What are the least expensive med schools in the US?

[Gleevec]

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Related to another thread already started about the most expensive med schools in the US, I just wanted to learn a bit more about the cheaper ones. Im curious about tuition+fees (because I know Cali schools have 0 tuition, but something like 10k in fees I believe)

Baylor, and all public TX schools (including UTSW, in-state): $6,550

I think UNC is supposed to be very very affordable as well, but I dont have any data on that.

What other schools?

 

[loomis]

mayo is pretty amazing; everyone gets some type of scholarship ( regardless of need); out of state people pay about 11K while instate (MN, AZ, FL) pay something ridiculous like 6K. Mayo also has full rides to some students. I was really impressed with their financial aid program.

 

[....]

Originally posted by loomis
mayo is pretty amazing; everyone gets some type of scholarship ( regardless of need); out of state people pay about 11K while instate (MN, AZ, FL) pay something ridiculous like 6K. Mayo also has full rides to some students. I was really impressed with their financial aid program.

Florida is instate at Mayo?!

 

[PianoGirl04]

Great thread! It certainly doesn't hurt to apply to some inexpensive schools in case financial aid doesn't work out at the expensive ones. I'm curious to hear about this too...in particular, which private schools tend to be less expensive than the average private school?

 

[loomis]

yes. mayo has clinics based out in AZ and FL, in addition to the home base of Rochester, MN. in recognition of this, mms extends the "instate" designation to the applicants from those respective states.

Originally posted by hightrump
Florida is instate at Mayo?!

 

[Gleevec]

Originally posted by hightrump
Florida is instate at Mayo?!

Mayo has agreements with the govts. of some states to do this.

I think Mayo's grad school is in Florida as well.

So I have a stupid question, do MSTPs get a ton of frequent flier miles, or do they just do most of their work on one site?

 

[skypilot]

If you sign a contract saying you'll practice in Mass underserved for four years after you graduate tuition drops from 9k down to 4k per year! If you change your mind later you just pay the 9k!

 

[Megalofyia]

What are the other fees that make the Texas schools actually more expensive? Are these lab fees and books?

 

[Gleevec]

Originally posted by Megalofyia
What are the other fees that make the Texas schools actually more expensive? Are these lab fees and books?

$6500 for tuition, $1500 fees. Im looking at about $8000/year not including textbooks (standard costs everywhere), living expenses, rent, etc.

 

[mpp]

Originally posted by Gleevec
do MSTPs get a ton of frequent flier miles, or do they just do most of their work on one site?

Most MD/PhD students do their work in Rochester (both MD and PhD). Some do decide to work in a lab in Jacksonville or Scottsdale, but then they go down there to stay during their 3+ years of graduate school. All the medical students are in Rochester unless they take electives. Mayo Medical School pays for one elective rotation in Scottsdale or Jacksonville (which includes an apartment and a car if needed) although you can do as many as you want on your dime. They offer quite a bit (link) at all 3 locations.

 

[Megalofyia]

So why is San Antonio 3000 and not around 1500?

 

[Gleevec]

Originally posted by Megalofyia
So why is San Antonio 3000 and not around 1500?

I can only speak for Baylor.

Someone else said SA is more expensive.

In general, tuition is fixed at 6550 by the state for all state schools, fees vary.

In any case, its pretty darn cheap, even though fees vary by school. Also, the fees arent the BS that cali schools pull by having $0 tuition but then $10,000-ish in fees 🙄

 

[Megalofyia]

I'm just wondering why San Antonio is like 2x more than the other schools in fees.

 

[calcrew14]

Poor Me Uniform Service 🙄

 

[Gleevec]

Originally posted by Megalofyia
I'm just wondering why San Antonio is like 2x more than the other schools in fees.

Not sure, probably just a necessity for the funds?

Most schools differ a lot in fees, just has to do with each individual school's finances.

At least for state schools, tuition is generally fixed, and for TX, thats 6550.

