Cost of Law School and Medical School: Debt vs. Earnings (2026 stats)
TL;DR
The typical law school graduate leaves with $119,956 in federal loans and medical school graduates with $225,828, in EDsmart Data's analysis of College Scorecard program data. Median first-year pay is $79,653 for new lawyers but only $64,701 for new doctors, because most are still in residency. Published tuition and fees run $40,550 a year for law school and $44,136 for medical school at the median (in-state rates).
Key Facts
- Median law school debt: $119,956
- Median medical school (MD) debt: $225,828
- Highest-debt professional program: Dentistry ($302,418)
- Law graduates' median pay after 1 year: $79,653
- Schools covered: 203 law, 180 MD/DO
Download the data
Downloads reflect the processed dataset used on this page.
Annual tuition and fees for law, medical, and other professional schools
Out-of-state students pay far more at public schools
In our analysis of IPEDS 2023-24 charges, the median medical school charges $44,136 a year in-state and $65,192 out-of-state. Over four years, in-state tuition alone totals about $176,542 before living costs.
Median of published 2023-24 annual tuition plus required fees across schools reporting each program to IPEDS. Private schools charge one rate.
Median federal debt at graduation: law, medicine, and other professional programs
Medical and dental school carry the biggest balances
Our analysis finds Dentistry graduates borrow the most at the median ($302,418), followed by Medicine (MD) ($225,828).
Federal Direct Stafford and Grad PLUS loans at completion. Private loans are not included.
Earnings 1 and 4 years after graduation
Residency delays the payoff for doctors
New MDs earn $64,701 a year after graduating, about residency pay, while their median debt is $225,828. By year 4, pay reaches $112,813.
Median earnings of graduates working and not enrolled.
Professional school debt and earnings summary
| Program | Tuition + fees / yr (in-state) | Est. total tuition | Median debt | Monthly payment (10-yr plan) | Debt as % of year-1 pay | Year-1 earnings | Year-4 earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dentistry | $54,087 | $216,348 | $302,418 | $3,680 | 226.9% | $133,274 | $173,975 |
| Medicine (MD) | $44,136 | $176,542 | $225,828 | $2,748 | 349.0% | $64,701 | $112,813 |
| Optometry | $41,900 | $167,602 | $196,418 | $2,390 | 173.3% | $113,330 | $132,661 |
| Veterinary medicine | $29,886 | $119,542 | $168,667 | $2,053 | 150.6% | $111,973 | $128,327 |
| Pharmacy | $37,000 | $148,000 | $138,945 | $1,691 | 133.9% | $103,770 | $137,021 |
| Law (JD) | $40,550 | $121,650 | $119,956 | $1,460 | 150.6% | $79,653 | $108,350 |
Law school debt by school (203 schools)
Sorted by median federal debt, highest first.
| Law school | State | Tuition + fees / yr | Median debt | Monthly payment | Year-1 earnings | Year-4 earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Columbia University in the City of New York | NY | $81,397 | $204,847 | $2,493 | $226,792 | $308,943 |
| University of Chicago | IL | $77,877 | $204,803 | $2,492 | $209,927 | $279,203 |
| California Western School of Law | CA | $60,430 | $203,511 | $2,477 | $75,591 | $100,889 |
| Thomas Jefferson School of Law | CA | $34,400 | $203,389 | $2,475 | $61,550 | $87,982 |
| New York University | NY | $79,776 | $200,942 | $2,445 | $219,153 | $255,401 |
| Howard University | DC | $38,612 | $191,298 | $2,328 | $106,437 | $116,413 |
| George Washington University | DC | $69,740 | $190,920 | $2,323 | $104,455 | $140,848 |
| Southwestern Law School | CA | $58,537 | $182,531 | $2,221 | $80,899 | $108,350 |
| Santa Clara University | CA | $58,464 | $181,936 | $2,214 | $98,780 | $148,599 |
| University of Virginia-Main Campus | VA | $71,128 | $181,823 | $2,213 | $214,011 | $284,309 |
| Barry University | FL | $43,150 | $179,498 | $2,184 | $59,656 | $82,024 |
| Chapman University | CA | $61,466 | $178,628 | $2,174 | $88,522 | $119,002 |
| University of San Francisco | CA | $54,250 | $176,640 | $2,150 | $88,852 | — |
| Golden Gate University | CA | $2,050 | $176,619 | $2,149 | $67,023 | $96,079 |
| Northwestern University | IL | $74,552 | $175,867 | $2,140 | $220,974 | $291,132 |
| Willamette University | OR | $50,944 | $175,192 | $2,132 | $75,273 | $100,524 |
| University of Miami | FL | $62,303 | $173,398 | $2,110 | $87,621 | $117,811 |
| Atlanta's John Marshall Law School | GA | $52,006 | $167,323 | $2,036 | $71,780 | $80,422 |
| Nova Southeastern University | FL | $47,729 | $167,112 | $2,034 | $67,124 | $96,470 |
| Duke University | NC | $75,615 | $166,757 | $2,029 | $215,478 | $261,230 |
| University of California-Berkeley | CA | $62,301 | $166,278 | $2,024 | $212,732 | $226,996 |
| Georgetown University | DC | $75,959 | $164,055 | $1,997 | $200,986 | $226,624 |
| Cornell University | NY | $78,093 | $163,440 | $1,989 | $221,831 | $259,851 |
| Vanderbilt University | TN | $70,698 | $162,719 | $1,980 | $194,248 | $196,797 |
| University of California College of the Law-San Francisco | CA | $54,140 | $161,753 | $1,968 | $106,980 | $136,001 |
| Thomas M Cooley Law School | MI | $46,560 | $160,093 | $1,948 | $55,916 | $74,147 |
| Fordham University | NY | $72,282 | $159,500 | $1,941 | $205,946 | $232,595 |
| Trinity Law School | CA | $32,750 | $159,412 | $1,940 | $49,016 | $69,932 |
| Trinity International University-Illinois | IL | — | $159,412 | $1,940 | $49,016 | $69,932 |
