Financial Assistance and Tuition | Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (2024)

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Tuition

The estimated annual cost of tuition and fees for 2024-2025 academic year is listed below. UIWSOM does not distinguish between resident and non-resident for educational costs. For a detailed listing of tuition and fees per semester and additional policies, visit SOM Tuition and Payments.

Please recognize that the following is provided solely as an estimate to aid your financial planning and all expenses are subject to change. Upon enrollment, tuition statements are emailed to students and available to view online through the Cardinal Apps portal.

Direct Costs
Cost ItemYear 1Year 2Year 3Year 4
Tuition$62,400$62,400$62,400$62,400
Fees$2,300$1,100$1,100$1,100
Records Fee$400$0$0
Health Insurance
(Eligible for waiver for learners with private insurance)
$5,386$5,270$5,270$5,270
Total$70,126$68,770$68,770$68,770

The Cost of Attendance provides an estimated total for attending UIWSOM. It is composed of direct costs (charges for tuition and fees) and indirect costs (allowances for room and board, books and supplies, transportation and other personal/miscellaneous costs). Though UIWSOM will not charge this total amount, this information is valuable for personal budgeting and planning.

For a detailed listing of the Cost of Attendance by semester and additional policies, visit SOM Cost of Attendance.

Cost of Attendance 2024-2025

Cost of Attendance Table
Cost ItemYear 1Year 2Year 3Year 4
Tuition$62,400$62,400$62,400$62,400
Fees$2,300$1,100$1,100$1,100
Books and Supplies$200$300$300$300
Room$12,708$14,826$16,238$12,002
Board$6,048$7,056$7,728$5,712
Transportation$4,428$5,166$5,658$4,182
Personal Miscellaneous$7,560$8,820$9,660$7,140
Licensing Exams/Residency$0$750$715$3,000
Cost of Attendance$95,644$100,418$103,799$95,836

View a sample of the cost of living in San Antonio, TX. Please note: This website is not affiliated with UIW or UIWSOM and is only intended to be a starting point for your research.

Financial Aid and Scholarships

Application Process

  1. Apply For Financial Aid
    All students are encouraged to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) at studentaid.gov. The FAFSA is used to determine eligibility for loans and select scholarships. This application may be completed prior to acceptance. Students should complete the 2024-2025 FAFSA. Use the University of the Incarnate Word FAFSA school code: 003578. UIWSOM is not listed independently. Parental information is not required.
  2. View Your Financial Aid and Complete Acceptance Process
    Access UIW Cardinal App's BannerWeb for personalized financial assistance information including the amount of aid offered, requirements needed to accept aid, and disbursem*nt dates. Financial aid offers for the 2024-2025 academic year will become avaliable at the end of May 2024.

Types of Aid Available

Eligibility

  • Awarded to students that exemplify the UIWSOM mission.
  • No minimum grade point average or financial need.

Award Amount

Up to $10,000 per year or up to $40,000 total.

Application

No application is needed. The AACOMAS application and UIWSOM Supplemental Application are used to determine recipients.

The University of the Incarnate Word has partnered with the Baptist Health Foundation of San Antonio to provide scholarships for students enrolled in certain health professional fields, including the UIWSOM Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine program.

Eligibility

  • Must be a U.S. citizen.
  • Must be enrolled full-time in one of the approved programs - Doctor of Physical Therapy, Doctor of Pharmacy, Traditional BSN, Master of Science in Nursing, Doctor of Nursing Practice, Master of Nutrition, Doctor of Optometry, Nuclear Medicine and Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine.
  • Must meet GPA requirements for good academic standing.
  • Must have a FAFSA on file with the Office of Financial Assistance and demonstrate financial need (financial aid file must be complete before eligibility can be determined).
  • Must have a permanent residence within the Baptist Health Foundation’s service area (approved counties: Atascosa, Bandera, Bexar, Comal, Guadalupe, Kendall, Medina and Wilson).
  • Must certify intent, following graduation, to remain and seek employment in one of the eight counties serviced by the Baptist Health Foundation (see the approved counties listed above).
  • Previous recipients may apply but renewal is not guaranteed.

Award Amount

Varies based on funding.

Application

Scholarship application is emailed to learners as available.

Nancy Ann Wilson spent most of her life in San Antonio, graduated from Alamo Heights High School, the University of the Incarnate Word and Baptist Hospital School of Medical Technology. After her retirement from laboratory work, she became a Blue Bird Volunteer at the Methodist Hospital, volunteering two and three days a week. Though Ms. Wilson passed in 2016, her name lives on through scholarships to UIW students.

