Cost of Law School and Medical School: Debt vs. Earnings (2026 stats)
TL;DR
The typical law school graduate leaves with $118,506 in federal loans and medical school graduates with $190,581, in EDsmart Data's analysis of College Scorecard program data. Median first-year pay is $72,119 for new lawyers but only $64,952 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: $118,506
- Median medical school (MD) debt: $190,581
- Highest-debt professional program: Dentistry ($261,254)
- Law graduates' median pay after 1 year: $72,119
- Schools covered: 203 law, 166 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 ($261,254), followed by Medicine (MD) ($190,581).
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 $64,952 a year after graduating, about residency pay, while their median debt is $190,581. By year 4, pay reaches $111,336.
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 | $261,254 | $2,972 | 218.1% | $119,770 | $173,975 |
| Medicine (MD) | $44,136 | $176,542 | $190,581 | $2,168 | 293.4% | $64,952 | $111,336 |
| Optometry | $41,900 | $167,602 | $177,626 | $2,021 | 170.2% | $104,352 | $130,333 |
| Veterinary medicine | $29,886 | $119,542 | $169,992 | $1,934 | 172.8% | $98,378 | $128,327 |
| Pharmacy | $37,000 | $148,000 | $139,182 | $1,583 | 135.0% | $103,128 | $137,101 |
| Law (JD) | $40,550 | $121,650 | $118,506 | $1,348 | 164.3% | $72,119 | $108,296 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thomas Jefferson School of Law | CA | $34,400 | $229,699 | $2,613 | $44,854 | $87,982 |
| Whittier College | CA | — | $227,419 | $2,587 | $34,033 | $81,959 |
| Southwestern Law School | CA | $58,537 | $203,702 | $2,317 | $67,597 | $108,350 |
| Thomas M Cooley Law School | MI | $46,560 | $202,668 | $2,305 | $45,431 | $74,147 |
| Columbia University in the City of New York | NY | $81,397 | $198,924 | $2,263 | $220,843 | $308,943 |
| Atlanta's John Marshall Law School | GA | $52,006 | $193,041 | $2,196 | $57,019 | $80,422 |
| University of Chicago | IL | $77,877 | $188,691 | $2,146 | $199,603 | $279,203 |
| Howard University | DC | $38,612 | $185,348 | $2,108 | $81,173 | $116,413 |
| University of San Francisco | CA | $54,250 | $182,582 | $2,077 | $53,016 | $120,485 |
| Santa Clara University | CA | $58,464 | $180,127 | $2,049 | $79,949 | $148,599 |
| California Western School of Law | CA | $60,430 | $179,866 | $2,046 | $60,490 | $100,889 |
| University of Virginia-Main Campus | VA | $71,128 | $178,812 | $2,034 | $204,216 | $284,309 |
| George Washington University | DC | $69,740 | $176,325 | $2,006 | $95,225 | $140,848 |
| Baylor University | TX | $57,430 | $172,756 | $1,965 | $85,368 | $121,715 |
| University of Pennsylvania | PA | $76,934 | $171,488 | $1,951 | $210,273 | $302,120 |
| Chapman University | CA | $61,466 | $170,800 | $1,943 | $74,737 | $119,002 |
| University of San Francisco | CA | $54,250 | $169,229 | $1,925 | $75,635 | — |
| St. Thomas University | FL | $45,960 | $166,022 | $1,889 | $56,057 | $99,412 |
| Hofstra University | NY | $68,860 | $163,347 | $1,858 | $69,677 | $102,901 |
| Willamette University | OR | $50,944 | $162,945 | $1,854 | $69,938 | $100,524 |
| Nova Southeastern University | FL | $47,729 | $162,455 | $1,848 | $61,884 | $96,470 |
| Georgetown University | DC | $75,959 | $162,286 | $1,846 | $168,995 | $226,624 |
| Cornell University | NY | $78,093 | $162,160 | $1,845 | $213,356 | $259,851 |
| American University | DC | $63,088 | $161,696 | $1,839 | $73,725 | $109,523 |
| University of Denver | CO | $58,347 | $161,053 | $1,832 | $67,853 | $103,145 |
| Duke University | NC | $75,615 | $158,000 | $1,797 | $205,891 | $261,230 |
| University of California-Berkeley | CA | $62,301 | $155,891 | $1,773 | $196,724 | $226,996 |
| Trinity International University-Illinois | IL | — | $155,602 | $1,770 | $44,209 | $69,932 |
| Trinity Law School | CA | $32,750 | $155,602 | $1,770 | $44,209 | $69,932 |
| Loyola Marymount University | CA | $65,912 | $155,436 | $1,768 | $84,074 | $143,361 |
| Pepperdine University | CA | $68,046 | $154,886 | $1,762 | $79,243 | $126,561 |
| Golden Gate University | CA | $2,050 | $154,813 | $1,761 | $56,070 | $96,079 |
| Barry University | FL | $43,150 | $154,477 | $1,757 | $51,099 | $82,024 |
| Northwestern University | IL | $74,552 | $154,286 | $1,755 | $210,979 | $291,132 |
| University of Illinois Chicago | IL | $39,160 | $153,993 | $1,752 | $62,322 | $95,603 |
| Stanford University | CA | $72,363 | $153,302 | $1,744 | $162,001 | $259,944 |
| Charleston School of Law | SC | $46,134 | $152,981 | $1,740 | $46,657 | $73,362 |
| Loyola University New Orleans | LA | $50,420 | $151,551 | $1,724 | $54,253 | $81,071 |
| Lewis & Clark College | OR | $56,346 | $149,506 | $1,701 | $70,132 | $97,491 |
