Medical education is a significant investment. Yet despite the expense, more and more students choose to pursue a career in medicine so that they can provide patients with the care they need. This likely means students take on debt to finance their medical education — a median level of $200,000.
While medical school remains an excellent personal financial investment, federal student loans administered by the Department of Education — such as Direct Unsubsidized and GradPLUS loans that cover the full cost of attendance — help students from disadvantaged backgrounds access financing. The AAMC continues to advocate for these loan programs, which are available to all students pursuing a medical degree.
Additionally, federal recruitment programs, such as Public Service Loan Forgiveness, the National Health Service Corps, and those administered by the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Department of Defense, and the Department of Health and Human Services’ Indian Health Service, encourage graduates to pursue careers that benefit communities in need by providing student loan relief to physicians who serve in Health Professional Shortage Areas and nonprofit or government facilities. Federal financial and policy support for these programs ultimately help improve the health of individuals and communities.
To learn more about the various programs and repayment options, and for more information on student debt and financial aid, visit AAMC's FIRST (Financial Information, Resources, Services and Tools).
You can also visit the AAMC's policy and advocacy pages to find out more about how we advocate for student and service programs.