Standard Cost of Attendance for the 2024-2025 Academic Year*

It is the goal of the GW SMHS Program Financial Aid Office to provide you with the information necessary to make good choices in financing your medical school education. Our office offers a number of programs to assist you in financing your education, including institutional gift aid, merit and need-based scholarships, as well as participating in Federal Direct, HRSA, and institutional loan programs, and assisting students in obtaining private loans. GW SMHS Program 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 your personal budget. If you borrow the full budget from financial aid you will incur considerable debt and may not be able to secure resources to complete your education, should you experience adverse credit. If you spend more in one budget category you 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.

The Financial Aid Office will divide each figure by two to represent the allowance for either the fall or spring semesters. M2 and M3 year students should please note that the National Board Exam fees are divided in half over both semesters.

2024-2025 Standard Cost of Attendance Budgets for Each Class of Students

The Tuition category is Tuition only for full-time students. Students who are less than full-time hours (9 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 hours. 

2. University Fees are assessed to all students registered on-campus.  These fees are comprised of the Student Government Association and MD Activity Fees. The Student Government Association Fee is $3.00/credit to a maximum of $45.00/semester for all medical students. The Activity Fee is $390/yr. (for 1st year students), $310/yr. (for 2nd year students), $170/yr. (for 3rd year students), and $170/yr. (for 4th year students). Additionally, 1st year students are charged a $50 orientation fee and a $100 Step 1 study fee.  2nd Year students are also charged a $200 Step 1 study fee.           

3. Books are available free through the Himmelfarb Library. Students who require paper books should contact Dean Goldberg. Students with this requirement will be able to obtain a cost of attendance adjustment and loan eligibility.                          

4. Instrument costs for 1st year students include dissecting equipment and clinical instruments and the cost of a required notebook computer. The MD Program requires you to have a laptop computer and provides required specifications for all laptop computers that will run necessary software here. Your laptop must be able to run Examsoft software. Because it is a requirement for MS1 students to have a laptop it is included in your cost of attendance.  Please be aware that this is a one-time allowance.  The allowance is for a computer laptop, a monitor, and peripherals. 

• The maximum allowance for purchase of a computer is $1,650
• 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.
• Expenses for the cost of leasing a computer (as an option to purchasing) can be considered. The monthly lease amount for each academic year will be considered, up to a career maximum of $1,650.
• The purchase must have occurred no earlier than 90 days prior to enrollment in the MD Program.
• 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.                                          

5. 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.                                    

6. The Health Care Allowance includes approximately $3,000 for mandatory health insurance.

7. Loan fees are budgeted based on the average loan origination fee of students in the last academic year, 2023-2024. The fee is 1.057% on a Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan and 4.228% on a Federal Direct Graduate PLUS Loan. Please note: as of 2023/2024 students may not request an adjustment to the COA based on loan fees.                        

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 clinical rotation location and/or extenuating circumstances on a case-by-case basis. Requests increased federal aid eligibility must be made by April 15, 2025 by submitting a Cost of Attendance Adjustment Form with any required documentation. Please include your GWID on each document and in your email.

Deadline for requests: April 15, 2025 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 forms page. All documentation and the Cost of Attendance Adjustment Form must 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. Please note that all requests for an increase to the COA, for the purpose of increased borrowing, require one-on-one counseling.

Residency interview costs are included in the budget for 4th year students. Fourth year students who have financial aid ‘up to cost of attendance' and are still short of funds due to these expenses should contact the Financial Aid Office concerning the Fourth Year Residency Travel Allowance Request Form. The deadline to submit all documentation is March 15, 2025. This does not include away rotations. Students may not increase the cost of attendance for away rotations, except for rotations outside of the United States.

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 may include, but are not limited to: special services, personal assistance, transportation, equipment, and supplies that are reasonably incurred and not provided by other agencies. 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 year of the request.  The letter must be submitted with a cost of attendance adjustment form, signed and dated 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 spreadsheet with each item purchased listed including: the date of purchase, item purchased and if the receipt is associated with another document being submitted).

Other expenses. The Medical School 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@gwu.edu

Regional Medical Campus (RMC) Budget Adjustment Policy. RMC students moving to Baltimore please review the policy regarding adjustments for relocation expenses.  RMC Budget Adjustment Policy. 

MD/MPH Program Cost of Attendance (COA) 

Requests for loan increases and increased federal aid eligibility must be made by April 15, 2025 by submitting a Loan Adjustment Request Form with any required documentation.

Please note that students may not increase their cost of attendance for residency interview travel during the MPH portion of this program.  Instead, students are advised to look for Residency and Relocation Loan products from a private lender. Students may request increase for all other categories as described above.

This budget is set with the assumption that students will register 10 credit hours in the fall and 10 credit hours in the spring.  Any difference in registration will cause a change in this allowance.  Please note that credit hours in this program are charged at a rate of $1,700 per credit hour. 

MD/Public Health Certificate. Students who wish to pursue the MD Public Health Certificate must complete 15 credit hours, 10 of those within the School of Public Health. Credit hour fees for certificate students are $1,360 each.  Each credit hour carries a $3 Student Association fee.