| University of the Pacific | CA | $59,580 | $159,280 | $1,938 | $80,285 | $114,281 |
| Loyola Marymount University | CA | $65,912 | $158,843 | $1,933 | $101,289 | $143,361 |
| St. Thomas University | FL | $45,960 | $158,207 | $1,925 | $64,322 | $99,412 |
| Yale University | CT | $73,865 | $157,082 | $1,912 | $126,228 | $188,189 |
| Creighton University | NE | $49,904 | $154,760 | $1,883 | $68,601 | $86,665 |
| South Texas College of Law Houston | TX | $42,110 | $153,711 | $1,871 | $85,930 | $108,296 |
| Oklahoma City University | OK | $37,500 | $152,856 | $1,860 | $59,395 | $74,062 |
| Stanford University | CA | $72,363 | $152,747 | $1,859 | $149,637 | $259,944 |
| University of Pennsylvania | PA | $76,934 | $151,202 | $1,840 | $218,872 | $302,120 |
| Campbell University | NC | $49,730 | $151,122 | $1,839 | $65,790 | $89,637 |
| Hofstra University | NY | $68,860 | $150,600 | $1,833 | $79,539 | $102,901 |
| Mississippi Christian University | MS | $30,894 | $145,260 | $1,768 | $59,311 | $70,352 |
| Southern Methodist University | TX | $47,658 | $144,500 | $1,759 | $108,097 | $153,614 |
| University of Michigan-Ann Arbor | MI | $69,494 | $144,382 | $1,757 | $204,630 | $224,391 |
| University of Denver | CO | $58,347 | $144,294 | $1,756 | $80,504 | $103,145 |
| Boston College | MA | $66,895 | $144,123 | $1,754 | $175,620 | $190,940 |
| Samford University | AL | $45,236 | $144,096 | $1,754 | $70,843 | $91,687 |
| University of California-Irvine | CA | $55,945 | $141,126 | $1,717 | $127,238 | $153,307 |
| University of San Diego | CA | $62,981 | $140,720 | $1,713 | $89,107 | $134,065 |
| American University | DC | $63,088 | $139,660 | $1,700 | $83,340 | $109,523 |
| Pepperdine University | CA | $68,046 | $139,618 | $1,699 | $93,519 | $126,561 |
| Tulane University of Louisiana | LA | $67,780 | $139,236 | $1,694 | $82,387 | — |
| Brooklyn Law School | NY | $70,356 | $139,205 | $1,694 | $90,670 | $121,254 |
| University of Southern California | CA | $78,046 | $139,036 | $1,692 | $207,632 | $203,028 |
| University of Washington-Seattle Campus | WA | $43,584 | $138,295 | $1,683 | $86,110 | $120,015 |
| St. Mary's University | TX | $22,674 | $137,961 | $1,679 | $72,309 | $87,375 |
| University of Illinois Chicago | IL | $39,160 | $137,738 | $1,676 | $72,337 | $95,603 |
| Lewis & Clark College | OR | $56,346 | $137,681 | $1,676 | $72,623 | $97,491 |
| Lincoln Memorial University | TN | $43,010 | $135,978 | $1,655 | $56,845 | $73,596 |
| Stetson University | FL | $51,708 | $135,596 | $1,650 | $71,126 | $96,451 |
| Touro University | NY | $57,080 | $133,683 | $1,627 | $71,252 | $86,767 |
| University of Detroit Mercy | MI | $47,239 | $133,058 | $1,619 | $72,280 | $93,055 |
| Charleston School of Law | SC | $46,134 | $132,332 | $1,610 | $64,448 | $73,362 |
| Emory University | GA | $66,232 | $131,634 | $1,602 | $116,347 | $152,126 |
| The Catholic University of America | DC | $58,436 | $131,353 | $1,599 | $83,745 | $112,809 |
| Seattle University | WA | $57,173 | $131,096 | $1,595 | $78,978 | $105,471 |
| Loyola University New Orleans | LA | $50,420 | $130,687 | $1,590 | — | — |
| University of California-Davis | CA | $54,950 | $130,500 | $1,588 | $101,884 | $136,814 |
| New York Law School | NY | $64,824 | $130,391 | $1,587 | $81,564 | $109,122 |
| San Joaquin College of Law | CA | $22,785 | $129,171 | $1,572 | $68,121 | $93,023 |
| Southern University and A & M College | LA | $17,434 | $127,635 | $1,553 | $53,279 | $67,462 |
| Southern University Law Center | LA | $17,434 | $127,635 | $1,553 | $53,279 | $67,462 |
| Marquette University | WI | $49,710 | $125,500 | $1,527 | $71,236 | $85,116 |
| University of Richmond | VA | $53,440 | $123,875 | $1,508 | $74,189 | $101,062 |
| North Carolina Central University | NC | $16,184 | $122,897 | $1,496 | $61,944 | $83,361 |
| Ave Maria School of Law | FL | $49,656 | $122,609 | $1,492 | $64,701 | $91,005 |
| University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth | MA | $31,040 | $122,144 | $1,486 | $63,417 | $78,991 |
| University of Notre Dame | IN | $68,554 | $121,186 | $1,475 | $136,137 | $142,699 |
| Mercer University | GA | $42,832 | $121,056 | $1,473 | $72,508 | $90,359 |
| Roger Williams University | RI | — | $120,892 | $1,471 | $63,199 | $90,866 |
| Roger Williams University School of Law | RI | $46,464 | $120,892 | $1,471 | $63,199 | $90,866 |
| University of Oregon | OR | $46,264 | $120,050 | $1,461 | $76,897 | $100,801 |
| University of the District of Columbia | DC | $13,438 | $120,008 | $1,460 | $65,525 | $90,325 |
| Texas Southern University | TX | $20,418 | $119,956 | $1,460 | $66,184 | — |
| University of Maryland Baltimore | MD | $36,999 | $119,941 | $1,460 | $75,660 | $112,580 |
| Baylor University | TX | $57,430 | $119,916 | $1,459 | $96,639 | $121,715 |
| Elon University | NC | $58,256 | $118,973 | $1,448 | $65,187 | $82,321 |
| Vermont Law and Graduate School | VT | $52,775 | $117,714 | $1,433 | $60,786 | $77,550 |
| Loyola University Chicago | IL | $55,258 | $116,954 | $1,423 | $91,976 | $122,384 |
| Gonzaga University | WA | $52,789 | $116,869 | $1,422 | $73,282 | $88,461 |
| Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico-Ponce | PR | $17,648 | $116,756 | $1,421 | $30,323 | $39,634 |
| Arizona State University Campus Immersion | AZ | $28,839 | $114,553 | $1,394 | $84,081 | $111,668 |
| St. John's University-New York | NY | $71,664 | $114,074 | $1,388 | $95,268 | $112,325 |
| Northeastern University | MA | $60,566 | $113,294 | $1,379 | $90,605 | $116,706 |