 

[spumoni620]

https://services.aamc.org/tsf/TSF_R...r_of_study=2004


https://services.aamc.org/tsf/TSF_R...r_of_study=2004

(From the other thread)

so looking at these pages, and sorting by the tuition & fees columns, here are the least expensive U.S. medschools as far as i can see (costs include fees + tuition):

Top 3 Least expensive Public Schools - for residents
East Carolina University - $4922
UT Galveston - $8077
Texas A&M - $8109

Top 3 Least Expensive Public Schools - nonresident
Mississippi - 14,948
UT Galveston - 21, 177
Texas A&M - 21, 209

Top 3 least expensive Private Schools - for residents
Baylor - 10,500
Virginia, Eastern - 21,941
Mayo - 22,500

Top 3 least expensive Private Schools - nonresidents
Mayo - 22,500
Baylor - 23,600
Howard - 23,781

It's interesting to me how much fees can jack up a med school's cost of attendance. I had no idea Cali schools had $0 tuition, but the fees seem to counteract a seemingly amazing deal. Megalofyia, don't know why San Antonio stands out as having such large fees vs. other tx schools. What exactly are these mysterious "fees" - is it computer equipment? Classroom donations? Student health center? 😕

 

[Gleevec]

Originally posted by spumoni620
[B What exactly are these mysterious "fees" - is it computer equipment? Classroom donations? Student health center? 😕 [/B]

Probably all of that and student support services, paying for staff, etc. Its basically disposable income for the schools towards various services they offer you I would imagine.

 

[Megalofyia]

So they aren't avoidable.. like just not buying books?

 

[Gleevec]

Originally posted by Megalofyia
So they aren't avoidable.. like just not buying books?

Nope, I think spumoni's stats are Tuition + Fees, which is the best way to think about it, you cant avoid those 2 charges.

Otherwise, the Cali schools would be ranked 1-4 or whatever for cheapest tuition.

 

[PianoGirl04]

Some schools don't charge you fees but just hike up the tuition instead. WashU, for example, has a 4-year tuition stabilization plan with fees included in tuition, but of course it costs around $37,000/year.

I think the UC schools charge upwards of $10,000 in fees so they can still say "tuition is free for CA residents," but they don't go bankrupt. Kinda deceptive if you ask me...but still, $10,000/yr for med school is really cheap.

 

[Megalofyia]

Originally posted by PianoGirl04

I think the UC schools charge upwards of $10,000 in fees so they can still say "tuition is free for CA residents," but they don't go bankrupt. Kinda deceptive if you ask me...but still, $10,000/yr for med school is really cheap.

What is their definition of tuition? Is it not the money you pay to attend the school and to pay the teachers etc?

 

[spumoni620]

now building upon the original question, what would be interesting is if ppl who attended various schools could talk a bit about the "hidden costs" that make med school so expensive. after all we have tuition and fees, but every time i attend one of those financial aid presentations they talk about how the estimated cost for 1 year (at a school whose tuition is around $30K) is around $50K. even at baylor, where you have a ridiculously cheap instate private tuition + fees rate, their website tacks on an additional $17K in "estimated indirect expenses" (transportation, living, etc.) 😱 where does this extra $20K come from...and is this usually a set-in-stone figure? i'm really hoping i don't have to take out loans for that amount each year!

 

[Gleevec]

Originally posted by spumoni620
now building upon the original question, what would be interesting is if ppl who attended various schools could talk a bit about the "hidden costs" that make med school so expensive. after all we have tuition and fees, but every time i attend one of those financial aid presentations they talk about how the estimated cost for 1 year (at a school whose tuition is around $30K) is around $50K. even at baylor, where you have a ridiculously cheap instate private tuition + fees rate, their website tacks on an additional $17K in "estimated indirect expenses" (transportation, living, etc.) 😱 where does this extra $20K come from...and is this usually a set-in-stone figure? i'm really hoping i don't have to take out loans for that amount each year!

Those estimated indirect expenses are cost of living calculations that are standardized for the purposes of need-based tuition.

I dont think those are "hidden" costs as much as they are highly variable based on where your school is located, and they need a single number from which to base financial aid packages (otherwise someone could just go for the bling-bling high rise and get more financial aid). I think that value is wildly variable based on your lifestyle and means.

I know some schools make you buy a specific laptop/desktop or some crap with certain specs. Thats probably a hidden cost at some places.

Textbooks are just ridiculously expensive.