Doctor of Medicine
If you consider only the cost of living, the four years required for the Doctor of Medicine degree is a costly investment in one’s future. With the additional charges for tuition and other fees, the annual cost may be beyond the financial resources of an accepted student and his or her parents. When documented financial need exists, students should apply for financial aid.
A frequently heard comment from both students and parents is that financial aid “forgets” the middle-income family. Washington University has addressed this matter by providing need-based scholarship support as a part of our financial aid award while most other medical schools offer only loans.
Using the 2023-24 estimate for the cost of education at $93,402 for the first year of study, if the need-analysis estimates that the student and parents can contribute $53,402, the student “documents” financial need of $40,000. Once this amount is determined, we fund half by scholarship and half by loans, many of which are interest free during school. Therefore, the student with $40,000 of documented need would receive $20,000 in scholarship and $20,000 in loan support (Federal Direct and/or Washington University loan). For the 2023-2024 year, if a student’s need-based loan support reaches $33,000, or roughly 35% of the cost of attendance, the remaining need is satisfied entirely with scholarship. Many medical schools do not provide any scholarship funds until a significant portion of the student’s need is covered by loans.
For students who are accepted for admission to the 2023 first-year class, financial aid application materials will be available early in 2023 (FAFSA opens in Oct). You may print the required forms from this web page or complete them on-line through our student financial aid portal, Net Partner.
By early 2023, the student and both living biological parents typically will have filed the financial documents necessary to complete their U.S. Individual Income Tax Return for 2021 (Form 1040, Form 1040-A or Form 1040-EZ, including W-2s and all required tax schedules). Using financial data from the current FAFSA application, completed income tax return, and supplemental documents, we are able to make a financial aid decision which states specifically the amounts, sources, and terms of scholarship and loan funds. While other medical schools may provide only an estimated award, Washington’s financial aid award is a firm commitment that will be awarded annually without further parental application for future years.
Need-Based Financial Aid Awards
Washington’s need-based financial aid awards are determined by a careful evaluation of detailed financial information provided by the applicant (who is under 30 at matriculation) and the applicant’s parents. If an applicant’s parents are unmarried, separated, or divorced, the financial information is required from both living biological parents (excluding income and assets of their spouse, if they have remarried). All financial data is documented with official copies of U.S. individual income tax return of the applicant and the applicant’s parents. Applicants over 30 (at matriculation) are not required to submit parent financial information.
“Permanent residents” of the United States are eligible for Federal financial aid programs. But need-based financial aid is awarded from Washington only if the applicant and parents can provide official US IRS joint or individual tax returns or proof of IRS non-filing status. If you wish to apply for need-based university aid, you may appeal this policy by submitting audited foreign tax documents with the same detailed information as provided on a U.S. income tax return. Both original and translated versions must be presented and will be approved based on a case-by-case basis. Students who are not “permanent residents” or citizens of the United States are not eligible for need-based financial aid and must document, in a manner acceptable to Washington University, the resources to pay the cost of education for four years. Please see our international and DACA student policy.
Educational Debt Data for 2022 Graduates at Washington University School of Medicine
| Debt Amount | Number of Students |
|---|---|
| $1 – 59,999 | 18 |
| $60,000 – 119,999 | 19 |
| $120,000 – 159,999 | 18 |
| $160,000 – 199,999 | 2 |
| $200,000 – or more | 2 |
| Total graduates with debt | 59 |
| *Medical school only | |
| Average total debt | $100,350 |
Educational Debt Data for 2021 Graduates at Medical Schools in the U.S.
| National Averages | Debt Amount |
|---|---|
| Public medical schools | $194,280 |
| Private medical schools | $218,746 |
| All (public and private) | $206,513 |
Merit-Based Awards
In addition to our considerable need-based financial aid resources, Washington is among a small number of medical schools which offer merit-based scholarships. Our merit scholarships are generally full tuition scholarships and are offered to entering students only. Recipients are selected from those applicants who have been accepted to the entering class, and all accepted students are considered for merit scholarships. Merit-based scholarships are eligible for annual renewal of four years of support.
Through an arrangement with the Monticello Foundation, Washington University is the exclusive site for the Mr. and Mrs. Spencer T. Olin Fellowships for Women. Full-tuition scholarships are awarded to selected women throughout the University who are beginning their graduate or professional degree study. In each first-year class, the medical school has historically received between one and three of the four-year scholarships.
While it is not considered a financial aid program, Washington University’s Medical Scientist Training Program (MSTP) provides significant financial support to its trainees. Each student receives payment of tuition and a monthly stipend for living expenses. Our MSTP is the largest program in the nation (up to 25 MSTP students are in each first-year class of 120).
Benefits of Washington University
Just as financial aid resources vary considerably between medical schools, the cost of education also differs in ways that go beyond tuition. The following are features of Washington University and St. Louis which should be considered when comparing costs.
Washington’s tuition is fixed and “stabilized.” TUITION WILL NOT INCREASE. The tuition you are charged as a first year student is the tuition you will pay all four years of your education, for up to 5 consecutive years allowing 1 year for research or a master’s degree.
In addition to the cost of tuition, student health coverage is a direct cost component. On the medical school campus, the WU student health coverage is required for all full time students. This health fee is subject to change annually, but includes comprehensive coverage that provides emergency, general, mental health, and dental coverage. For additional information please visit https://studenthealth.med.wustl.edu/
*Need-based aid awarded in year one will be fixed for future aid years without additional parental application required thereafter. Tuition, merit scholarships, need-based scholarships are all fixed and stabilized for four years of medical school, providing an exact upfront cost of education.
St. Louis is consistently recognized as one of the least expensive cities in the U.S. for housing, both purchase and rental, and for overall cost of living. All of these factors allow our medical school applicants the ability to make a well-rounded decision.
*All aid must fit in the current cost of attendance (COA) budget for each academic year. Aid can not exceed the yearly COA.