| DePaul University | IL | $51,985 | $112,800 | $1,373 | $77,411 | $107,264 |
| Faulkner University | AL | $39,325 | $112,786 | $1,373 | — | $68,740 |
| Belmont University | TN | $53,320 | $112,600 | $1,370 | $76,814 | $100,168 |
| Yeshiva University | NY | $70,646 | $112,292 | $1,367 | $87,755 | $124,597 |
| University of Tulsa | OK | $29,764 | $111,803 | $1,361 | $62,809 | $86,293 |
| Mitchell Hamline School of Law | MN | $54,120 | $111,530 | $1,357 | $74,343 | $91,497 |
| Case Western Reserve University | OH | $60,994 | $111,430 | $1,356 | $76,918 | $105,964 |
| Westcliff University | CA | $49,848 | $111,130 | $1,352 | $74,642 | — |
| William & Mary | VA | $41,175 | $111,029 | $1,351 | $83,069 | $115,663 |
| Syracuse University | NY | $62,490 | $110,960 | $1,350 | $72,221 | $97,648 |
| University of Colorado Boulder | CO | $34,747 | $109,461 | $1,332 | $81,315 | $109,411 |
| Widener University | PA | $53,220 | $108,931 | $1,326 | $63,586 | $83,799 |
| University of Idaho | ID | $25,932 | $108,425 | $1,320 | $67,309 | $81,744 |
| Quinnipiac University | CT | $54,880 | $108,049 | $1,315 | $80,721 | $100,096 |
| Washington and Lee University | VA | $54,550 | $107,460 | $1,308 | $95,999 | $110,606 |
| Northern Kentucky University | KY | $24,619 | $106,454 | $1,296 | $61,985 | $74,937 |
| New England Law-Boston | MA | $57,298 | $106,322 | $1,294 | $71,910 | $94,232 |
| Drexel University | PA | $53,700 | $105,404 | $1,283 | $72,824 | $95,933 |
| Capital University | OH | $1,955 | $105,027 | $1,278 | $64,345 | $85,015 |
| University of Minnesota-Twin Cities | MN | $48,965 | $104,825 | $1,276 | $85,689 | $117,872 |
| Seton Hall University | NJ | $66,780 | $103,370 | $1,258 | $80,464 | $136,424 |
| Inter American University of Puerto Rico-School of Law | PR | $14,550 | $103,157 | $1,255 | $33,923 | $53,462 |
| Boston University | MA | $64,520 | $102,650 | $1,249 | $151,628 | $194,750 |
| Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University | FL | $11,080 | $102,642 | $1,249 | $62,774 | $81,144 |
| University of California-Los Angeles | CA | $55,555 | $101,750 | $1,238 | $178,034 | $177,968 |
| Illinois Institute of Technology | IL | $53,270 | $101,496 | $1,235 | $82,546 | $111,515 |
| Suffolk University | MA | $56,968 | $100,516 | $1,223 | $80,681 | $103,969 |
| Washington University in St Louis | MO | $67,624 | $98,271 | $1,196 | $150,675 | $141,243 |
| University of Missouri-Kansas City | MO | $23,144 | $95,146 | $1,158 | $65,850 | $92,296 |
| University of Arkansas at Little Rock | AR | $13,693 | $95,010 | $1,156 | $60,568 | $78,317 |
| Wake Forest University | NC | $54,192 | $94,987 | $1,156 | $87,987 | $112,646 |
| Saint Louis University | MO | $48,954 | $94,722 | $1,153 | $76,005 | $93,029 |
| University of Memphis | TN | $19,360 | $94,721 | $1,153 | $61,864 | $81,169 |
| University of South Carolina-Columbia | SC | $22,322 | $92,996 | $1,132 | $69,399 | $93,806 |
| University of Wyoming | WY | $17,946 | $92,542 | $1,126 | $67,904 | $81,644 |
| Drake University | IA | $48,410 | $92,317 | $1,123 | $70,385 | $87,375 |
| Albany Law School | NY | $57,671 | $91,893 | $1,118 | $73,907 | $89,212 |
| The Colleges of Law at Ventura | CA | $19,152 | $91,538 | $1,114 | $88,273 | $78,136 |
| The Colleges of Law at Santa Barbara | CA | $19,152 | $91,538 | $1,114 | $88,273 | $78,136 |
| The University of Montana | MT | $9,630 | $90,402 | $1,100 | $69,935 | $86,640 |
| Villanova University | PA | $53,438 | $90,115 | $1,097 | $91,730 | $129,021 |
| University of Iowa | IA | $31,426 | $89,700 | $1,092 | $75,708 | $107,273 |
| CUNY School of Law | NY | $16,014 | $89,348 | $1,087 | $76,740 | $87,345 |
| University of Houston | TX | $27,283 | $88,521 | $1,077 | $106,505 | $135,984 |
| University of Nevada-Las Vegas | NV | $29,268 | $88,437 | $1,076 | $87,225 | $108,006 |
| University of New Mexico-Main Campus | NM | $8,299 | $87,810 | $1,069 | $68,372 | $85,706 |
| University of South Dakota | SD | $15,024 | $87,591 | $1,066 | — | — |
| University of New Hampshire-Main Campus | NH | — | $87,568 | $1,066 | $73,556 | $100,597 |
| Michigan State University | MI | $41,380 | $86,596 | $1,054 | $73,787 | $96,342 |
| University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill | NC | $27,991 | $86,403 | $1,052 | $93,372 | $142,928 |
| University of St Thomas | MN | $24,460 | $85,416 | $1,039 | $74,234 | $89,706 |
| University of Hawaii at Manoa | HI | $29,788 | $85,099 | $1,036 | $72,974 | $89,520 |
| University of Louisville | KY | $25,696 | $84,706 | $1,031 | $63,572 | $80,728 |
| Northern Illinois University | IL | $23,552 | $83,496 | $1,016 | $61,696 | $78,459 |
| University of Kentucky | KY | $26,232 | $82,963 | $1,010 | $65,090 | $86,420 |
| Duquesne University | PA | $55,500 | $82,736 | $1,007 | $67,873 | $82,014 |
| University of West Los Angeles | CA | $29,737 | $82,000 | $998 | $47,355 | — |
| Pace University | NY | $53,886 | $82,000 | $998 | $73,747 | — |
| Purdue University Global | IN | $12,461 | $81,822 | $996 | $90,599 | $84,403 |
| University of North Texas at Dallas | TX | $16,508 | $81,715 | $994 | $77,455 | $101,120 |
| Florida International University | FL | $21,115 | $80,618 | $981 | $82,256 | $105,414 |
| Regent University | VA | $40,550 | $80,315 | $977 | $66,818 | $82,360 |
| George Mason University | VA | $26,950 | $77,500 | $943 | $85,377 | $135,661 |
| Cleveland State University | OH | $30,230 | $77,500 | $943 | $71,413 | $91,229 |
