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Best medical school loans
Turn your dream of becoming a doctor into a reality.
It cost anywhere from $244,000 to $323,000 to attend a four-year medical school in 2017, according to the Association of American Medical Colleges. If you’re looking to realize your dream of becoming a doctor, you’ll likely need help footing that bill. Fortunately, you have your pick of federal and private student loans to choose from.
How we picked these loans
When choosing the best medical school loans, we looked at lenders that offered competitive interest rates, flexible repayment options and borrower perks — such as rate discounts and multi-year approval.
The 5 best private student loans for medical school
Before comparing your options, consider your financial situation and what qualities in a lender are most important to you. This will help you find a loan you can not only qualify for, but that best meets your needs.
Sallie Mae Medical School Loan: Best for flexible repayment options
- Loan amounts: $1,000 up to 100% of the school-certified cost of attendance
- Fixed APRs: 5.49% to 9.98% with discounts
- Variable APRs: 4.12% to 9.48% with discounts
- Terms: 20 years
- Eligibility requirements: Graduate student enrolled in an MD, DO, DVM, VMD or DPM program at a participating degree-granting school, US citizen, permanent resident if attending a school outside the US or have a creditworthy cosigner who is, meet credit and other eligibility criteria.
Sallie Mae is at the top of the list because it’s an established loan provider and offers many perks for med school students. This means a 48-month deferment period during residency and a 36-month grace period after leaving school.
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- Loan amounts: $1,000 up to 100% of the school-certified cost of attendance
- Fixed APRs: 4.99% to 10.49% with discounts
- Variable APRs: 3.74% to 9.62% with discounts
- Terms: 20 years
- Eligibility requirements: Graduate student in a healthcare-focused program, enrolled at least half time making satisfactory academic progress as defined by your school, US citizen, permanent resident or international student with a cosigner who is, at least 16 years old, pass a credit check.
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- Loan amounts: $1,000 up to 100% of the school-certified cost of attendance — with a lifetime cap of $250,000
- Fixed APRs: 5.29% to 10.82% with discounts
- Variable APRs: 4.36% to 9.97% with discounts
- Terms: 15 to 20 years
- Eligibility requirements: Graduate student at an approved medical school, US citizen, national, permanent resident or cosigner who is, making satisfactory academic progress, have an established, positive credit history.
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- Loan amounts: $1,000 up to 100% of the school-certified cost of attendance
- Fixed APRs: 4.4% to 9.49% with discounts
- Variable APRs: 3.08% to 8.71% with discounts
- Terms: 5, 10 or 15 years
- Eligibility requirements: US citizen, permanent resident or international student with a cosigner who is, enrolled at least half time in a degree-granting program at an eligible institution, age of majority in your state — or a cosigner who is, good credit and no prior student loan defaults — or a creditworthy cosigner
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- Loan Amounts: $2,000 up to 100% of the school-certified cost of attendance
- Fixed APRs: 5.56% to 6.76% with autopay discount
- Variable APRs: 5.4% to 6.59% with autopay discount
- Terms: 10, 15 or 20 years
- Eligibility requirements: Enrolled at least half time at a school in its network, US citizen or permanent resident, meet other credit and eligibility criteria.
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- Deferred repayments during school and six months after you graduate.
- Standard repayment term of 10 years, with options for income-based and extended repayment plans up to 25 years.
- Deferred repayments during school and six months after you graduate.
- Standard repayment term of 10 years, with options for income-based and extended repayment plans up to 25 years.
- Private scholarships. Available through private organizations as well as your school, scholarships are ideal since they don’t have to be repaid. You can usually find options geared toward specific demographics or for academic merit.
- Service contract. If selected for their program, the National Health Service Corps (NHSC) will pay for up to four years of your tuition and fees if you agree to work in an underserved community after graduation.
- Military service. Through the Health Professions Scholarship Program (HPSP), you can have your medical school tuition, fees and living expenses covered for serving in the US armed forces. You’ll receive one year of funding for each year of active duty — with a three-year minimum commitment.
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Discover Health Professions Loan: Best for students with high GPAs
Discover’s Health Professions Loan is ideal for high-achieving medical students — it offers a one-time cash reward to borrowers with a 3.0 GPA or higher. It also has a repayment assistance program if you’re struggling to make repayments due to a financial setback.
Wells Fargo MedCAP Medical School Loans: Best for full program coverage
While Wells Fargo is a household name when it comes to personal banking, it’s also a great source for private education loans. With high lifetime limits and yearly maximums up to the cost of attendance, it’s committed to helping students cover the rising cost of med school.
Citizens Bank Health Professions Student Loan: Best for multi-year approval
Citizens Bank offers multi-year approval on their medical school loans, meaning you can get approved for all of the funds you need for an entire program with one application. Its health professions loans also come with low starting APRs, though the repayment terms are shorter than most competitors. And it doesn’t offer a grace period.
Commonbond Medical Loan: Best for low maximum rates
Where Commonbond excels is its low rates — they max out at roughly 4% less than the competition. This online lender also offers deferment while in school and during your residency, as well as a six-month grace period. And you have the opportunity to pause repayments for a total of 12 months throughout the life of your loan.
Compare other private student loans for medical school
Updated November 21st, 2019
Federal loan options for medical school
| Annual limit | Lifetime limit | Interest rate | Fees | Terms | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Direct Unsubsidized Loans | $20,500 | $138,500 | 6.08% | 1.059% | |
| Graduate Direct PLUS Loans | Up to 100% of the school-certified cost of attendance | None | 7.08% | 4.236% |
If you’re using loans to fund your medical degree, you might want to start by looking into federal loans. Offered by the Department of Education, they typically have lower interest rates and more flexible repayment options than private loans.
For both Direct Unsubsidized and Graduate Direct PLUS Loans, you’ll need to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). And to qualify for PLUS loans, you’ll need to pass a credit check or apply with a creditworthy cosigner.
To learn more, check out our page on federal student loans for graduate school.
Alternative ways to pay for medical school
Trying to avoid taking out student loans? Here are a few alternatives to consider:
Bottom line
A slew of private lenders offer loans specifically designed for med school students — with high maximum amounts and extended deferment for residency programs. However, you might want to consider your federal options first, since these tend to come with lower rates and more flexible repayment plans.
You can learn more about how it all works by reading our guide to graduate student loans.
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