Explore fee assistance, school aid and service-based scholarships before committing to expenses.
Your next three steps
01
Build a budget for tests, applications, travel, tuition and daily living.
02
Apply for fee assistance before paying fees; benefits may not apply retroactively.
03
Ask each school for its current cost of attendance, aid offer and borrowing guidance.
What it costs, from the MCAT to your licence
The mandatory fees on the road to practice, stage by stage, so you can budget years ahead. Tuition and living costs come on top. Checked against each official fee page on November 7, 2026; fees change every cycle.
Applying to medical schoolUndergraduate junior and senior years
MCAT$360 per attemptFor 2027 test dates. $145 with AAMC Fee Assistance; an extra $130 applies when testing outside the US and Canada.
AMCAS (MD)$180, then $48 per schoolThe first school is included. Twenty schools cost $1,092. Fee Assistance covers one submission to up to 20 schools.
AACOMAS (DO)$198, then $60 per school2026–27 cycle. The first school is included.
Secondary applicationsTypically $75–$150 per schoolSet by each school; many waive the fee for Fee Assistance recipients. Across 20 schools this is often $1,500–$3,000.
AAMC PREview$105Required by some schools. Fee Assistance makes the first attempt free.
MSAR$33 per yearThe AAMC's school-by-school admissions database. Fee Assistance includes two years free.
Board exams in medical schoolYears 2 to 4
USMLE Step 1$695Plus $210 when testing outside the US and Canada. Usually at the end of year 2 or after the first clinical year.
USMLE Step 2 CK$695Plus $235 when testing outside the US and Canada. Usually in year 4, before residency applications.
NBME shelf exams$52–$54 per examOne at the end of each third-year core rotation, usually billed to your school.
NBME self-assessmentsFrom $62 per formPractice exams for Step 1 and Step 2 CK. Students often take five to seven, roughly $310–$434.
Away rotations and the MatchYear 4
VSLO away rotations$15 per elective applicationNo base fee. Host schools may charge their own fees.
ERAS residency applications$11 per program up to 30, then $30 eachCounted per specialty, with no base fee: 30 programs cost $330. Sending your USMLE transcript costs $70, COMLEX $80. Fee Assistance takes 60% off up to 50 applications.
NRMP Main Residency Match$85Includes up to 20 ranked programs; $30 for each one beyond 20, and $50 for late registration.
Residency and licensureAfter graduation
USMLE Step 3$955Usually taken during the first year of residency.
Provincial student aid for eligible Ontario students in approved programs. Residency, financial circumstances, study load and school eligibility determine support; confirm medical-program eligibility with your financial aid office.
Ontario, Canada
Official page lists 2026–27 full-time and part-time online applications as open. Confirm the deadline for your study period and school; no universal calendar deadline asserted.
Source checked 2026-11-02 · Confirm current dates and availability
Federal Student Aid · U.S. Department of Education
Apply for federal student aid through the official portal. Your school and state can have substantially earlier priority deadlines; this date is not a universal aid deadline.
United States
Federal submission deadline: June 30, 2028 at 11:59 p.m. Central Time. Check school and state deadlines separately.
Source checked 2026-11-02 · Confirm current dates and availability
Scholarship support for eligible health-profession students in exchange for an approved service commitment. Review qualifying disciplines, citizenship and contract terms. The 2026 application is closed.
United States
2026–27 deadline was April 16, 2026 at 7:30 p.m. Eastern Time (passed). Next-cycle deadline not confirmed.
Source checked 2026-11-02 · Confirm current dates and availability
Review current eligibility and benefits for MCAT preparation, registration and AMCAS application costs. Approval and timing matter; secondary fee waivers are school-specific.
Understand FAFSA, current federal loan options and repayment. Verify current award-year rules and any transition provisions with your financial aid office.
Eligible students in qualifying primary-care disciplines may receive support in exchange for service at approved shortage-area sites. Read the service contract and discipline requirements.
Explore Health Professions Scholarship Program options. Citizenship, qualification, specialty and military service obligations vary by service; discuss terms with an official recruiter.