| University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus | PA | $39,618 | $77,415 | $942 | $78,295 | $94,797 |
| University of Connecticut-Hartford Campus | CT | — | $76,500 | $931 | $79,653 | $120,178 |
| University of Connecticut-Avery Point | CT | — | $76,500 | $931 | $79,653 | $120,178 |
| University of Connecticut | CT | $31,508 | $76,500 | $931 | $79,653 | $120,178 |
| University of Connecticut-Waterbury Campus | CT | — | $76,500 | $931 | $79,653 | $120,178 |
| University of Connecticut-Stamford | CT | — | $76,500 | $931 | $79,653 | $120,178 |
| Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College | LA | $23,695 | $75,535 | $919 | $70,394 | $103,602 |
| Ohio State University-Main Campus | OH | $34,086 | $75,106 | $914 | $83,997 | $122,732 |
| Southern Illinois University-Carbondale | IL | $21,282 | $74,106 | $902 | $57,063 | $79,658 |
| West Virginia University | WV | $26,010 | $73,909 | $899 | $65,672 | $78,497 |
| Texas Tech University | TX | $27,532 | $73,856 | $899 | $82,319 | $100,716 |
| Georgia State University | GA | $13,260 | $73,500 | $894 | $88,730 | $116,613 |
| Washburn University | KS | $24,694 | $73,142 | $890 | $65,433 | $83,608 |
| Temple University | PA | $30,880 | $70,398 | $857 | $80,956 | $117,775 |
| University of North Dakota | ND | $13,916 | $69,233 | $843 | $68,231 | $90,309 |
| University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign | IL | $39,817 | $68,819 | $838 | $92,516 | $130,428 |
| Western New England University | MA | $50,070 | $68,500 | $834 | $65,483 | $79,692 |
| University of Toledo | OH | $27,266 | $67,925 | $827 | $61,910 | $85,086 |
| Indiana University-Bloomington | IN | $38,228 | $67,850 | $826 | $88,758 | $120,301 |
| University of Georgia | GA | $18,994 | $67,459 | $821 | $86,845 | $116,044 |
| Rutgers University-New Brunswick | NJ | — | $67,458 | $821 | $70,552 | $106,575 |
| University of Nebraska-Lincoln | NE | $16,081 | $65,500 | $797 | $74,327 | $90,759 |
| Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus | PA | $56,436 | $65,500 | $797 | $73,461 | $90,775 |
| University of Arizona | AZ | $26,171 | $64,975 | $791 | $74,758 | — |
| University of Oklahoma-Norman Campus | OK | $21,339 | $64,628 | $787 | $72,491 | $86,893 |
| University of Cincinnati-Main Campus | OH | $24,010 | $63,231 | $770 | $73,209 | $85,043 |
| University of Missouri-Columbia | MO | $23,847 | $62,421 | $760 | $70,904 | $86,349 |
| University of Southern Maine | ME | $24,900 | $62,244 | $757 | $66,803 | $83,912 |
| Florida State University | FL | $20,694 | $62,235 | $757 | $70,457 | $98,060 |
| University of Arkansas | AR | $17,898 | $61,500 | $748 | $63,636 | $88,977 |
| Ohio Northern University | OH | $33,600 | $61,500 | $748 | $60,353 | $69,823 |
| University of Kansas | KS | $24,174 | $61,500 | $748 | $76,192 | $94,898 |
| The University of Alabama | AL | $24,380 | $61,500 | $748 | $78,273 | $110,931 |
| University of Akron Main Campus | OH | $26,115 | $61,500 | $748 | $64,790 | $79,750 |
| University of Mississippi | MS | $18,470 | $61,500 | $748 | $69,218 | $92,069 |
| Harvard University | MA | $75,008 | $61,500 | $748 | $215,131 | $291,490 |
| University at Buffalo | NY | $29,248 | $61,500 | $748 | $77,356 | $85,126 |
| Wayne State University | MI | $38,135 | $61,500 | $748 | $79,518 | $96,763 |
| Taft University System | CO | $8,870 | $61,500 | $748 | $75,859 | $85,612 |
| University of Utah | UT | $33,634 | $61,500 | $748 | $92,047 | $113,168 |
| Texas A&M University-College Station | TX | $32,633 | $61,500 | $748 | $83,466 | $105,673 |
| The University of Tennessee-Knoxville | TN | $20,408 | $61,500 | $748 | $76,631 | $103,272 |
| University of Wisconsin-Madison | WI | $35,196 | $61,500 | $748 | $75,958 | $100,715 |
| University of Florida | FL | $21,804 | $59,500 | $724 | $80,969 | $114,496 |
| Northcentral University | CA | $22,970 | $59,371 | $723 | — | — |
| Brigham Young University | UT | $15,076 | $45,500 | $554 | — | — |
Medical school debt by school (180 MD and DO programs)
| Medical school | Degree | State | Tuition + fees / yr | Median debt | Monthly payment | Year-1 earnings | Year-4 earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Midwestern University-Downers Grove | Medicine (MD) | IL | — | $379,095 | $4,614 | $63,500 | $145,060 |
| Rocky Vista University | Medicine (MD) | CO | — | $375,156 | $4,566 | $62,845 | $135,585 |
| Touro University | Medicine (MD) | NY | — | $370,000 | $4,503 | $68,694 | $131,180 |
| Nova Southeastern University | Medicine (MD) | FL | $68,858 | $361,981 | $4,405 | $61,706 | $130,217 |
| A T Still University of Health Sciences | Medicine (MD) | MO | — | $355,666 | $4,328 | $62,885 | — |
| Touro University California | Medicine (MD) | CA | — | $344,183 | $4,189 | $64,701 | $148,802 |
| Touro University Nevada | Medicine (MD) | NV | — | $344,183 | $4,189 | $64,701 | $148,802 |
| Lincoln Memorial University | Medicine (MD) | TN | — | $343,425 | $4,179 | $60,264 | $170,521 |
| University of the Incarnate Word | Medicine (MD) | TX | — | $343,248 | $4,177 | $61,065 | — |
| Tulane University of Louisiana | Medicine (MD) | LA | $73,766 | $342,528 | $4,168 | $66,193 | — |
| Alabama College of Osteopathic Medicine | Medicine (MD) | AL | — | $337,118 | $4,103 | $60,606 | $141,650 |
| Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences | Medicine (MD) | WA | — | $334,699 | $4,073 | $64,361 | $195,564 |