| Tulane University of Louisiana | LA | $67,780 | $149,237 | $1,698 | $76,230 | — |
| University of Miami | FL | $62,303 | $148,750 | $1,692 | $76,760 | $117,811 |
| The Catholic University of America | DC | $58,436 | $147,964 | $1,683 | $77,441 | $112,809 |
| Fordham University | NY | $72,282 | $147,561 | $1,679 | $170,942 | $232,595 |
| University of the Pacific | CA | $59,580 | $147,082 | $1,673 | $75,832 | $114,281 |
| University of San Diego | CA | $62,981 | $145,850 | $1,659 | $84,518 | $134,065 |
| Southern Methodist University | TX | $47,658 | $145,569 | $1,656 | $101,456 | $153,614 |
| Oklahoma City University | OK | $37,500 | $145,281 | $1,653 | $53,246 | $74,062 |
| St. Mary's University | TX | $22,674 | $145,002 | $1,649 | $61,615 | $87,375 |
| Seattle University | WA | $57,173 | $144,542 | $1,644 | $74,248 | $105,471 |
| Ave Maria School of Law | FL | $49,656 | $144,259 | $1,641 | $52,984 | $91,005 |
| Mississippi Christian University | MS | $30,894 | $143,299 | $1,630 | $55,522 | $70,352 |
| South Texas College of Law Houston | TX | $42,110 | $142,976 | $1,626 | $73,069 | $108,296 |
| Stetson University | FL | $51,708 | $142,533 | $1,621 | $63,235 | $96,451 |
| New York Law School | NY | $64,824 | $142,500 | $1,621 | $76,166 | $109,122 |
| Yale University | CT | $73,865 | $140,977 | $1,604 | $139,244 | $188,189 |
| Vanderbilt University | TN | $70,698 | $139,857 | $1,591 | $156,307 | $196,797 |
| Vermont Law and Graduate School | VT | $52,775 | $139,540 | $1,587 | $50,723 | $77,550 |
| University of California College of the Law-San Francisco | CA | $54,140 | $139,352 | $1,585 | $90,386 | $136,001 |
| University of Southern California | CA | $78,046 | $138,518 | $1,576 | $183,063 | $203,028 |
| Faulkner University | AL | $39,325 | $137,560 | $1,565 | $49,400 | $68,740 |
| Marquette University | WI | $49,710 | $137,200 | $1,561 | $63,027 | $85,116 |
| Campbell University | NC | $49,730 | $135,880 | $1,546 | $60,334 | $89,637 |
| University of California-Los Angeles | CA | $55,555 | $135,373 | $1,540 | $155,825 | $177,968 |
| Emory University | GA | $66,232 | $134,617 | $1,531 | $79,803 | $152,126 |
| University of California-Irvine | CA | $55,945 | $133,605 | $1,520 | $93,534 | $153,307 |
| University of Michigan-Ann Arbor | MI | $69,494 | $132,524 | $1,507 | $170,537 | $224,391 |
| Touro University | NY | $57,080 | $132,011 | $1,502 | $61,293 | $86,767 |
| DePaul University | IL | $51,985 | $131,463 | $1,495 | $68,344 | $107,264 |
| Widener University | PA | $53,220 | $131,126 | $1,492 | $55,829 | $83,799 |
| University of Notre Dame | IN | $68,554 | $128,413 | $1,461 | $103,733 | $142,699 |
| Creighton University | NE | $49,904 | $128,182 | $1,458 | $65,179 | $86,665 |
| New England Law-Boston | MA | $57,298 | $126,248 | $1,436 | $61,471 | $94,232 |
| Mercer University | GA | $42,832 | $124,216 | $1,413 | $64,894 | $90,359 |
| Appalachian School of Law | VA | $41,000 | $123,970 | $1,410 | $33,989 | $65,332 |
| University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth | MA | $31,040 | $123,227 | $1,402 | $51,841 | $78,991 |
| Boston College | MA | $66,895 | $123,000 | $1,399 | $117,864 | $190,940 |
| Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico-Ponce | PR | $17,648 | $122,712 | $1,396 | $20,330 | $39,634 |
| University of Detroit Mercy | MI | $47,239 | $122,626 | $1,395 | $63,731 | $93,055 |
| Roger Williams University | RI | — | $122,459 | $1,393 | $55,777 | $90,866 |
| Roger Williams University School of Law | RI | $46,464 | $122,459 | $1,393 | $55,777 | $90,866 |
| Loyola University Chicago | IL | $55,258 | $119,367 | $1,358 | $83,184 | $122,384 |
| Elon University | NC | $58,256 | $119,023 | $1,354 | $57,581 | $82,321 |
| University of Maryland Baltimore | MD | $36,999 | $118,506 | $1,348 | $73,079 | $112,580 |
| Southern University Law Center | LA | $17,434 | $118,010 | $1,342 | $51,071 | $67,462 |
| Southern University and A & M College | LA | $17,434 | $118,010 | $1,342 | $51,071 | $67,462 |
| Boston University | MA | $64,520 | $117,740 | $1,339 | $139,986 | $194,750 |
| North Carolina Central University | NC | $16,184 | $117,597 | $1,338 | $56,228 | $83,361 |
| Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University | FL | $11,080 | $115,500 | $1,314 | $54,751 | $81,144 |
| University of South Carolina-Columbia | SC | $22,322 | $115,354 | $1,312 | $59,216 | $93,806 |
| Seton Hall University | NJ | $66,780 | $115,179 | $1,310 | $70,710 | $136,424 |
| Suffolk University | MA | $56,968 | $113,386 | $1,290 | $69,917 | $103,969 |
| Syracuse University | NY | $62,490 | $113,050 | $1,286 | $67,081 | $97,648 |
| St. John's University-New York | NY | $71,664 | $112,017 | $1,274 | $82,812 | $112,325 |