Eligibility

  • Must be currently enrolled as an osteopathic medical student (incoming students are eligible).
  • Must be in good academic standing at UIWSOM.

Award Amount

Varies based on funding.

Application

Scholarship instructions are emailed to learners as available.

Eligibility

  • Available through the Department of Education.
  • Financial need is not required.
  • Loan accrues interest during periods of enrollment, deferment, forbearance and during repayment.

Interest Rate and Loan Fee

Fixed interest rate - view current rates for Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loans

Annual Loan Limit

$40,500

Aggregate Loan Limit

$224,000 (inclusive of previous federal subsidized/unsubsidized loans)

Repayment

Begins six months after graduation, less than half-time enrollment, withdrawal or non-enrollment.

Application

Completed annually and available at studentaid.gov

Eligibility

  • Available through the Department of Education.
  • Financial need is not required.
  • Borrower must not have an adverse credit history (or have an endorser who does not have an adverse credit history).
  • Loan accrues interest during periods of enrollment, deferment or forbearance and during repayment.

Interest Rate and Loan Fee

Fixed interest rate - view current PLUS loan rates

Annual Loan Limit

Cost of attendance minus other aid

Aggregate Loan Limit

Not applicable

Repayment

Begins at the time of the final disbursem*nt, although borrower may apply for an in-school deferment if enrolled at least half-time.

Application

Completed annually and available at studentaid.gov

Alternative loans are private loans made through private lending institutions (banks, credit unions or other, private educational lenders). These loans are not part of the federal government loan programs. They are credit-based and may require a cosigner. Students should consider utilizing federal student loans before seeking a private loan. Federal student loans have many benefits (such as fixed interest rates and income-based repayment plans) not typically offered with private loans.

To view an online list of lenders UIW students have worked with in the past, check out the Private Loan Lender List.

External Scholarship Opportunities

Students should take advantage of all scholarships in which they meet the eligibility requirements. Below is a list of scholarship opportunities from outside organizations applicable to UIWSOM students. UIWSOM does not officially endorse the companies or organizations listed below. This list is only intended to be a starting point for the scholarship search. Eligibility requirements and deadline will vary with each scholarship.

None available at this time

None available at this time

None available at this time

None available at this time

The following scholarships may not be currently available but should be bookmarked for potential future use.

Responsible Borrowing

Know What You Owe

Many students underestimate the amount of student loan debt they currently have. Being unaware of debt can cause problems in the future. Log in to studentaid.gov for a personalized listing of your federal loans with loan amounts, status and servicer contact information. Keep in mind that this tool only keeps record of federal loans. Private loans must be managed between the lender and the student borrower.

The average medical school debt for the UIWSOM Class of 2021 graduates was $235,598, Class of 2022 graduates was $274,450 and Class of 2023 graduates 250,868.

UIWSOM Cohort Default Rates for the fiscal year 2021 was 0%, 2022 was 0%, and 2023 was 0%.

Build a Budget

Medical school will be a large investment of your time and your wallet. Money will likely be very tight. It is important to build a realistic spending plan to reduce educational debt, identify and control unnecessary spending and avoid credit card debt. Making reasonable financial decisions now will benefit borrowers in the long term.

Consider Paying Interest While in School

While enrolled at least half-time, students are not generally required to make payments toward federal student loans. Consideration should be given to making some type of payment though. Making interest payments while in school can significantly reduce future monthly payments and the overall cost of debt. Unpaid interest is capitalized before entering repayment, resulting in a higher principle amount owed and more interest charged each month. Try making payments toward loans with the highest interest rates.

Utilize Free Resources

Medical students continue to graduate with growing debt as the nation continues to experience a physician shortage, particularly in primary care specialties. Recognizing the burden of financing a private medical school education, the UIWSOM Office of Admissions and Student Affairs offers financial aid and debt management education and assistance to prospective students and current learners.

For assistance, contact the UIWSOM Enrollment Services team at SOMenrollment@uiwtx.edu or the UIW Office of Financial Assistance at finaid@uiwtx.edu.

The University of the Incarnate Word believes that all of our students, families and alumni should have access to the most information possible to help them make wise decisions about financing and repaying their education. So, we've partnered with iGrad to provide financial wellness resources to students, alumni and families.

No two students are exactly alike, so when you sign up for iGrad, you'll build a personalized profile and plan to improve your money management, career and student loan skills. We'll provide recommended video tips, quick financial lessons, personalized job search, scholarship opportunities and more.