| Burrell College of Osteopathic Medicine | Medicine (MD) | NM | — | $330,931 | $4,027 | $62,361 | — |
| University of New England | Medicine (MD) | ME | — | $324,899 | $3,954 | $65,648 | $129,270 |
| Western University of Health Sciences | Medicine (MD) | CA | — | $320,525 | $3,901 | $67,826 | $156,511 |
| New York Institute of Technology | Medicine (MD) | NY | — | $307,424 | $3,741 | $67,192 | $126,613 |
| Campbell University | Medicine (MD) | NC | — | $302,745 | $3,684 | $61,367 | $145,072 |
| Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine | Medicine (MD) | PA | — | $300,000 | $3,651 | $64,415 | $139,981 |
| Liberty University | Medicine (MD) | VA | — | $298,507 | $3,633 | $62,009 | $176,742 |
| Arkansas Colleges of Health Education | Medicine (MD) | AR | — | $298,064 | $3,627 | $59,276 | — |
| Kansas City University | Medicine (MD) | MO | — | $297,833 | $3,625 | $61,711 | $77,706 |
| Western Michigan University Homer Stryker M.D. School of Medicine | Medicine (MD) | MI | $68,200 | $296,704 | $3,611 | $65,166 | $107,892 |
| Kent State University at Kent | Medicine (MD) | OH | — | $294,629 | $3,586 | $60,716 | $121,373 |
| Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine | Medicine (MD) | VA | — | $293,263 | $3,569 | $61,231 | $153,927 |
| Creighton University | Medicine (MD) | NE | $67,088 | $290,332 | $3,533 | $64,762 | $109,700 |
| Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science | Medicine (MD) | IL | $66,481 | $290,289 | $3,533 | — | — |
| West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine | Medicine (MD) | WV | — | $289,954 | $3,529 | $62,169 | $173,189 |
| New York Medical College | Medicine (MD) | NY | $63,824 | $289,277 | $3,520 | $73,742 | $95,053 |
| Marian University | Medicine (MD) | IN | — | $287,734 | $3,502 | $62,157 | $174,993 |
| Drexel University | Medicine (MD) | PA | $67,790 | $284,748 | $3,465 | $68,105 | $95,437 |
| Barry University | Medicine (MD) | FL | — | $279,868 | $3,406 | $59,926 | $111,890 |
| Des Moines University-Osteopathic Medical Center | Medicine (MD) | IA | — | $278,566 | $3,390 | $64,135 | $160,081 |
| Samuel Merritt University | Medicine (MD) | CA | — | $277,401 | $3,376 | $66,461 | $165,829 |
| Georgetown University | Medicine (MD) | DC | $60,613 | $276,484 | $3,365 | $68,585 | $90,785 |
| University of Pikeville | Medicine (MD) | KY | — | $273,784 | $3,332 | $61,530 | $224,231 |
| Meharry Medical College | Medicine (MD) | TN | $64,004 | $266,223 | $3,240 | $64,371 | $126,788 |
| Ohio University-Main Campus | Medicine (MD) | OH | — | $265,291 | $3,229 | $63,385 | $154,758 |
| Loyola University Chicago | Medicine (MD) | IL | $70,637 | $263,767 | $3,210 | $66,676 | $97,532 |
| Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine | Medicine (MD) | PA | $62,236 | $263,559 | $3,207 | $65,914 | $116,849 |
| Michigan State University | Medicine (MD) | MI | $31,652 | $262,566 | $3,195 | $62,429 | $130,503 |
| Rush University | Medicine (MD) | IL | $56,730 | $262,371 | $3,193 | $68,267 | $97,168 |
| University of Miami | Medicine (MD) | FL | $53,511 | $261,817 | $3,186 | $67,752 | $94,678 |
| Albany Medical College | Medicine (MD) | NY | $57,723 | $260,778 | $3,174 | $70,502 | $112,736 |
| University at Buffalo | Medicine (MD) | NY | $48,038 | $257,748 | $3,137 | $64,658 | $100,331 |
| Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine | Medicine (MD) | PA | — | $257,584 | $3,135 | $62,892 | $138,038 |
| Old Dominion University | Medicine (MD) | VA | — | $257,525 | $3,134 | $63,891 | $112,043 |
| Northeast Ohio Medical University | Medicine (MD) | OH | $49,082 | $256,642 | $3,123 | $64,121 | $95,374 |
| Central Michigan University | Medicine (MD) | MI | $43,952 | $253,748 | $3,088 | $62,660 | $138,552 |
| University of Illinois Chicago | Medicine (MD) | IL | $34,402 | $251,564 | $3,061 | $66,199 | $116,861 |
| Tufts University | Medicine (MD) | MA | $69,868 | $250,132 | $3,044 | $70,452 | $104,668 |
| Southern Illinois University-Carbondale | Medicine (MD) | IL | $41,719 | $248,753 | $3,027 | $63,244 | $107,267 |
| Saint Louis University | Medicine (MD) | MO | $65,914 | $247,679 | $3,014 | $64,466 | $101,722 |
| University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign | Medicine (MD) | IL | $40,478 | $246,257 | $2,997 | $66,550 | — |
| Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University | Medicine (MD) | VA | $60,355 | $244,222 | $2,972 | $64,271 | $94,416 |
| Wright State University-Main Campus | Medicine (MD) | OH | $45,787 | $243,331 | $2,961 | $64,775 | $106,384 |
| Wake Forest University | Medicine (MD) | NC | $63,674 | $241,674 | $2,941 | $64,600 | $119,030 |
| University of Toledo | Medicine (MD) | OH | $37,960 | $240,558 | $2,928 | $64,065 | $106,268 |
| Dartmouth College | Medicine (MD) | NH | $70,083 | $239,496 | $2,915 | $71,628 | $104,011 |
| University of Vermont | Medicine (MD) | VT | $39,258 | $239,446 | $2,914 | $66,766 | $102,232 |
| Upstate Medical University | Medicine (MD) | NY | $45,213 | $237,792 | $2,894 | $67,294 | $115,161 |
| Loma Linda University | Medicine (MD) | CA | $67,003 | $237,563 | $2,891 | $68,835 | $125,175 |
| Stony Brook University | Medicine (MD) | NY | $49,189 | $237,221 | $2,887 | $71,922 | $99,252 |
| Oregon Health & Science University | Medicine (MD) | OR | $57,045 | $237,175 | $2,886 | $70,195 | $112,813 |
| New York College of Podiatric Medicine | Medicine (MD) | NY | — | $237,036 | $2,885 | $73,159 | — |
| Medical College of Wisconsin | Medicine (MD) | WI | $65,071 | $234,504 | $2,854 | $66,433 | $107,918 |
