Post-Baccalaureate Cost of Attendance

It is the goal of the GW SMHS Program Financial Aid Office to provide students with the information necessary to make good choices in financing their medical school education. Our office offers a number of programs to assist students in financing their education, including: institutional scholarships, participation in Federal Direct loan programs, and assistance with helping students in obtaining private loans. The SMHS Office of Financial Aid will only certify loans to the total Cost of Attendance (COA) less any institutional aid, outside scholarships, or other outside resources (e.g. AmeriCorps Segal Awards). Costs that may affect the COA are listed below the table.

Financial aid budgets are intended as a guide to reflect a student's AVERAGE cost of attendance; they do not imply the availability of financial aid funds. Please note that tuition rates and total COA figures are subject to change at any time. Some figures do not represent actual costs, they only serve as a general framework for students' personal budgets. If a student borrows the full budget from financial aid, they will incur considerable debt and may not be able to secure resources to complete their education, should they experience adverse credit. If they spend more in one budget category, they may need to spend less in another. Therefore, students are strongly encouraged to be mindful of their spending and to try to live below the budget.

Please note that federal aid accepted will be divided into two equal disbursements for the 2627 academic year, one for fall and one for spring.

1. The Tuition category is Tuition only for full-time students. Students who are enrolled less than full-time (12 credit hours) in any semester should review the Tuition and Fee Schedule for the SMHS. The COA is subject to change based on less than full-time credit hour enrollment. 

2. The cost of a required laptop is included in the first semester budget. The Post-Baccalaureate Program requires students to have a laptop and provides the required specifications for all laptop computers that will run necessary software. This is a one-time allowance, except for special circumstances in future years.  

3. The Monthly Budget is the total living expenses divided by the number of months in the academic year; it is provided as a guide. Students are expected to manage resources within the total budget according to their discretion.                                    

4. The Health Care Allowance is based on 2025-2026 pricing with an estimated increase accounted for in Fall 2026 and Spring 2027. 

5. Loan Origination fees are based on average borrowing levels for federal loans. This is an annual aggregate of $12,500 at a 1.057% origination fee.

    

Living Expenses Breakdown

	Per week	Summer 26	Fall 26	Spring 27
Rent and Utilities	$497	$6958	$7,703	$7,703
Food	$212	$2968	$3,286	$3,286
Commuter Expenses:	$75/30	$420	$1163	$1163
Personal Expenses:	$75	$1,050	1163	$1163
Monthly Living Expense:	$859	$11,396	$13,315	$13,315

 

Increases to the Standard Cost of Attendance (COA) 

We are unable to increase the COA for any budget allowances not indicated below other than transportation based on extenuating circumstances on a case-by-case basis. Requests to increase federal aid eligibility for dependent students can only be reviewed after a Parent has applied for a Parent PLUS Loan and been denied, please submit documentation by April 15, 2026. A Cost of Attendance Adjustment Form along with required documentation can be submitted via Box. Please include your GWID on documents. 

Deadline for requests: 

Summer 2026: deadline is July 15, 2026

Fall 2026 and Spring 2027: deadline is April 15, 2027, unless otherwise noted.

Note: All requests for an increase to the COA must include the documentation mentioned for each category and a signed Cost of Attendance Adjustment Form, which may be found on the Post-Bacc Program Forms page. All documentation and the Cost of Attendance Adjustment Form must be submitted four weeks prior to the end of any semester, unless otherwise noted. Requests made after the last day of exams will be processed in the first week of the following semester.

Dependent care costs: For the purpose of determining financial need for federal programs, Congress has mandated that only those costs associated with the student's education be considered. Within the methodology for determining need, Congress has included an income protection allowance for dependents which is subtracted from the student's income. This allowance thereby reduces the expected contribution from the student's household. This allowance is based on national averages. On a case by case basis, where the family's available income is less than the income protection allowance, an addition to the standard budget of a 'dependent care allowance' to reflect costs of food and shelter for dependents may be appropriate. The bottom line is: federal student loans are for student educational expenses only. For married students the responsibility for child care is split and the student may only apply for an increase of 50% of reasonable costs. If the spouse is a stay at home parent, no increase will be made. Appeals may be made for a dependent spouse with challenges that to do not allow them to care for their children. Documentation as to the actual cost will be required. Students should complete a loan increase form.

Disability Accommodation Expenses: For a student with a disability, an allowance for expenses related to the student’s disability. These expenses include special services, personal assistance, transportation, equipment, and supplies that are reasonably incurred and not provided by other agencies. A student is considered to have a disability if he or she has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits a major life activity, such as if the student is deaf, has a mental disability, is hard of hearing, has a speech or language impairment, is visually disabled, is seriously emotionally disturbed, orthopedically impaired, autistic, has a traumatic brain injury, is otherwise health[1]impaired, or has specific learning disabilities that require special education and related services. Students requesting disability accommodation adjustments to the cost of attendance need to request a letter from GW DSS outlining the specific accommodation items that need to be purchased.  Letters need to be dated within 90 days of the request and within the academic semester of the request.  The letter must be submitted with a cost of attendance adjustment form, letters from DSS and your physician and all documentation associated with the costs (i.e. receipts, explanation of benefit letters from your insurance provider, an itemized excel spread with each item purchased listed including: the date of purchase, item purchased and if the receipt is associated with another document being submitted.) 

Laptop Purchasing: Students that have not used that one-time allowance for a computer/laptop purchase or have experienced other special circumstances can request an increase. The maximum allowance for purchase of a computer is $1,650 (see COA table). Requests for inclusion of costs for maintenance and/or repair of a computer will not be considered. However, the cost of a maintenance contract or extended warranty, purchased along with the computer, can be included. 

The cost of software, printer cartridges, paper, monthly online service fees, etc. will be assumed to be covered by the books and supplies and miscellaneous allowances already included in the student’s COA. Inclusion of the cost of the computer (or an upgrade) will be allowed only once per program of study (example: once for undergraduate studies, once for graduate studies). Scholarship funds are not available to cover the cost of a computer. Students may apply for federal or alternative educational loan funds. Students should consult with a financial aid counselor to find out about loan eligibility. It is important that you retain your proof of purchase for your computer in case something should happen to your computer. The purchase must have occurred no earlier than 90 days prior to enrollment in the Post-Baccalaureate Program.

Other expenses. The SMHS Office of Financial Aid may consider other educationally-related expenses on a case-by-case basis. If you have an expense that does not meet the guidelines stated above, please contact our office for consideration in person or email us at: medfinan [at] gwu [dot] edu (medfinan[at]gwu[dot]edu)