burdensome.

However, once these years are behind you, you’re likely to make up the cost relatively quickly. According to one recent report, family physicians make around $255,000 per year while specialists like orthopedists and plastic surgeons make more than $500,000 per year.

5 Ways to Make Medical School More Affordable

The total cost of medical school is just a fraction of what you’ll make in your lifetime as a medical professional. However, that doesn’t make the upfront cost any less intimidating. Fortunately, there are a number of ways to fund your years of medical school.

1. Fill Out the FAFSA

As with your undergraduate education, you’ll need to fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) every year to qualify for federal student loans. Unsubsidized Direct Loans and Grad PLUS Loans are both available to medical students. Students with financial need can also use the FAFSA to qualify for loans from the Health Resources and Service Administration (HRSA).

Federal loans tend to have fixed interest rates and are eligible for a number of flexible repayment plans. They also have robust borrower protections. One great example: Federal student loans are eligible for student loan forgiveness — an option that can make medical school significantly more affordable if you qualify.

2. Apply for Scholarships and Grants

Scholarships and grants are among the best ways to pay for a medical education. Unlike loans, they don’t require repayment. If you search around, you’ll find a number of high-dollar scholarships for students in the health sciences. Also be sure to ask for more financial aid if you think your award was too low. Your school’s financial aid office might have more options for merit-based aid that you can apply for.

3. Consider Less-Expensive Programs

If your dream school is unaffordable, consider other programs. A brand-name diploma is nice, but you don’t need to attend a top college of medicine to get a high-quality education. Likely, you’ll get a fairly equivalent experience at a less-prestigious school — and at a fraction of the price. Consider public schools, in-state schools, and schools in cities with lower costs of living.

If you’re an out-of-state student, also look into tuition waivers. You may be able to get in-state tuition — even as a non-resident student — if you meet certain eligibility requirements. Resident tuition can be up to half the cost of non-resident tuition.

4. Take Part-Time Work

Consider taking a weekend job or a paid summer internship while you’re in school. Gone are the days when you could pay your annual tuition bill by flipping burgers alone. But even working one day per week can help you defray the costs of your medical school education.

5. Live Off-Campus

Living expenses are one of the biggest contributors to the high cost of med school. Living off campus can help you save hundreds of dollars per month, especially if you’re sharing rent and other costs with roommates.

How to Use Private Student Loans to Pay for Medical School

If federal loans, scholarships, and grants aren’t enough to cover your full financial need, it may be time to consider private student loans. Private loans can cover up to the full cost of attendance of your medical school of choice. Many private lenders also offer flexible repayment plans and low interest rates. Earnest, for example, offers fee-free loans — we never charge origination fees or prepayment penalties. We also let you choose your own loan term and interest rate type.

Whether you’re a pre-med studying for the MCAT, or a fourth-year med student trying to cover some funding gaps, we have a loan option for you. See how much you could save with a medical school loan form Earnest: Check your rate for free today.

About the Author

Corey Buhay

Corey Buhay is a writer and editor based in Boulder, Colorado. She’s passionate about literature, the outdoors, and doing her taxes by hand. She has been writing about student loans and personal finance for Earnest since 2019. You’ll find her work in Outside Magazine, Backpacker Magazine, Smithsonian, and The Denver Post.