| Ponce Health Sciences University | Medicine (MD) | PR | $46,967 | $233,866 | $2,846 | — | — |
| University of Louisville | Medicine (MD) | KY | $46,088 | $232,693 | $2,832 | $61,970 | $106,490 |
| Quinnipiac University | Medicine (MD) | CT | $63,690 | $230,383 | $2,804 | $69,329 | $108,362 |
| Rowan University | Medicine (MD) | NJ | $46,998 | $230,187 | $2,801 | — | — |
| University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus | Medicine (MD) | CO | $44,977 | $230,053 | $2,800 | $67,331 | $104,201 |
| University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences | Medicine (MD) | AR | $34,702 | $225,828 | $2,748 | $59,363 | $117,552 |
| East Tennessee State University | Medicine (MD) | TN | $38,706 | $225,746 | $2,747 | $60,468 | $110,348 |
| University of Southern California | Medicine (MD) | CA | $72,692 | $225,644 | $2,746 | $79,316 | $105,882 |
| Universidad Central Del Caribe | Medicine (MD) | PR | $38,617 | $223,167 | $2,716 | $56,369 | $76,933 |
| University of Kentucky | Medicine (MD) | KY | $41,663 | $221,188 | $2,692 | $60,915 | $115,241 |
| University of Cincinnati-Main Campus | Medicine (MD) | OH | $35,612 | $220,737 | $2,686 | $64,507 | $90,324 |
| SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University | Medicine (MD) | NY | $45,713 | $219,503 | $2,671 | $76,098 | $102,323 |
| University of Washington-Seattle Campus | Medicine (MD) | WA | $41,322 | $218,096 | $2,654 | $67,265 | $147,912 |
| Medical University of South Carolina | Medicine (MD) | SC | $26,122 | $217,877 | $2,652 | $61,132 | $96,864 |
| George Washington University | Medicine (MD) | DC | $68,056 | $215,211 | $2,619 | $68,287 | $100,874 |
| University of South Carolina-Columbia | Medicine (MD) | SC | $43,488 | $211,759 | $2,577 | $60,322 | $130,641 |
| Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center-New Orleans | Medicine (MD) | LA | $32,936 | $211,559 | $2,575 | $59,051 | $102,862 |
| San Juan Bautista School of Medicine | Medicine (MD) | PR | $35,000 | $211,263 | $2,571 | $57,285 | $68,551 |
| Washington State University | Medicine (MD) | WA | $41,673 | $211,091 | $2,569 | $67,273 | — |
| Morehouse School of Medicine | Medicine (MD) | GA | $54,155 | $210,106 | $2,557 | — | — |
| Temple University | Medicine (MD) | PA | $57,048 | $209,229 | $2,546 | $67,797 | $113,007 |
| Howard University | Medicine (MD) | DC | $57,632 | $208,644 | $2,539 | $68,766 | $111,199 |
| Case Western Reserve University | Medicine (MD) | OH | $71,578 | $208,603 | $2,539 | $67,490 | $92,532 |
| Rutgers University-New Brunswick | Medicine (MD) | NJ | $47,505 | $208,386 | $2,536 | $71,892 | $96,288 |
| Sam Houston State University | Medicine (MD) | TX | — | $207,472 | $2,525 | — | — |
| Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine | Medicine (MD) | NJ | $73,336 | $205,938 | $2,506 | $71,003 | — |
| Florida International University | Medicine (MD) | FL | $38,855 | $205,152 | $2,497 | $65,493 | $95,353 |
| The University of Tennessee Health Science Center | Medicine (MD) | TN | $36,684 | $203,738 | $2,479 | $60,471 | $89,710 |
| Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus | Medicine (MD) | PA | $57,796 | $203,207 | $2,473 | $66,744 | $110,814 |
| Mercer University | Medicine (MD) | GA | $43,856 | $201,912 | $2,457 | $61,416 | $118,913 |
| Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center-Shreveport | Medicine (MD) | LA | $29,344 | $201,770 | $2,455 | $58,448 | $100,409 |
| University of South Alabama | Medicine (MD) | AL | $34,895 | $201,012 | $2,446 | $60,364 | $114,506 |
| University of Rochester | Medicine (MD) | NY | $70,947 | $200,795 | $2,444 | $67,977 | $106,097 |
| Oakland University | Medicine (MD) | MI | $57,936 | $199,924 | $2,433 | $64,353 | $116,041 |
| Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences | Medicine (MD) | OK | — | $199,682 | $2,430 | $59,440 | $152,745 |
| Thomas Jefferson University | Medicine (MD) | PA | $64,390 | $198,745 | $2,419 | $67,998 | $96,329 |
| Indiana University-Indianapolis | Medicine (MD) | IN | $38,386 | $196,650 | $2,393 | $63,047 | $101,569 |
| University of Utah | Medicine (MD) | UT | $45,896 | $196,445 | $2,391 | $66,570 | $103,469 |
| University of Mississippi | Medicine (MD) | MS | $35,205 | $196,284 | $2,389 | $57,978 | $110,599 |
| Morehouse School of Medicine | Medicine (MD) | GA | $54,155 | $196,150 | $2,387 | $65,618 | $125,346 |
| University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus | Medicine (MD) | PA | $64,564 | $195,737 | $2,382 | $67,547 | $98,219 |
| University of Missouri-Kansas City | Medicine (MD) | MO | $32,733 | $191,495 | $2,330 | $63,787 | $127,872 |
| Ohio State University-Main Campus | Medicine (MD) | OH | $31,288 | $191,485 | $2,330 | $64,311 | $99,404 |
| University of Kansas | Medicine (MD) | KS | $40,629 | $189,977 | $2,312 | $62,359 | $123,824 |
| University of South Florida | Medicine (MD) | FL | $33,726 | $189,336 | $2,304 | $61,848 | $97,089 |
| Virginia Commonwealth University | Medicine (MD) | VA | $39,219 | $188,232 | $2,291 | $64,402 | $101,335 |
| University of Arizona | Medicine (MD) | AZ | $39,459 | $186,889 | $2,274 | $66,460 | $127,725 |
| University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School | Medicine (MD) | MA | $41,690 | $186,845 | $2,274 | $67,280 | $105,854 |
| University of Wisconsin-Madison | Medicine (MD) | WI | $42,234 | $185,334 | $2,255 | $66,453 | $127,913 |