| Inter American University of Puerto Rico-School of Law | PR | $14,550 | $110,693 | $1,259 | $29,713 | $53,462 |
| Gonzaga University | WA | $52,789 | $110,687 | $1,259 | $65,069 | $88,461 |
| University of the District of Columbia | DC | $13,438 | $110,258 | $1,254 | $59,595 | $90,325 |
| San Joaquin College of Law | CA | $22,785 | $109,339 | $1,244 | $59,595 | $93,023 |
| University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus | PA | $39,618 | $109,178 | $1,242 | $67,318 | $94,797 |
| Samford University | AL | $45,236 | $108,958 | $1,239 | $62,786 | $91,687 |
| University of Washington-Seattle Campus | WA | $43,584 | $108,519 | $1,234 | $81,079 | $120,015 |
| Lincoln Memorial University | TN | $43,010 | $108,228 | $1,231 | $46,511 | $73,596 |
| Capital University | OH | $1,955 | $106,377 | $1,210 | $62,010 | $85,015 |
| University of Baltimore | MD | $34,980 | $106,102 | $1,207 | $62,419 | $95,849 |
| University of Colorado Boulder | CO | $34,747 | $105,696 | $1,202 | $73,809 | $109,411 |
| Wake Forest University | NC | $54,192 | $105,023 | $1,195 | $76,252 | $112,646 |
| William & Mary | VA | $41,175 | $105,023 | $1,195 | $77,921 | $115,663 |
| Michigan State University | MI | $41,380 | $103,630 | $1,179 | $67,554 | $96,342 |
| Mitchell Hamline School of Law | MN | $54,120 | $101,761 | $1,158 | $67,268 | $91,497 |
| Yeshiva University | NY | $70,646 | $101,500 | $1,155 | $76,957 | $124,597 |
| Belmont University | TN | $53,320 | $101,152 | $1,151 | $58,486 | $100,168 |
| Northern Kentucky University | KY | $24,619 | $101,097 | $1,150 | $47,291 | $74,937 |
| Arizona State University Campus Immersion | AZ | $28,839 | $100,564 | $1,144 | $72,119 | $111,668 |
| The Colleges of Law at Santa Barbara | CA | $19,152 | $100,502 | $1,143 | $52,348 | $78,136 |
| The Colleges of Law at Ventura | CA | $19,152 | $100,502 | $1,143 | $52,348 | $78,136 |
| University of Richmond | VA | $53,440 | $100,229 | $1,140 | $66,704 | $101,062 |
| University of Idaho | ID | $25,932 | $100,091 | $1,139 | $58,694 | $81,744 |
| Saint Louis University | MO | $48,954 | $99,458 | $1,131 | $71,391 | $93,029 |
| University of Oregon | OR | $46,264 | $98,655 | $1,122 | $64,912 | $100,801 |
| University of Hawaii at Manoa | HI | $29,788 | $98,536 | $1,121 | $69,865 | $89,520 |
| Case Western Reserve University | OH | $60,994 | $98,460 | $1,120 | $70,183 | $105,964 |
| University of Minnesota-Twin Cities | MN | $48,965 | $98,423 | $1,120 | $77,642 | $117,872 |
| Western New England University | MA | $50,070 | $97,835 | $1,113 | $48,821 | $79,692 |
| Indiana University-Indianapolis | IN | $24,704 | $97,806 | $1,113 | $64,496 | $101,372 |
| Illinois Institute of Technology | IL | $53,270 | $97,727 | $1,112 | $73,249 | $111,515 |
| Washington and Lee University | VA | $54,550 | $97,335 | $1,107 | $77,253 | $110,606 |
| University of Missouri-Kansas City | MO | $23,144 | $97,000 | $1,103 | $60,766 | $92,296 |
| Brooklyn Law School | NY | $70,356 | $96,951 | $1,103 | $79,481 | $121,254 |
| University of Louisville | KY | $25,696 | $96,424 | $1,097 | $56,417 | $80,728 |
| University of Connecticut | CT | $31,508 | $96,386 | $1,096 | $74,876 | $120,178 |
| University of Connecticut-Waterbury Campus | CT | — | $96,386 | $1,096 | $74,876 | $120,178 |
| University of Connecticut-Hartford Campus | CT | — | $96,386 | $1,096 | $74,876 | $120,178 |
| University of Connecticut-Stamford | CT | — | $96,386 | $1,096 | $74,876 | $120,178 |
| University of Connecticut-Avery Point | CT | — | $96,386 | $1,096 | $74,876 | $120,178 |
| Pace University | NY | $53,886 | $94,737 | $1,078 | $67,469 | — |
| University at Buffalo | NY | $29,248 | $94,242 | $1,072 | $64,220 | $85,126 |
| Albany Law School | NY | $57,671 | $93,800 | $1,067 | $65,381 | $89,212 |
| West Virginia University | WV | $26,010 | $93,735 | $1,066 | $58,881 | $78,497 |
| Harvard University | MA | $75,008 | $93,235 | $1,061 | $175,880 | $291,490 |
| University of California-Davis | CA | $54,950 | $92,689 | $1,054 | $85,816 | $136,814 |
| Washington University in St Louis | MO | $67,624 | $92,540 | $1,053 | $87,690 | $141,243 |
| University of Memphis | TN | $19,360 | $92,250 | $1,049 | $52,464 | $81,169 |
| Indiana University-Bloomington | IN | $38,228 | $92,000 | $1,047 | $75,186 | $120,301 |
| University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill | NC | $27,991 | $91,570 | $1,042 | $81,794 | $142,928 |
| Ohio State University-Main Campus | OH | $34,086 | $91,529 | $1,041 | $77,868 | $122,732 |
| Southern Illinois University-Carbondale | IL | $21,282 | $91,500 | $1,041 | $54,507 | $79,658 |
| University of New Mexico-Main Campus | NM | $8,299 | $91,267 | $1,038 | $63,375 | $85,706 |
