Doctors are the front-liners, something that was emphasized during the COVID-19 pandemic. They play an essential role in curing sickness or disease. If you want to become a medical doctor, now is the perfect time as there is a big demand for doctors. This guide will help you explore the cheapest med schools and their corresponding tuition fees.
With many people falling ill during the pandemic, the number of doctors has also increased. Patient care is so important, so it’s vital to choose a school that offers a great quality of education whether you’re looking at private or public schools. Because average cost is also often a factor, below is a list of not only the best med schools but the most affordable med schools among them.
How Much Do the Cheapest Med Schools Cost?
The cheapest med schools cost between $15,000 to $32,000 a year. Finding medical schools that offer excellent medical programs can be quite challenging, especially when college hunting on a budget and trying to avoid medical student debt.
Aside from annual tuition cost, expenses can sometimes be dependent on your location and lifestyle. The list below provides a better description of some of the most common expenses outside of tuition.
Cheapest Med Schools Costs Breakdown
- Average cost of living. Whether attending a public or a private school, selecting a proper living accommodation is a must.
- Books and equipment. Expect to break the budget on textbooks for most classes in a medical college, and be prepared to purchase additional equipment like a stethoscope, scrubs, and personal protective gear.
- Student fees. These fees vary by school but can include funds for lab fees, tech fees, athletic fees, parking fees (even as a remote learner), and more.
- Food. Groceries are an often-overlooked part of the college budget, but food is essential to provide the fuel and energy med students will need to complete their education.
- Laundry. Students who live far from home also must budget for clothes and laundry costs to wash them.
Why You Should Attend Med School
You should attend medical school because it’s a worthwhile profession that can save lives and bring real and long-lasting satisfaction. Med school is challenging and time-consuming, and according to BLS, the job growth rate for physicians and surgeons is just three percent over the next 10 years. However, those who have a career in medicine, like doctors, earn an annual average salary of $217,100, according to Indeed.
Best Med School Career Options
There are several options for someone who wants to be a health professional. There are even medical jobs available if you don’t have a degree. Aside from becoming a general practitioner, graduates can specialize in neurology, ophthalmology, psychiatry, oncology, anesthesiology, or cardiology, among other areas. All of these specializations are needed in most hospitals.
Med School Salary
Those who graduate med school and strike out as doctors of general medicine can earn around $158,577 a year, according to PayScale. Specializations make a bit more. According to Glassdoor, a cardiologist will earn an annual average salary of $252,861, and an oncologist will earn a salary of about $233,384 per year.
Can You Attend Med School for Free?
Unfortunately, attending a school of medicine isn’t free. These schools will always have a tuition rate, but there are ways to cover expenses without putting out a lot of money or incurring a heap of student loan debt. Awards scholarships can help with these costs, as can financial aid. Work-study programs are another option.
Cheapest Med Schools That Won’t Break the Bank
| School | In-State Tuition | Out-of-State Tuition | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of New Mexico School of Medicine | $15,328 per year | $44,023 per year | Unknown |
| Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center School of Medicine | $17,421 per year | $30,521 per year | 96% |
| University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston | $24,814 per year | $24,814 per year | Unknown |
| Baylor College of Medicine | $27,842 per year | $40,942 per year | 93% |
| Ohio State University College of Medicine | $31,272 per year | $55,048 per year | Unknown |
| Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center | $32,937 per year | $61,114 per year | Unknown |
| Florida State University College of Medicine | $8,537 per cohort | $20,054 per cohort | 74% |
| University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center | $27,252 | $62,198 | Unknown |
| University of Cincinnati College of Medicine | $32,980 per year | $51,244 per year | Unknown |
| Marshall University John C. Edwards School of Medicine | $8,920 per semester | $13,825 per semester | Unknown |
What Are the Cheapest Med Schools?
University of New Mexico School of Medicine
In this college of medicine, the in-state tuition fee for incoming medical students is cheaper than others as public institutions often are. However, prospective students who are interested need to save money for the curriculum fee, which is $2,700, and library fee, which is $260.
The other medical school costs might seem irrelevant for some, but they contribute to achieving quality of education for current students. To begin the program, those enrolled in the University of New Mexico School of Medicine will learn about basic science education and primary care and gain clinical reasoning and clinical skills development.
Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center School of Medicine
Aside from the annual tuition costs, current students taking medical education classes from the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center are expected to also pay a student services fee, an identification card fee, and an information technology fee. These fees help medical professionals get the best experience in the academic environment.
Students who want to join this school of medicine will undergo a four-year curriculum where they learn about the fundamental principles of medical sciences.
University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston
In addition to tuition, students at the University of Texas Health Science Center pay laboratory, camp resource, tech, and library fees. The curriculum of students who study at this medical college includes the foundations of medical science, and courses focus on gaining a better understanding of hematology and pathology, among other areas.
University of Texas Health graduates also benefit from some of the best medical training in the US, as its College of Medicine and corresponding degree programs regularly rank among the premier professional colleges in the public university field.