| CUNY City College | Medicine (MD) | NY | $41,912 | $185,086 | $2,252 | $79,011 | — |
| California University of Science and Medicine | Medicine (MD) | CA | $67,500 | $184,962 | $2,251 | — | — |
| Augusta University | Medicine (MD) | GA | $28,926 | $184,644 | $2,247 | $63,091 | $99,481 |
| University of California-Irvine | Medicine (MD) | CA | $40,261 | $184,329 | $2,243 | $77,316 | $143,530 |
| Vanderbilt University | Medicine (MD) | TN | $68,430 | $184,224 | $2,242 | $65,367 | $90,286 |
| University of Alabama at Birmingham | Medicine (MD) | AL | $32,134 | $184,222 | $2,242 | $60,909 | $112,084 |
| Northwestern University | Medicine (MD) | IL | $72,048 | $183,053 | $2,228 | $70,959 | $94,158 |
| Boston University | Medicine (MD) | MA | $70,320 | $182,792 | $2,225 | $71,154 | $102,530 |
| University of North Dakota | Medicine (MD) | ND | $36,074 | $182,056 | $2,216 | $64,914 | $116,665 |
| Florida State University | Medicine (MD) | FL | $25,611 | $180,829 | $2,201 | $61,678 | $113,355 |
| Wayne State University | Medicine (MD) | MI | $40,459 | $179,777 | $2,188 | $62,585 | $106,280 |
| University of Iowa | Medicine (MD) | IA | $38,122 | $178,776 | $2,176 | $65,152 | $98,361 |
| University of Nebraska Medical Center | Medicine (MD) | NE | $19,408 | $178,042 | $2,167 | $63,547 | $116,814 |
| University of Nevada-Reno | Medicine (MD) | NV | $33,979 | $177,555 | $2,161 | $66,286 | $162,680 |
| West Virginia University | Medicine (MD) | WV | $22,932 | $176,073 | $2,143 | $61,804 | $120,123 |
| Emory University | Medicine (MD) | GA | $55,242 | $175,334 | $2,134 | $67,756 | $98,605 |
| University of Central Florida | Medicine (MD) | FL | $29,680 | $175,333 | $2,134 | $62,589 | — |
| University of Missouri-Columbia | Medicine (MD) | MO | $45,175 | $175,330 | $2,134 | $62,912 | $113,111 |
| University of Florida | Medicine (MD) | FL | $36,657 | $174,631 | $2,125 | $63,389 | $104,811 |
| Texas Christian University | Medicine (MD) | TX | $66,820 | $174,440 | $2,123 | — | — |
| University of North Texas Health Science Center | Medicine (MD) | TX | — | $173,545 | $2,112 | $62,117 | $133,668 |
| University of Nevada-Las Vegas | Medicine (MD) | NV | $37,237 | $171,084 | $2,082 | $65,032 | — |
| University of Oklahoma-Health Sciences Center | Medicine (MD) | OK | $30,787 | $170,890 | $2,080 | $59,950 | $97,714 |
| University of Oklahoma-Norman Campus | Medicine (MD) | OK | — | $170,890 | $2,080 | $59,950 | $97,714 |
| University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center | Medicine (MD) | TX | $22,369 | $162,934 | $1,983 | $66,105 | $106,472 |
| Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center | Medicine (MD) | TX | $22,379 | $162,337 | $1,976 | — | $99,117 |
| University of Maryland Baltimore | Medicine (MD) | MD | $41,761 | $162,000 | $1,972 | $65,908 | $96,990 |
| University of Hawaii at Manoa | Medicine (MD) | HI | $37,444 | $160,487 | $1,953 | $69,789 | $128,827 |
| Duke University | Medicine (MD) | NC | $69,637 | $158,998 | $1,935 | $67,376 | $92,928 |
| Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center El Paso | Medicine (MD) | TX | $21,484 | $158,947 | $1,934 | $63,316 | — |
| East Carolina University | Medicine (MD) | NC | $25,161 | $158,510 | $1,929 | — | $144,434 |
| Texas A&M University-College Station | Medicine (MD) | TX | $21,760 | $158,428 | $1,928 | $64,570 | $114,060 |
| University of Michigan-Ann Arbor | Medicine (MD) | MI | $53,277 | $158,239 | $1,926 | $70,821 | $103,473 |
| Marshall University | Medicine (MD) | WV | $24,988 | $157,775 | $1,920 | $60,318 | $134,319 |
| University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill | Medicine (MD) | NC | $34,706 | $157,242 | $1,914 | $64,208 | $106,964 |
| Brown University | Medicine (MD) | RI | $70,626 | $156,421 | $1,904 | $69,273 | $106,465 |
| Albert Einstein College of Medicine | Medicine (MD) | NY | $63,527 | $155,763 | $1,896 | $78,207 | $102,727 |
| The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston | Medicine (MD) | TX | $25,506 | $153,032 | $1,862 | $62,339 | $116,208 |
| University of Minnesota-Twin Cities | Medicine (MD) | MN | $45,177 | $150,781 | $1,835 | $65,231 | $141,568 |
| University of Virginia-Main Campus | Medicine (MD) | VA | $50,732 | $150,591 | $1,833 | $65,487 | $97,806 |
| The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston | Medicine (MD) | TX | $24,038 | $148,634 | $1,809 | $66,443 | $102,873 |
| The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley | Medicine (MD) | TX | $20,351 | $144,277 | $1,756 | $62,778 | — |
| Stanford University | Medicine (MD) | CA | $66,096 | $142,993 | $1,740 | $86,231 | $114,132 |
| The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio | Medicine (MD) | TX | $23,735 | $142,992 | $1,740 | $61,999 | $102,246 |
| University of South Dakota | Medicine (MD) | SD | $32,105 | $142,217 | $1,731 | $63,143 | — |
| Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science | Medicine (MD) | MN | $66,000 | $137,598 | $1,675 | $67,119 | $95,873 |
| Hofstra University | Medicine (MD) | NY | $58,265 | $136,197 | $1,657 | $79,448 | $99,911 |
| University of California-Davis | Medicine (MD) | CA | $40,540 | $133,762 | $1,628 | $77,214 | $144,130 |
| University of California-San Francisco | Medicine (MD) | CA | $40,169 | $132,611 | $1,614 | $80,674 | $112,089 |
| University of Pennsylvania | Medicine (MD) | PA | $71,880 | $130,845 | $1,592 | $71,700 | $99,652 |
| University of Chicago | Medicine (MD) | IL | $81,488 | $128,833 | $1,568 | $70,835 | $101,675 |