| Florida International University | FL | $21,115 | $90,411 | $1,028 | $64,813 | $105,414 |
| University of Tulsa | OK | $29,764 | $90,365 | $1,028 | $60,334 | $86,293 |
| Valparaiso University | IN | — | $89,751 | $1,021 | $49,893 | $74,338 |
| Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College | LA | $23,695 | $88,622 | $1,008 | $67,339 | $103,602 |
| University of Houston | TX | $27,283 | $86,372 | $982 | $88,163 | $135,984 |
| Texas Tech University | TX | $27,532 | $86,163 | $980 | $72,448 | $100,716 |
| University of Southern Maine | ME | $24,900 | $85,950 | $978 | $61,048 | $83,912 |
| Regent University | VA | $40,550 | $85,898 | $977 | $59,604 | $82,360 |
| Drake University | IA | $48,410 | $83,526 | $950 | $72,226 | $87,375 |
| University of Nevada-Las Vegas | NV | $29,268 | $82,985 | $944 | $76,561 | $108,006 |
| University of Georgia | GA | $18,994 | $82,694 | $941 | $76,702 | $116,044 |
| Purdue University Global | IN | $12,461 | $81,926 | $932 | — | $84,403 |
| Temple University | PA | $30,880 | $81,733 | $930 | $71,729 | $117,775 |
| CUNY School of Law | NY | $16,014 | $81,666 | $929 | $73,397 | $87,345 |
| Quinnipiac University | CT | $54,880 | $81,000 | $921 | $62,011 | $100,096 |
| Massachusetts School of Law | MA | $1,615 | $80,384 | $914 | $49,383 | $76,572 |
| University of Iowa | IA | $31,426 | $80,268 | $913 | $78,560 | $107,273 |
| Washburn University | KS | $24,694 | $77,330 | $880 | $60,606 | $83,608 |
| University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign | IL | $39,817 | $77,159 | $878 | $84,855 | $130,428 |
| University of Toledo | OH | $27,266 | $76,000 | $865 | $57,931 | $85,086 |
| Northern Illinois University | IL | $23,552 | $75,688 | $861 | $57,561 | $78,459 |
| University of Kentucky | KY | $26,232 | $75,150 | $855 | $53,600 | $86,420 |
| University of St Thomas | MN | $24,460 | $74,968 | $853 | $65,744 | $89,706 |
| University of Utah | UT | $33,634 | $74,012 | $842 | $77,542 | $113,168 |
| University of Missouri-Columbia | MO | $23,847 | $73,501 | $836 | $59,716 | $86,349 |
| Georgia State University | GA | $13,260 | $72,563 | $825 | $77,765 | $116,613 |
| Duquesne University | PA | $55,500 | $72,500 | $825 | $59,904 | $82,014 |
| Drexel University | PA | $53,700 | $72,191 | $821 | $60,051 | $95,933 |
| The University of Montana | MT | $9,630 | $72,126 | $820 | $65,477 | $86,640 |
| Cleveland State University | OH | $30,230 | $71,500 | $813 | $64,805 | $91,229 |
| University of Florida | FL | $21,804 | $71,483 | $813 | $72,350 | $114,496 |
| Texas A&M University-College Station | TX | $32,633 | $71,446 | $813 | $75,674 | $105,673 |
| Rutgers University-New Brunswick | NJ | — | $71,218 | $810 | $61,595 | $106,575 |
| University of Akron Main Campus | OH | $26,115 | $71,000 | $808 | $57,386 | $79,750 |
| Northeastern University | MA | $60,566 | $70,571 | $803 | $73,471 | $116,706 |
| University of Wyoming | WY | $17,946 | $70,488 | $802 | $63,173 | $81,644 |
| Villanova University | PA | $53,438 | $69,861 | $795 | $74,646 | $129,021 |
| University of Oklahoma-Norman Campus | OK | $21,339 | $69,800 | $794 | $63,257 | $86,893 |
| University of Mississippi | MS | $18,470 | $69,701 | $793 | $61,201 | $92,069 |
| University of Arizona | AZ | $26,171 | $67,750 | $771 | $61,710 | — |
| Florida State University | FL | $20,694 | $66,707 | $759 | $62,854 | $98,060 |
| University of Cincinnati-Main Campus | OH | $24,010 | $66,694 | $759 | $60,967 | $85,043 |
| Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus | PA | $56,436 | $65,436 | $744 | $61,271 | $90,775 |
| George Mason University | VA | $26,950 | $65,077 | $740 | $77,057 | $135,661 |
| University of Arkansas | AR | $17,898 | $65,000 | $739 | $66,239 | $88,977 |
| University of Kansas | KS | $24,174 | $61,500 | $700 | $70,180 | $94,898 |
| University of Arkansas at Little Rock | AR | $13,693 | $61,500 | $700 | $57,468 | $78,317 |
| The University of Alabama | AL | $24,380 | $61,500 | $700 | $74,203 | $110,931 |
| University of North Dakota | ND | $13,916 | $61,500 | $700 | $61,451 | $90,309 |
| The University of Tennessee-Knoxville | TN | $20,408 | $61,500 | $700 | $65,905 | $103,272 |
| University of Wisconsin-Madison | WI | $35,196 | $61,500 | $700 | $71,236 | $100,715 |
| University of New Hampshire-Main Campus | NH | — | $61,500 | $700 | $72,081 | $100,597 |
| Ohio Northern University | OH | $33,600 | $61,500 | $700 | $55,402 | $69,823 |
| Wayne State University | MI | $38,135 | $61,466 | $699 | $70,500 | $96,763 |
| Taft University System | CO | $8,870 | $60,864 | $692 | $78,953 | $85,612 |
| University of Nebraska-Lincoln | NE | $16,081 | $54,456 | $619 | $66,354 | $90,759 |
| Westcliff University | CA | $49,848 | $45,240 | $515 | $58,618 | — |
