The United States is known for high medical education costs. At some institutions, total annual cost of attendance can exceed $90,000, even though annual tuition and required fees are usually lower than that figure. Many medical students also graduate with debt, so applicants should compare both tuition and full cost of attendance before choosing a school.
Some U.S. medical schools publish comparatively lower tuition rates. Public medical schools usually charge lower rates to state residents, while nonresident rates generally apply to out-of-state students and may apply to eligible international students. However, international admissions, residency classification, and financial aid availability vary by school. It is important for medical degree applicants to review financial aid, grants, and scholarships on each university’s official website because these options can substantially reduce out-of-pocket costs.
Affordable Medical Schools in the USA
1. Texas A&M University
- Tuition Fees
- Published Tuition and Fees: $22,998/year (Texas resident) | $36,098/year (nonresident)
Texas A&M University‘s Naresh K. Vashisht College of Medicine was established in 1977 and offers a four-year Doctor of Medicine degree. The college is part of Texas A&M Health and emphasizes community-based medical education, including service to rural and underserved populations.
This affordable medical school in the USA has major campuses in Bryan-College Station, Dallas, Houston, and Round Rock. The MD curriculum includes about 18 months of pre-clerkship training followed by about 30 months of clerkship and clinical training. Students can pursue combined or additional degree options, including MD/PhD, MD+MBA, MD+MPH, MD+MS, and EnMed’s MD+Master of Engineering pathway.
2. Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center
- Tuition Fees
- Estimated Tuition and Required Fees: $22,076/year (Texas resident) | $35,176/year (nonresident)
Established in 1969 and located in Lubbock, TX, the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center School of Medicine is a public institution that is part of the Texas Tech University System. The curriculum offers a standard four-year MD program and the Family Medicine Accelerated Track (FMAT), a three-year accelerated MD option for students pursuing family medicine.
For the four-year program, students complete foundational medical science and clinical training before advanced clinical experiences in the final year. FMAT condenses the MD curriculum into three years and leads to family medicine residency options in Lubbock, Amarillo, or the Permian Basin. Students can pursue dual degrees, including MD/PhD, MD/MBA, MD/JD, MD/MPH, and MD&E options, in partnership with Texas Tech University academic units and the Texas Tech University School of Law.
3. University of New Mexico
- Tuition Fees
- Published Tuition: $15,788/year (New Mexico resident) | $44,177/year (nonresident)
The University of New Mexico School of Medicine is located in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Its MD curriculum is organized into three phases: a 23-month preclinical phase, a 12-month clinical clerkship phase, and a final 12-month phase with clinical and non-clinical electives, a sub-internship, an ICU rotation, ambulatory care, and community-based clinical experience.
This affordable medical school in the USA also offers a combined MD/PhD program, which provides integrated training in clinical sciences and a basic biomedical science discipline for students pursuing physician-scientist careers.
4. Baylor College Of Medicine
- Tuition Fees
- Published Tuition: $19,682.50/year (Texas resident) | $32,782.50/year (non-Texas resident)
Located in Houston, TX, with an additional Temple campus, and established in 1900, the Baylor College of Medicine is a private medical school with comparatively low published MD tuition. Baylor also offers a Medical Scientist Training Program. For students in the current curriculum, the first 15 months focus on foundational sciences, and the clinical curriculum begins in January of the second year.
Students can also pursue dual degrees, including MD/PhD, MD/MBA, MD/JD, and MD/MPH options. Students in Baylor’s Medical Scientist Training Program complete integrated medical and research training through Baylor’s graduate programs and affiliated partner institutions.
5. University of Texas Health Center at Houston
- Tuition Fees
- Published Tuition: $21,083/year (Texas resident) | $28,738/year (nonresident); required fees are charged separately
Our next affordable medical institution in the USA is the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, now commonly known as UTHealth Houston. Its John P. and Kathrine G. McGovern Medical School is the 11th-largest medical school in the United States and the largest of UTHealth Houston’s seven schools. Its MD curriculum is split into three phases: pre-clerkship, required clerkships, and career focus tracks.
The first phase focuses on integrated medical science through foundations, organ-system modules, and doctoring courses. The required clerkships include medicine, surgery, pediatrics, psychiatry, obstetrics and gynecology, family medicine, neurology, geriatrics, and an elective. The final phase is centered on career-focused tracks.
6. Ohio State University
- Tuition Fees
- Estimated Tuition and Required Fees: $32,008-$48,009/year (Ohio resident) | $56,928-$58,008/year (nonresident)
Ohio State University‘s College of Medicine was established in 1914 in Columbus, Ohio. Its Lead.Serve.Inspire. curriculum is a three-part, four-year MD program, and students interested in family medicine can apply to the three-year Primary Care Track.
The four-year pathway includes clinical foundations, clinical applications, advanced clinical management, electives, and preparation for residency. The three-year Primary Care Track is designed for students pursuing primary care and family medicine.
7. University of Texas at Austin
- Tuition Fees
- Published Tuition and Fees: $22,074/year (Texas resident) | $37,138/year (nonresident)
Located in Austin, TX, Dell Medical School at the University of Texas at Austin traces its creation to the 2010s and welcomed its first class in 2016. Its four-year MD program is designed to prepare students to address systemic health problems and lead in a changing health care system.
The first year focuses on medical foundations and preclinical essentials. The second year centers on clerkships. The third year is a growth year that allows students to pursue individualized study, innovation, research, or dual-degree work. The fourth year prepares students for residency through internships, electives, rotations, and a transition-to-residency experience.
Taking up a medical degree can indeed be costly. The prices above generally refer to published tuition or tuition and required fees, as labeled, and do not include all living expenses, transportation, health insurance, books, supplies, or other costs. Many university websites provide full cost-of-attendance estimates, so applicants should review each official page for the most complete budget.
We hope that this article on affordable medical schools in the USA was helpful. Make sure also to check out the Study in the USA and the Available Programs for International Students for more information about studying in the United States!