| The University of Texas at Austin | Medicine (MD) | TX | $21,086 | $125,647 | $1,529 | $64,290 | — |
| Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai | Medicine (MD) | NY | $66,446 | $124,868 | $1,520 | $82,190 | $104,361 |
| University of New Mexico-Main Campus | Medicine (MD) | NM | $19,111 | $124,532 | $1,516 | $63,388 | $105,543 |
| University of California-San Diego | Medicine (MD) | CA | $43,152 | $117,905 | $1,435 | $77,325 | $118,330 |
| University of California-Riverside | Medicine (MD) | CA | $40,310 | $116,624 | $1,419 | $75,691 | $128,469 |
| Baylor College of Medicine | Medicine (MD) | TX | $29,113 | $103,015 | $1,254 | $67,400 | $93,456 |
| Johns Hopkins University | Medicine (MD) | MD | $66,816 | $101,083 | $1,230 | $71,012 | $98,978 |
| Harvard University | Medicine (MD) | MA | $71,305 | $92,193 | $1,122 | $81,073 | $108,149 |
| University of California-Los Angeles | Medicine (MD) | CA | $44,187 | $91,022 | $1,108 | $77,614 | $143,434 |
| Columbia University in the City of New York | Medicine (MD) | NY | $73,501 | $90,371 | $1,100 | $79,570 | $106,442 |
| Cornell University | Medicine (MD) | NY | — | $84,080 | $1,023 | — | $103,352 |
| Weill Medical College of Cornell University | Medicine (MD) | NY | $71,977 | $84,080 | $1,023 | — | $103,352 |
| Washington University in St Louis | Medicine (MD) | MO | $68,795 | $75,886 | $924 | $67,417 | $90,449 |
| New York University | Medicine (MD) | NY | $65,025 | $74,986 | $913 | $78,686 | $93,412 |
| Yale University | Medicine (MD) | CT | $71,389 | $55,000 | $669 | $78,069 | $100,955 |
What the data shows
Professional school is the most debt-intensive path in higher education. The median law graduate owes $119,956 in federal loans, and the median new MD owes $225,828. At the most expensive programs, balances top $517,704.
Law school debt varies more than five-fold by school: from $45,500 at Brigham Young University to $204,847 at Columbia University in the City of New York. Earnings vary just as much, so compare debt against the school's own earnings figures, not the national median.
For physicians, first-year earnings reflect residency salaries, not attending pay, so debt-to-earnings looks worst exactly when interest is accruing. Income-driven repayment and Public Service Loan Forgiveness matter more for medicine than for any other field.
Methodology
Program figures come from the College Scorecard field-of-study file: one record per institution × 4-digit CIP code × credential level. Earnings are median annual earnings of federal-aid recipients who completed the program and were working and not enrolled, measured 1, 4, and 5 years after completion (in the dollar year of the Scorecard release). Debt is the median federal loan balance (Stafford and Grad PLUS) at completion; private loans and Parent PLUS are excluded. Programs with too few graduates are suppressed by the Department of Education and drop out of each column.
Professional programs are Scorecard first-professional (level 7) and doctoral (level 6) credentials in law (CIP 22.01), medicine (51.12), osteopathic medicine (51.19), dentistry (51.04), pharmacy (51.20), optometry (51.17), and veterinary medicine (01.80). Graduate debt comes from the Scorecard evaluation cohort. Monthly payment is Scorecard's estimate under a standard 10-year repayment plan.
Tuition is the published 2023-24 annual tuition plus required fees for each professional program, as reported to IPEDS (Institutional Characteristics, academic-year charges), matched to Scorecard programs by institution. Estimated total tuition multiplies the national median by program length (3 years for law, 4 for the others) and excludes housing, books, and living costs.
Frequently asked questions
How much does law school cost per year?
The median law school charges $40,550 a year in tuition and required fees (in-state), and $48,160 for out-of-state students, based on IPEDS 2023-24 data for 213 schools. A three-year JD runs about $121,650 in tuition alone.
How much does medical school cost per year?
The median MD program charges $44,136 a year in-state and $65,192 out-of-state, or roughly $176,542 over four years before housing and living costs.
How much debt do law school graduates have?
The median law school graduate owes $119,956 in federal loans, based on College Scorecard data for 203 law schools. The standard 10-year payment is about $1,460 a month.
How much debt do medical school graduates have?
The median MD graduate owes $225,828 in federal loans. Osteopathic (DO) graduates owe — at the median.
How much do new lawyers earn?
Law graduates earn a median of $79,653 one year after graduating and $108,350 four years out, with large differences by school.
Why do new doctors earn so little in year one?
Most MD graduates are residents in their first year, so median pay is $64,701. Pay rises to $112,813 by year four as residents finish training.
Does this include private loans or undergraduate debt?
No. These figures are federal loans borrowed for the professional program itself. Undergraduate debt and private loans are not included, so many graduates owe more in total.
Data sources
- U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard institution and field-of-study files (latest release in our extract)
- National Center for Education Statistics, IPEDS Institutional Characteristics 2023-24 (student charges for academic-year programs, IC2023_AY)