Medical school debt by school (166 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 | — | $355,209 | $4,041 | $63,729 | $145,060 |
| Nova Southeastern University | Medicine (MD) | FL | $68,858 | $336,670 | $3,830 | $61,451 | $130,217 |
| Touro University | Medicine (MD) | NY | — | $330,479 | $3,759 | $67,607 | $131,180 |
| Rocky Vista University | Medicine (MD) | CO | — | $326,640 | $3,716 | $63,332 | $135,585 |
| Tulane University of Louisiana | Medicine (MD) | LA | $73,766 | $322,603 | $3,670 | $65,766 | — |
| A T Still University of Health Sciences | Medicine (MD) | MO | — | $316,647 | $3,602 | $63,530 | $162,225 |
| Lincoln Memorial University | Medicine (MD) | TN | — | $315,197 | $3,585 | $61,666 | $170,521 |
| Meharry Medical College | Medicine (MD) | TN | $64,004 | $314,277 | $3,575 | $63,408 | $126,788 |
| Touro University Nevada | Medicine (MD) | NV | — | $313,933 | $3,571 | $64,884 | $148,802 |
| Touro University California | Medicine (MD) | CA | — | $313,933 | $3,571 | $64,884 | $148,802 |
| University of New England | Medicine (MD) | ME | — | $312,574 | $3,556 | $65,581 | $129,270 |
| Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences | Medicine (MD) | WA | — | $312,242 | $3,552 | $62,909 | $195,564 |
| Alabama College of Osteopathic Medicine | Medicine (MD) | AL | — | $303,298 | $3,450 | $60,889 | $141,650 |
| Western University of Health Sciences | Medicine (MD) | CA | — | $296,307 | $3,371 | $65,634 | $156,511 |
| Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine | Medicine (MD) | VA | — | $283,568 | $3,226 | $61,935 | $153,927 |
| Kansas City University | Medicine (MD) | MO | — | $280,113 | $3,186 | $62,840 | $77,706 |
| Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine | Medicine (MD) | PA | — | $279,923 | $3,184 | $63,717 | $139,981 |
| Barry University | Medicine (MD) | FL | — | $278,906 | $3,173 | $59,188 | $111,890 |
| New York Medical College | Medicine (MD) | NY | $63,824 | $278,775 | $3,171 | $73,918 | $95,053 |
| Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine | Medicine (MD) | PA | $62,236 | $273,352 | $3,109 | $66,759 | $116,849 |
| Campbell University | Medicine (MD) | NC | — | $272,392 | $3,099 | $61,520 | $145,072 |
| Marian University | Medicine (MD) | IN | — | $271,140 | $3,084 | $63,528 | $174,993 |
| New York Institute of Technology | Medicine (MD) | NY | — | $271,124 | $3,084 | $69,106 | $126,613 |
| West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine | Medicine (MD) | WV | — | $269,399 | $3,064 | $61,064 | $173,189 |
| Liberty University | Medicine (MD) | VA | — | $264,232 | $3,006 | $61,144 | $176,742 |
| University of Illinois Chicago | Medicine (MD) | IL | $34,402 | $263,341 | $2,996 | $65,807 | $116,861 |
| Drexel University | Medicine (MD) | PA | $67,790 | $259,179 | $2,948 | $68,085 | $95,437 |
| Central Michigan University | Medicine (MD) | MI | $43,952 | $254,007 | $2,889 | $63,654 | $138,552 |
| Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University | Medicine (MD) | VA | $60,355 | $251,904 | $2,865 | $65,887 | $94,416 |
| Michigan State University | Medicine (MD) | MI | $31,652 | $251,502 | $2,861 | $62,864 | $130,503 |
| Ohio University-Main Campus | Medicine (MD) | OH | — | $250,362 | $2,848 | $63,869 | $154,758 |
| Morehouse School of Medicine | Medicine (MD) | GA | $54,155 | $249,700 | $2,840 | $64,906 | $125,346 |
| Loyola University Chicago | Medicine (MD) | IL | $70,637 | $249,216 | $2,835 | $66,669 | $97,532 |
| Georgetown University | Medicine (MD) | DC | $60,613 | $249,194 | $2,835 | $68,568 | $90,785 |
| Albany Medical College | Medicine (MD) | NY | $57,723 | $247,523 | $2,816 | $69,685 | $112,736 |
| Howard University | Medicine (MD) | DC | $57,632 | $247,248 | $2,812 | $66,233 | $111,199 |
| University of Pikeville | Medicine (MD) | KY | — | $246,625 | $2,805 | $61,506 | $224,231 |
| Samuel Merritt University | Medicine (MD) | CA | — | $244,534 | $2,782 | $67,061 | $165,829 |
| Creighton University | Medicine (MD) | NE | $67,088 | $244,227 | $2,778 | $66,245 | $109,700 |
| Loma Linda University | Medicine (MD) | CA | $67,003 | $242,970 | $2,764 | $66,750 | $125,175 |
| Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine | Medicine (MD) | PA | — | $240,729 | $2,738 | $63,605 | $138,038 |
| Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science | Medicine (MD) | IL | $66,481 | $240,470 | $2,735 | $65,640 | $120,036 |
| Des Moines University-Osteopathic Medical Center | Medicine (MD) | IA | — | $239,574 | $2,725 | $63,930 | $160,081 |
| Saint Louis University | Medicine (MD) | MO | $65,914 | $239,229 | $2,721 | $65,402 | $101,722 |
| Oregon Health & Science University | Medicine (MD) | OR | $57,045 | $236,822 | $2,694 | $68,220 | $112,813 |
