Everyone has their “reach” schools or their dream schools, but some top schools are more generous than others whether to attract candidates or because of available funding. Here are the standouts as of 2021.
- Einstein
Einstein made a splash in 2024 when it declared free tuition in perpetuity for all medical students. It is unclear whether other schools may follow suit. - UCLA
20 to 30 Geffen Scholarships, which are complete full-ride scholarships (both tuition AND cost of living), are given each year. There are additional full-ride scholarships under different names available to about a dozen students (e.g. LA-Care scholarship). These scholarships are merit-based and are awarded to recruit competitive applicants.Though only a fraction of students receive the Geffen scholarship, UCLA is ranked at number 2 because the Geffen scholarship is a true full-ride, covering both tuition and cost of living. Students report the cost of living calculation to be generous. Other students are eligible for financial aid and the total debt burden for this school is much lower than the median. The author of this list may be a tad biased (go bruins!). - Mayo Clinic
Though their tuition is notably higher compared to state schools, Mayo Clinic is known to offer generous financial aid and scholarships, often up to the full cost of their tuition. In some years, entire classes have received scholarships. Mayo is known to make demonstrable efforts to acquire the students they accept. - Perelman (UPenn)
They are known for awarding 20-30 full-tuition scholarships each year. These do not cover the cost of living, unlike the Geffen Scholarship at UCLA. For students not receiving these scholarships, however, the financial aid offerings are still considered fair, if not generous. - University of Michigan
The recent inflow of research funding and other funds for the University of Michigan allow for robust scholarship offerings to prospective students, ranging from partial-tuition to full-tuition. Notably, their Dean’s scholarship provides 4 years of funding with additional funds for a dual degree, and their MI MED scholarship provides 4 years of funding with additional funds for the cost of living.Their average debt is well above the median. This public school has lower tuition compared to the many private schools on this list. Thus, its high debt burden is particularly concerning. However, the standard deviation is wide, with some students faring exceptionally well. - Stanford
Stanford has historically been known for “fair” financial aid offerings, with their average debt (at the year of this article first being written) at around $90,000, significantly lower than the median of $120,000. Many of their students report satisfaction with their financial aid, though scholarship offerings are more limited. - (tie) Vagelos (Columbia) and Harvard
Columbia and Harvard have historically been known for appropriate offerings, both with average debt at around $100,000, significantly lower than the median of $120,000. The Vagelos Scholarship is need-based and offered to all accepted students that apply for financial aid. Similarly, at Harvard all offerings are need-based, however, Dean’s REACH scholarship also takes into account a history of work with the underserved. - NYU
Full-tuition scholarships are offered to all students, but given the cost of living in New York City, the average debt burden for students is still significant. Additional scholarship opportunities are more limited. Despite the significant splash that NYU has made in the news in recent years, and the word of mouth among prospective students, their actual offerings are actually lower than one might expect. - Cornell
Cornell made a splash in the news in 2019, when, in an attempt to follow in NYU’s footsteps, publicly announced full-tuition scholarships for students with demonstrated need. Given that this is not particularly reflected in the average student’s debt burden, it raises concerns for the high cost of living in New York City and the offerings for students in this realm. - (tie) Washington University in St. Louis and Pritzker (U of Chicago)
These two schools have historically been known for generous offerings for select students, though recent years have not reflected this. Still, rumors have it that new money has been pouring in. - Bonus: Any new school.
Typically, new medical schools offer generous scholarships to attract new students. Many are full-tuition scholarships, as was the case for UNLV, Carle School of Illinois, Kaiser, etc.
Note: Many other schools are well-known for financial aid, such as UC Davis, Ohio State, and the University of Central Florida, but this list is geared towards top schools. Some students may be able to leverage multiple acceptances and scholarship offers.
Note2: Students are often disappointed to hear that their dream schools (e.g. Yale) are not particularly well-known for aid. However, the amount of aid a student is offered can differ dramatically across schools as each school has a unique process for determining financial need. This difference may not be commonly known as many students receive only a single acceptance.
Note3: If you receive multiple financial aid and scholarship offers, it may be useful to call your school of interest to report the difference. Your school may be able to increase your offer. Understand that while some schools may negotiate, others have policies preventing this. This does not necessarily communicate their lack of interest in you as an applicant (remember that you were accepted after all).