How to Attend Medical School for Free Guide

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Updated: October 17th, 2023

If your sights are set on becoming a doctor, you probably already know that medical school isn’t cheap. According to Education Data, the average total cost of medical school is $218,792. Fortunately, there’s a few ways you can fund your education and graduate with little to no debt. For instance, several medical schools have adopted tuition-free policies in recent years. Other schools offer sizable scholarships covering the cost of tuition, housing, and other expenses. There are also a number of programs that cover the cost of med school in exchange for military service. Keep reading to learn how to get a full ride to medical school. 

Related: Pre-med requirements: Classes you need for medical school 

Make a service commitment 

There’s a few schools and scholarship programs that provide free tuition in exchange for service after graduation. These programs are a great way for students to launch their careers in medicine without accumulating massive debt. 

F. Edward Hébert School of Medicine

This unique medical school in Bethesda, Maryland is completely tuition-free. In exchange for free tuition, students serve as commissioned officers in the U.S. Public Health Service, Air Force, Army, or Navy. Throughout their four years of med school, students receive over 500 hours of military-unique medical training (in addition to standard clinical medicine courses). During this time, students earn an annual salary upwards of $60,000. After graduation, they complete seven years of active duty service in the military branch they joined. For those enlisted in the Public Health Service, the active duty service commitment is 10 years. 

Health Professions Scholarships Program (HPSP)

The Army, Navy, and Air Force offer full-tuition service scholarships to students who attend medical and dental programs. Along with full-tuition coverage, students receive a monthly living stipend and reimbursement for health insurance costs and school expenses. In exchange, students complete one year of active duty service for each year they received the scholarship. Learn more about each specific program below: 

• Army
• Air Force 
• Navy

National Health Service Corps Scholarship (NHSC)

This program provides scholarships for medical students who commit to working in underserved communities. Students receive full-tuition coverage and monthly living stipends for up to four years. After graduation, students must work as primary care doctors in areas suffering from health care shortages. These may include correctional facilities, mental hospitals, tribal hospitals, or rural geographic areas. For every year of scholarship support, students commit to two years of full-time service. 

Seek full-tuition and full-ride scholarships 

Some medical schools offer either full-tuition or full-ride scholarships. A full-tuition scholarship will cover 100% of your tuition, but not living expenses and school-related costs. A full-ride scholarship covers everything. Here’s a few medical schools that offer sizeable scholarships: 

NYU Grossman School of Medicine 

Every medical student at NYU receives a full-tuition scholarship, regardless of merit or financial need. This award amounts to over $200,000 over the course of four years. To maintain their scholarship, students must remain in good academic standing. The scholarship does not cover room and board, meaning still have to cover the cost of living in Manhattan.

Kaiser Permanente School of Medicine  

Recently founded in 2020, this school is waiving all tuition and fees for its first five classes of students. That means all students entering the school from the fall of 2020 through 2024 will pay nothing in tuition and fees. Students are responsible for covering their living expenses. 

David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA

The David Geffen Medical Scholarship is a merit-based scholarship that covers four years of in-state tuition at UCLA.  Out-of-state students receive one year of tuition only. The scholarship also includes room and board, books and supplies, health insurance, and transportation. Roughly 25% of students are awarded the scholarship. Med school applicants are automatically considered, eliminating the need for a separate application. 

Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania

At the Perelman School of Medicine, approximately 30 full-tuition scholarships are awarded annually. Selection criteria for this merit-based scholarship include outstanding academic achievement, demonstrated leadership, and unique life experiences that may contribute to a medical career. All accepted students are automatically considered. 

Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons

In 2017, Columbia became the first U.S. medical school to replace loans with scholarships for all students who qualify for financial aid. The Vagelos Scholarship Program meets 100% of financial need for eligible students. Students who submit financial aid applications are automatically eligible for the award. 

Weill Cornell Medicine 

Cornell followed in Columbia’s footsteps, announcing in 2019 that it would replace loans with scholarships for all students who qualify for financial aid. This program covers tuition, housing, and other living expenses. 

Washington University School of Medicine 

In 2019, this medical school in St. Louis pledged to provide free tuition for as many as half of its future medical students. Partial tuition support will be provided for many students who don’t receive a full scholarship. Both financial need and academic merit are considered when awarding aid. 

Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine (CCLCM)

All students at CCLCM receive a full-tuition scholarship, regardless of merit or financial need. Living expenses are not included. 

Emory University School of Medicine 

The Robert W. Woodruff Fellowship is awarded to four first-year medical students every year. This merit-based scholarship covers the full cost of tuition and includes a stipend. Emory also awards the Keith Pilling Scholarship (full-tuition) every four years to a student with outstanding academic merit and financial need. 

Don’t forget about the smaller scholarships!

While full medical scholarships are out there, they’re few and far between. That’s why it’s important to search for smaller scholarships as well. These scholarships won’t cover the full cost of attendance by themselves, but a few of them can go a long way. The Physicians of Tomorrow Award and Tylenol Future Care Scholarship are just a couple examples. 

When searching for these smaller scholarships, one of the best places to start is your own community. Check with Rotary clubs, hospitals, and nonprofits in your area to see if they offer medical scholarships. Be sure to check out our guide on top medical scholarships as well, and try our free scholarship search tool, which custom-matches you to vetted scholarships. Good luck, future doctors! 

Key Takeaways

• Attending medical school for free, while it sounds too good to be true, is possible for students who put in the work and do their research
• Receiving a full ride scholarship or making a service commitment after you complete medical school are two of the most likely ways that you can graduate medical school with no debt
• Don’t forget that smaller scholarships are also an option that should not be looked over when paying for medical school
• The price tag of medical school can be intimidating. However, if becoming a doctor is what you’re meant to do, it’s important to not let that be the thing that stands in your way 

Frequently asked questions about how to attend medical school for free