Can you go to Medical School for Free (or almost free)?!
There are many ways to get your tuition “covered” which includes both service commitments like the Health Professions Scholarship Program (HPSP) and school-based merit and need-based scholarships. Over the last 5-years there has been an increase in the number of medical schools offering some form of tuition scholarship.
Why is there a domino effect of free tuition happening?
There is a predicted physician shortage. By 2030, we'll have a shortage of up to 49,000 primary care docs.
Debt burden influences specialty choice. Many have argued that high debt levels -- coupled with the relatively low pay M.D.s receive during their residencies -- discourage new doctors from jobs in which they may treat the disadvantaged or work in rural or other locations lacking enough medical care.
Debt from medical school has been rising.
Medical Schools need to attract a more racially and socioeconomically diverse medical school class who are more likely to serve in racially diverse or underserved communities.
To recruit more competitive students and to recruit students to new medical schools.
Whether these scholarships pan out to create an increased primary care workforce is yet to be seen. However, here is the list of Medical Schools now offering FREE tuition scholarships (some merit, some need, and some service based):
New York University School of Medicine - Currently offering free tuition to all current and new medical students; funded by Kenneth Langone, the founder of Home Depot and private fundraising.
The Washington University at St. Louis - Currently offering full-tuition scholarships to 20 out of 120 students; they will increase this number to more than ½ of their students. They will also make available partial scholarships available to students who do not receive full scholarships. They will award scholarships based both on financial need and academic merit. This program began with the 2019-2020 entering class.
Washington University also offers the Spencer T. and W. Olin Fellowship Program: Since 1974, the Olin Fellowship Program has made it possible for women of exceptional promise to become leaders in society. From a group of seven, the Olin Fellowship Network has grown to encompass more than 400 women — the women supported by the Olin Fellowship are citizen scholars, committed to the betterment of humanity. Funding typically consists of full tuition remission and a 9 to12 month stipend to defray living expenses. The amounts and vehicles of financial support for graduate students are usually decided by individual Schools. This is a separate application with a deadline in January and is merit-based.
Kaiser Permanente’s New Medical School opened for applications in June 2019 and will offer free tuition to all students for the first five classes.
UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine: Offers merit-based awards that provide four-year financial support to 20% of the class to outstanding students entering the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. Scholarships cover 100 percent of the four-year cost of attending medical school - including tuition, room and board, books and supplies, and other expenses. All applicants are automatically included.
Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine will choose 40 first- and second-year students in each class and provide full coverage of tuition and fees plus a monthly $2000 stipend through four years of medical school who agree to work within primary care at the health system after they graduate. They also offer a loan forgiveness program - the Abigail Geisinger Scholars Program with similar goals.
University of New Mexico The Lobo First Year Promise: Qualified first-time freshmen who have graduated from a New Mexico high school and have an annual family income of $50,000—roughly the state’s median family income—or less will have base tuition and fees for full-time enrollment covered for the 2022-23 academic year.
The University of Alabama: Offers a Presidential full-tuition merit scholarship for in-state students. A student with a 4.0+ GPA and 36 ACT OR 1600 SAT will be selected as a Presidential Elite Scholar and will receive the value of tuition for up to four years or eight semesters for degree-seeking undergraduate and graduate or law studies, First year of on-campus housing at regular room rate (based on assignment by Housing and Residential Communities), $1,000 per year supplemental scholarship for four years, $2,000 one-time allowance for use in summer research or international study (after completing one year of study at UA), and a $2,000 Supe Store book scholarship ($500 per year for four years)
Ochsner Louisiana The Ochsner Physician Scholars is a program for medical students admitted into the LSU Health Shreveport School of Medicine or The University of Queensland, Ochsner Clinical School. Eligible medical students can apply, and if selected, will receive a payment from Ochsner Health intended to be used for medical school expenses. In exchange, the student must commit to working in an Ochsner Health facility for five years after they complete their residency. Only those students interested in Family Medicine, Internal Medicine Primary Care, Internal Medicine- Pediatrics Primary Care (dual certification), or Psychiatry will be eligible.
Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine :If accepted into the program all students receive a full-tuition scholarship for the 5-year program. In the research thesis year, a continuation fee equal to 5 percent of tuition is required; this cost also is covered by the full tuition scholarship.
ICahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai launched an Enhanced Scholarship Initiative (ESI), a program enabling qualified medical students to graduate with a maximum debt of $75,00. 40% of students benefit from the program with aid covering the entire cost of attendance, including tuition, housing, meals, and other living expenses such as travel and books.
Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons announced the Vagelos scholarship program that will replace student loans with a scholarship for all students who qualify for financial aid. Under the new program about 20% of the school’s students -those with the greatest financial need- will receive full-tuition scholarships.
Weil Cornell Medicine eliminates medical education debt for all students who qualify for financial aid. Starting the 2019-2020 academic year and thereafter in perpetuity student loans will be replaced by scholarships that cover tuition, housing, and other living expenses.
Emory University School of Medicine : There are two merit-based full-tuition scholarships: The Robert W. Woodruff Fellowships offer four first-year medical and two MD/PhD students as recipients of full tuition and a stipend for a four-year period of study. Applicants are assessed on demonstrated qualities of forceful and unselfish character, intellectual and personal vigor, outstanding academic achievement, motivation for medicine, impressive communication skills, leadership, and creativity. A special application is not required. Individuals accepted to the initial class (through mid-March) will constitute the pool from which finalists will be selected. For additional information, contact the Office of Admissions of the School of Medicine. They also offer the Dr. G. Keith Pilling Scholarship, A four-year full-tuition scholarship awarded once every four years to a student with outstanding academic merit, financial need, and is a U.S. citizen.
Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania offers 25 full-tuition MD scholarships per year.
All students accepted are considered for scholarly awards. Awards are made by a University Committee during mid-April. Selection criteria include: outstanding academic performance and achievement, a broad range of intellectual interests, demonstrated leadership, commitment to interests other than academic work, and unique life experiences that may contribute to a medical career.
F Edward Hebert School of Medicine of the Uniformed Services University: You pay no tuition or fees. As we just mentioned, you’ll get the full salary and benefits of an O-1 for all four years at the USUHS. This includes free medical care for students and your eligible family members, a housing allowance, and 30 days paid leave each year. There’s more—books and lab equipment are also included at no charge.
UC Riverside School of Medicine: Dean’s mission scholarship funds either 100% of all mandatory tuition fees, approximately $40,000, or a $20,000 award covering 50% mandatory tuition for the first and second year of medical school. Dean’s Mission Award - Service Program: for entering 3rd-year students, two-year service-based award for service in San Bernadino, Riverside, or Imperial County in pediatrics, family medicine, general internal medicine, Ob/Gyn, surgery, or psychiatry.
Medical College of Georgia Harrison Scholars: An unprecedented gift by the late Medical College of Georgia alumnus and renowned vascular surgeon Dr. J. Harold Harrison means six scholarships are available for freshman students entering the state’s public medical school. Approximately six full and six partial scholarships are awarded to students accepted at MCG who have exceptionally strong academic and leadership skills.
Mercer: The Nathan Deal Scholars Program was established in 2017 to recognize outstanding medical students who exemplify the highest values of the medical profession and are leaders in their commitment to Mercer’s mission. Upon completion of residency, Nathan Deal Scholars are committed to four years of continuous, full-time medical practice in a medically underserved rural Georgia county. In addition to financial assistance, these scholars will receive leadership training to help prepare for the clinical challenges that may arise while in practice. Applicants must be a Georgia resident with strong ties to rural Georgia and currently enrolled or accepted for enrollment in the Mercer University School of Medicine four-year MD program. Approximately seven new scholarships are awarded annually. The scholarship covers 85-100% of tuition for a maximum of four academic years.
Stanford Knight-Hennessy Scholarship: Knight-Hennessy Scholars receive funding to pursue graduate up to 3 years of study at Stanford. This includes MD and PhD programs, as well as joint- and dual-degrees. The scholarship is focused on leadership with multidisciplinary and multicultural understanding. “As a Knight-Hennessy Scholar, you will develop both the depth and range of subject expertise to confront the intractable challenges and opportunities of the future.”
Full tuition service scholarships include:
HPSP: The Health Professions Scholarship Program (HPSP) offers a service scholarship to students who attend medical and dental school programs. If accepted, students receive full coverage of all tuition/fee charges as well as reimbursement of health insurance costs and other related school expenses. A monthly living stipend, which is currently around $2,000 per month, is also provided. Upon completion of school, the dentists or physicians “repay” the scholarship by working one year in the branch of service they were accepted into (The Army, Navy, or Air Force) for each year that they received the scholarship.
National Health Service Corps Scholarships: The National Health Service Corps Scholarship Program (NHSC SP) awards scholarships to students pursuing eligible primary care health professions training. In return, scholars commit to provide primary care health services in Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs).
Indian Health Service Scholarship Program: The scholarship program provides financial support to qualified American Indian and Alaska Natives in exchange for a minimum two-year service commitment within an Indian health program in your chosen health professional discipline.