Baylor College of Medicine
Aside from tuition fees, current students at Baylor University are also expected to pay for lab materials, curriculum resources, documentation, educational IT, and fees for student activities. Other fees needed to be paid in specific seasons, such as long-term disability insurance, matriculation, and white coat ceremony.
Like others on this list, this is one of the private institutions that cover the foundations of the science of medicine during medical school. Skills like critical thinking and problem-solving are also enhanced during this time.
Ohio State University College of Medicine
Attending this medical institution will introduce students to family medicine as well as great professors and physicians who mentor them. Ohio State University College of Medicine students will participate in clinical rotations to gain experience and skills in areas such as patient care, and interviewing and note writing.
Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center
The curriculum of this medical school includes understanding basic medical sciences and building a foundational knowledge of many areas including ophthalmology, general surgery, psychiatry, gynecology, family medicine, and more. This school is a strong option if you want to become a psychiatrist.
Florida State University College of Medicine
When it comes to the medical school curriculum, Florida State University Medical School covers the foundations of medicine and systems, like the pulmonary and cardiovascular. Students here also get to know more about renal-urinary systems, gastrointestinal system neuroscience, the reproductive system, and more.
University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center
Other fees at this medical school include academic records, library resources, academic facility, life safety, student activity, and transit fees. Students here will undergo the systems-based preclinical curriculum, and not just learn about foundational skills under science such as body systems and pathological diseases, but also practice interviewing skills on patients.
University of Cincinnati College of Medicine
Extra mandatory fees beyond tuition here include long-term disability insurance, ultrasound training fee, COM health fee, med student assoc fee, and medical education resources. Other expected expenses for aspiring medical professionals could be instruments, student loan fees, and textbooks, all of which contribute toward a high quality of education.
Marshall University John C. Edwards School of Medicine
This medical school offers a molecular basis of medicine, hematology, musculoskeletal, cardiovascular, renal systems, and respiratory systems when it comes to curriculum. This School of Medicine also requires future physicians to have a clerkship in internal medicine, family practice, and psychiatry.
Options to Help Pay for the Best Med Schools
The field of medicine is challenging because of the wide range of subjects students must master and concepts they must study and memorize. Above all, the tuition fees are very high, and sometimes it’s difficult to afford the current cost of living on top of them. Below are some suggestions to enter and pay for a med school that offers a good quality of education.
Scholarships
One of the best ways to afford medical school is to apply for numerous scholarships. International and local students are eligible to apply. Keep in mind that the average total tuition fee for medical school is $218,792, proving just how expensive this path is to pursue, but numerous scholarships can cover expenses like books and accommodation.
Student Loans
Undergraduate students can take out annual loans to help cover tuition. To begin the federal student loan process, students must first fill out a FAFSA form. Once approved, students will sign a promissory note that legally binds them to repay the loan.
Personal Savings or Assistance From Family
Not everyone has the same resources and economic background, and for some, asking for financial assistance from family and relatives is the best option. Others may have saved money from past allowances or part-time jobs, and that is also a significant contribution to med school costs.
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Tips for Saving Money While Attending Med School
- Create a budget. A weekly or daily budget encourages students to set boundaries and limitations of what they can and can’t afford, and will go a long way to avoiding large medical school debt.
- Search for cheap accommodation. When seeking housing, students can consider one or more roommates because it would be less expensive than having their own place.
- Schedule eating out. Instead of going out every day, students can schedule one day a week to allow themselves to eat and socialize.
- Declutter and sell things online. Students with books or clothes they no longer use can sell them online and use the money for housing, tuition, or other expenses.
- Reduce cell phone bills. Mobile phone bills can be quite expensive so students should shop around for plans, look for student discounts, and consider lowering their data usage to save money each month.
Find the Med Schools That Are Right for You
Regardless of where you’ll earn your medical degree, the important thing is the quality education. You’ll also have to consider the average cost of tuition, incidentals, living expenses, and more, some of which awards scholarship opportunities can help with. The right med school for you is the one that fits those needs.
Cheapest Med Schools FAQ
Medical school often takes four years to complete. Medical school graduates will then enter residency programs for medical training as the next step in their education. This is where medical students focus on a broad range of specialties like surgery or psychiatry. Residency often takes two years.
No school of medicine offers free medical school tuition fees, but we’ve provided a list of the cheapest schools, and many scholarship opportunities and federal student loans are available. There’s no guarantee they will cover every expense, but they can cover a significant expense. It’ll also help you avoid huge medical school student debt.
Yes, it is worth it to become a doctor in the United States. Knowing that many people get sick every day and that variants of the COVID-19 virus continue to spread, doctors are in demand. Everyone is looking for quality medical assistance, which can only be given if there are knowledgeable and skilled doctors leading the way.
A GPA of 3.0 is usually expected from students who want to enter a college of medicine, whether at a public or private university. This is why students who wish to become excellent primary physicians must begin working hard in their high school and early college years.
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