| Kent State University at Kent | Medicine (MD) | OH | — | $236,752 | $2,693 | $61,632 | $121,373 |
| Stony Brook University | Medicine (MD) | NY | $49,189 | $235,558 | $2,680 | $73,751 | $99,252 |
| University of Southern California | Medicine (MD) | CA | $72,692 | $234,702 | $2,670 | $75,814 | $105,882 |
| Rowan University | Medicine (MD) | NJ | $46,998 | $232,655 | $2,646 | $66,847 | $116,089 |
| Upstate Medical University | Medicine (MD) | NY | $45,213 | $231,479 | $2,633 | $66,054 | $115,161 |
| University of Toledo | Medicine (MD) | OH | $37,960 | $227,010 | $2,582 | $63,975 | $106,268 |
| Sonoran University of Health Sciences | Medicine (MD) | AZ | — | $224,000 | $2,548 | $41,388 | $51,044 |
| Southern Illinois University-Carbondale | Medicine (MD) | IL | $41,719 | $222,981 | $2,536 | $63,528 | $107,267 |
| Western Michigan University Homer Stryker M.D. School of Medicine | Medicine (MD) | MI | $68,200 | $219,714 | $2,499 | $64,782 | $107,892 |
| Wright State University-Main Campus | Medicine (MD) | OH | $45,787 | $219,471 | $2,497 | $64,945 | $106,384 |
| University of Vermont | Medicine (MD) | VT | $39,258 | $219,221 | $2,494 | $67,529 | $102,232 |
| Tufts University | Medicine (MD) | MA | $69,868 | $218,623 | $2,487 | $69,235 | $104,668 |
| University at Buffalo | Medicine (MD) | NY | $48,038 | $215,899 | $2,456 | $64,438 | $100,331 |
| Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus | Medicine (MD) | PA | $57,796 | $215,577 | $2,452 | $67,467 | $110,814 |
| Rush University | Medicine (MD) | IL | $56,730 | $214,974 | $2,445 | $66,767 | $97,168 |
| Medical University of South Carolina | Medicine (MD) | SC | $26,122 | $214,651 | $2,442 | $60,849 | $96,864 |
| Quinnipiac University | Medicine (MD) | CT | $63,690 | $213,795 | $2,432 | $69,516 | $108,362 |
| University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus | Medicine (MD) | CO | $44,977 | $212,811 | $2,421 | $67,110 | $104,201 |
| University of Kentucky | Medicine (MD) | KY | $41,663 | $212,674 | $2,419 | $62,460 | $115,241 |
| Medical College of Wisconsin | Medicine (MD) | WI | $65,071 | $212,224 | $2,414 | $66,958 | $107,918 |
| University of South Carolina-Columbia | Medicine (MD) | SC | $43,488 | $210,899 | $2,399 | $61,512 | $130,641 |
| Dartmouth College | Medicine (MD) | NH | $70,083 | $210,783 | $2,398 | $70,513 | $104,011 |
| Indiana University-Indianapolis | Medicine (MD) | IN | $38,386 | $210,632 | $2,396 | $64,247 | $101,569 |
| Temple University | Medicine (MD) | PA | $57,048 | $208,393 | $2,371 | $67,343 | $113,007 |
| Florida International University | Medicine (MD) | FL | $38,855 | $207,971 | $2,366 | $64,154 | $95,353 |
| Boston University | Medicine (MD) | MA | $70,320 | $205,222 | $2,334 | $70,654 | $102,530 |
| University of Miami | Medicine (MD) | FL | $53,511 | $202,806 | $2,307 | $66,116 | $94,678 |
| Virginia Commonwealth University | Medicine (MD) | VA | $39,219 | $202,416 | $2,303 | $65,351 | $101,335 |
| Northwestern University | Medicine (MD) | IL | $72,048 | $201,568 | $2,293 | $70,039 | $94,158 |
| University of Louisville | Medicine (MD) | KY | $46,088 | $199,999 | $2,275 | $61,929 | $106,490 |
| University of Missouri-Columbia | Medicine (MD) | MO | $45,175 | $197,576 | $2,247 | $63,656 | $113,111 |
| University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences | Medicine (MD) | AR | $34,702 | $197,462 | $2,246 | $61,012 | $117,552 |
| George Washington University | Medicine (MD) | DC | $68,056 | $197,284 | $2,244 | $68,275 | $100,874 |
| SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University | Medicine (MD) | NY | $45,713 | $196,615 | $2,237 | $78,551 | $102,323 |
| Mercer University | Medicine (MD) | GA | $43,856 | $195,967 | $2,229 | $61,937 | $118,913 |
| East Tennessee State University | Medicine (MD) | TN | $38,706 | $194,983 | $2,218 | $60,144 | $110,348 |
| Northeast Ohio Medical University | Medicine (MD) | OH | $49,082 | $194,149 | $2,208 | $65,043 | $95,374 |
| Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences | Medicine (MD) | OK | — | $193,977 | $2,207 | $59,722 | $152,745 |
| Ohio State University-Main Campus | Medicine (MD) | OH | $31,288 | $193,467 | $2,201 | $64,952 | $99,404 |
| Wake Forest University | Medicine (MD) | NC | $63,674 | $193,205 | $2,198 | $64,365 | $119,030 |
| University of Arizona | Medicine (MD) | AZ | $39,459 | $192,899 | $2,194 | $66,995 | $127,725 |
| University of California-Irvine | Medicine (MD) | CA | $40,261 | $191,478 | $2,178 | $71,598 | $143,530 |
| Universidad Central Del Caribe | Medicine (MD) | PR | $38,617 | $191,451 | $2,178 | $57,529 | $76,933 |
| University of Utah | Medicine (MD) | UT | $45,896 | $190,914 | $2,172 | $66,101 | $103,469 |
| Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center-New Orleans | Medicine (MD) | LA | $32,936 | $190,588 | $2,168 | $60,253 | $102,862 |
| The University of Tennessee Health Science Center | Medicine (MD) | TN | $36,684 | $190,581 | $2,168 | $60,957 | $89,710 |
| University of Washington-Seattle Campus | Medicine (MD) | WA | $41,322 | $189,915 | $2,160 | $67,261 | $147,912 |
| University of Cincinnati-Main Campus | Medicine (MD) | OH | $35,612 | $188,938 | $2,149 | $65,906 | $90,324 |
| Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center-Shreveport | Medicine (MD) | LA | $29,344 | $188,122 | $2,140 | $59,199 | $100,409 |
| University of Central Florida | Medicine (MD) | FL | $29,680 | $187,833 | $2,137 | $61,710 | — |
| University of Nebraska Medical Center | Medicine (MD) | NE | $19,408 | $187,596 | $2,134 | $64,475 | $116,814 |
| Case Western Reserve University | Medicine (MD) | OH | $71,578 | $187,457 | $2,132 | $66,273 | $92,532 |
| Augusta University | Medicine (MD) | GA | $28,926 | $186,680 | $2,124 | $63,472 | $99,481 |
| Rutgers University-New Brunswick | Medicine (MD) | NJ | $47,505 | $184,017 | $2,093 | $69,793 | $96,288 |
| University of Missouri-Kansas City | Medicine (MD) | MO | $32,733 | $183,284 | $2,085 | $63,219 | $127,872 |
| Thomas Jefferson University | Medicine (MD) | PA | $64,390 | $181,998 | $2,070 | $67,992 | $96,329 |
| Emory University | Medicine (MD) | GA | $55,242 | $181,971 | $2,070 | $67,663 | $98,605 |
| University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus | Medicine (MD) | PA | $64,564 | $181,338 | $2,063 | $67,571 | $98,219 |
| University of Maryland Baltimore | Medicine (MD) | MD | $41,761 | $180,500 | $2,053 | $66,096 | $96,990 |
| University of South Florida | Medicine (MD) | FL | $33,726 | $180,457 | $2,053 | $62,210 | $97,089 |
| University of Florida | Medicine (MD) | FL | $36,657 | $180,021 | $2,048 | $61,829 | $104,811 |
| University of Kansas | Medicine (MD) | KS | $40,629 | $179,778 | $2,045 | $63,138 | $123,824 |
| University of Wisconsin-Madison | Medicine (MD) | WI | $42,234 | $179,642 | $2,043 | $66,876 | $127,913 |
| West Virginia University | Medicine (MD) | WV | $22,932 | $178,036 | $2,025 | $61,440 | $120,123 |
| University of Iowa | Medicine (MD) | IA | $38,122 | $177,014 | $2,014 | $65,889 | $98,361 |
| Florida State University | Medicine (MD) | FL | $25,611 | $175,432 | $1,996 | $62,072 | $113,355 |
| University of South Alabama | Medicine (MD) | AL | $34,895 | $175,334 | $1,994 | $60,781 | $114,506 |
| Vanderbilt University | Medicine (MD) | TN | $68,430 | $172,764 | $1,965 | $66,933 | $90,286 |
| University of Mississippi | Medicine (MD) | MS | $35,205 | $172,523 | $1,962 | $58,404 | $110,599 |
| University of Nevada-Reno | Medicine (MD) | NV | $33,979 | $172,471 | $1,962 | $65,809 | $162,680 |
| CUNY City College | Medicine (MD) | NY | $41,912 | $171,263 | $1,948 | $74,620 | — |
| Florida Atlantic University | Medicine (MD) | FL | $31,634 | $171,228 | $1,948 | $67,033 | $89,537 |
| University of Oklahoma-Norman Campus | Medicine (MD) | OK | — | $170,890 | $1,944 | $62,748 | $97,714 |
| University of Oklahoma-Health Sciences Center | Medicine (MD) | OK | $30,787 | $170,890 | $1,944 | $62,748 | $97,714 |
| University of Rochester | Medicine (MD) | NY | $70,947 | $170,110 | $1,935 | $67,077 | $106,097 |
| University of North Texas Health Science Center | Medicine (MD) | TX | — | $165,702 | $1,885 | $60,678 | $133,668 |
| Wayne State University | Medicine (MD) | MI | $40,459 | $165,514 | $1,883 | $63,587 | $106,280 |
| University of California-Los Angeles | Medicine (MD) | CA | $44,187 | $163,032 | $1,855 | $74,916 | $143,434 |
| University of North Dakota | Medicine (MD) | ND | $36,074 | $161,183 | $1,833 | $66,463 | $116,665 |
| University of Hawaii at Manoa | Medicine (MD) | HI | $37,444 | $161,000 | $1,831 | $68,761 | $128,827 |
| University of Virginia-Main Campus | Medicine (MD) | VA | $50,732 | $159,017 | $1,809 | $67,024 | $97,806 |
| University of New Mexico-Main Campus | Medicine (MD) | NM | $19,111 | $156,468 | $1,780 | $64,050 | $105,543 |
| University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School | Medicine (MD) | MA | $41,690 | $155,417 | $1,768 | $69,813 | $105,854 |
| Hofstra University | Medicine (MD) | NY | $58,265 | $153,791 | $1,749 | $74,616 | $99,911 |
| Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center | Medicine (MD) | TX | $22,379 | $153,777 | $1,749 | $63,386 | $99,117 |
| East Carolina University | Medicine (MD) | NC | $25,161 | $152,343 | $1,733 | $63,673 | $144,434 |
| Marshall University | Medicine (MD) | WV | $24,988 | $150,015 | $1,706 | $61,056 | $134,319 |
| Texas A&M University-College Station | Medicine (MD) | TX | $21,760 | $147,832 | $1,682 | $62,078 | $114,060 |
| Brown University | Medicine (MD) | RI | $70,626 | $146,880 | $1,671 | $72,351 | $106,465 |
| University of Michigan-Ann Arbor | Medicine (MD) | MI | $53,277 | $146,559 | $1,667 | $70,693 | $103,473 |
| University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill | Medicine (MD) | NC | $34,706 | $144,732 | $1,646 | $63,519 | $106,964 |
| University of Minnesota-Twin Cities | Medicine (MD) | MN | $45,177 | $142,289 | $1,619 | $65,924 | $141,568 |
| Duke University | Medicine (MD) | NC | $69,637 | $142,262 | $1,618 | $67,570 | $92,928 |
| University of California-Riverside | Medicine (MD) | CA | $40,310 | $141,628 | $1,611 | $67,270 | $128,469 |
| University of Chicago | Medicine (MD) | IL | $81,488 | $141,166 | $1,606 | $70,564 | $101,675 |
| The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston | Medicine (MD) | TX | $25,506 | $140,138 | $1,594 | $61,688 | $116,208 |
| The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston | Medicine (MD) | TX | $24,038 | $139,347 | $1,585 | $66,107 | $102,873 |
| The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio | Medicine (MD) | TX | $23,735 | $138,096 | $1,571 | $63,177 | $102,246 |
| University of California-San Francisco | Medicine (MD) | CA | $40,169 | $131,110 | $1,491 | $76,908 | $112,089 |
| University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center | Medicine (MD) | TX | $22,369 | $130,658 | $1,486 | $65,632 | $106,472 |
| Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai | Medicine (MD) | NY | $66,446 | $126,350 | $1,437 | $76,744 | $104,361 |
| University of California-Davis | Medicine (MD) | CA | $40,540 | $126,027 | $1,434 | $72,848 | $144,130 |
| The University of Texas at Austin | Medicine (MD) | TX | $21,086 | $121,190 | $1,379 | $65,395 | — |
| University of Connecticut-Stamford | Medicine (MD) | CT | — | $120,716 | $1,373 | $68,527 | $105,383 |
| University of Connecticut | Medicine (MD) | CT | $47,326 | $120,716 | $1,373 | $68,527 | $105,383 |
| University of Connecticut-Hartford Campus | Medicine (MD) | CT | — | $120,716 | $1,373 | $68,527 | $105,383 |
| University of Connecticut-Avery Point | Medicine (MD) | CT | — | $120,716 | $1,373 | $68,527 | $105,383 |
| University of Connecticut-Waterbury Campus | Medicine (MD) | CT | — | $120,716 | $1,373 | $68,527 | $105,383 |
| University of Puerto Rico-Medical Sciences | Medicine (MD) | PR | $26,927 | $114,070 | $1,298 | $43,299 | $68,757 |
| University of Pennsylvania | Medicine (MD) | PA | $71,880 | $109,430 | $1,245 | $71,367 | $99,652 |
| Johns Hopkins University | Medicine (MD) | MD | $66,816 | $109,070 | $1,241 | $68,008 | $98,978 |
| Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science | Medicine (MD) | MN | $66,000 | $105,294 | $1,198 | $67,276 | $95,873 |
| The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley | Medicine (MD) | TX | $20,351 | $104,124 | $1,184 | $60,293 | — |
| Harvard University | Medicine (MD) | MA | $71,305 | $99,160 | $1,128 | $76,146 | $108,149 |
| Baylor College of Medicine | Medicine (MD) | TX | $29,113 | $99,030 | $1,126 | $66,887 | $93,456 |
| Washington University in St Louis | Medicine (MD) | MO | $68,795 | $99,009 | $1,126 | $66,880 | $90,449 |
| Burrell College of Osteopathic Medicine | Medicine (MD) | NM | — | $85,315 | $970 | $61,961 | — |
| Stanford University | Medicine (MD) | CA | $66,096 | $71,477 | $813 | $79,753 | $114,132 |
| Columbia University in the City of New York | Medicine (MD) | NY | $73,501 | $63,865 | $726 | $78,891 | $106,442 |
| Yale University | Medicine (MD) | CT | $71,389 | $62,778 | $714 | $75,823 | $100,955 |
| Albert Einstein College of Medicine | Medicine (MD) | NY | $63,527 | $47,503 | $540 | $75,053 | $102,727 |
What the data shows
Professional school is the most debt-intensive path in higher education. The median law graduate owes $118,506 in federal loans, and the median new MD owes $190,581. At the most expensive programs, balances top $459,525.
Law school debt varies more than five-fold by school: from $45,240 at Westcliff University to $229,699 at Thomas Jefferson School of Law. 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 $118,506 in federal loans, based on College Scorecard data for 203 law schools. The standard 10-year payment is about $1,348 a month.
How much debt do medical school graduates have?
The median MD graduate owes $190,581 in federal loans. Osteopathic (DO) graduates owe — at the median.
How much do new lawyers earn?
Law graduates earn a median of $72,119 one year after graduating and $108,296 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 $64,952. Pay rises to $111,336 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)