Future Cardinals, Alumni, Parents: Sign up at UIW's iGrad site using your personal email address. Don't forget to bookmark the UIW iGrad site for easy access so you can check back often! iGrad updates its content daily with timely new articles, videos, infographics and more. The more you explore, the more iGrad will personalize content to address your specific goals and interests!

Current Students and Faculty/Staff: iGrad is now integrated with the online portal, Cardinal Apps. You'll have one-click access to your profile and recommendations directly through your portal account. If you prefer not to go through Cardinal Apps, you may sign up directly at UIW's iGrad site using your UIW or personal email address.

The Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) provides the FIRST program, including free resources to help students make wise financial decisions. Whether thinking about how to afford medical school, applying for student loans or determining loan repayment options, FIRST offers unbiased, reliable guidance.

The Department of Education provides a Loan Simulator to help borrowers review repayment plan options and view estimated monthly repayment amounts. Students are encouraged to sign in to use actual loan information but may also manually enter loan amounts to use the estimator tool. Private student loans are not included or applicable to the Repayment Estimator Tool.

AAMC also provides the MedLoans® Organizer and Calculator (MLOC) to assist medical students and residents with managing their education debt. The MLOC provides a secure location to organize and track student loans while also displaying possible repayment plans and costs based on the borrower’s student loan debt.

Financial Assistance and Tuition | Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (2024)

FAQs

How to get through med school debt free? ›

  1. Look for scholarships and grants. ...
  2. Enroll in a service program. ...
  3. Find a free medical school. ...
  4. Apply for federal financial aid. ...
  5. Consider private student loans. ...
  6. Get a part-time job. ...
  7. Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) ...
  8. Create a budget.

How hard is it to get into osteopathic medical school? ›

For many applicants, the answer to this question is yes, but getting accepted to an osteopathic school still isn't easy. You still need to do very well in medical school prerequisites and on the MCAT and must pursue meaningful extracurricular activities. And the competition for admission is intense.

What GPA DO you need for osteopathic medicine? ›

The mean GPA for DO matriculants is 3.59. To have the best chance of getting accepted, you should have a GPA at or above the average accepted range at your target DO school.

How to ask med school for money? ›

Ask your medical school

Many medical schools offer financial assistance to academically-competitive medical students who demonstrate severe financial hardship. Arrange for you and your family to speak directly to one of the school's financial aid officers about your situation and the options available to you.

How to quickly pay off medical school debt? ›

If you want to learn how to pay off medical school debt faster, use these tips:
  1. Review Income-Driven Repayment Plans. ...
  2. Make Payments During School or Residency. ...
  3. Make Extra Payments. ...
  4. Consider Loan Forgiveness Opportunities. ...
  5. Explore Repayment Assistance Programs. ...
  6. Seek Employer Assistance. ...
  7. Use Your Signing Bonus.
Aug 17, 2023

How bad is med school debt? ›

The average medical school debt is over $200,000 — a hefty amount of debt to carry at the start of your career. The expected payoff schedule can exceed the 10-year mark. During that time, you'll be paying the equivalent of an extra mortgage payment to make progress on the loan.

Is a DO as prestigious as an MD? ›

It is hard to say that one is more prestigious than another. A person working as a DO can hold leadership positions, provide care to some of the most elite athletes in the world, and manage whole healthcare systems. That is the same as an MD can do.

Is MD harder to get into than DO? ›

In general, it is considered easier to get into DO programs. The average GPA and MCAT scores for DO admissions tend to be lower. While the medical school acceptance rates for both DO and MD programs are similar, the number of candidates for MD programs is much higher and therefore there is more competition.

Why choose a DO over an MD? ›

DO stands for doctor of osteopathic medicine. They use the same conventional medical techniques as MDs but with a few other methods. DOs tend to focus more on holistic health and prevention. In holistic health, all parts of a person, including their mind, body, and emotions, are considered during the treatment.

Is osteopathic school easier than medical school? ›

Because the average MCAT and GPA are lower for osteopathic medical students, it is the “easier” option if your stats are not high. Many medical school applicants apply to osteopathic medical schools if they are not competitive for MD medical schools.

What is the MCAT score for osteopathic medicine? ›

DO versus MCAT: Applicants
  • The average MCAT score among DO applicants is 502.80, compared to 505.9 for MD schools.
  • The average GPA among DO applicants is 3.48, compared to an average GPA of 3.59 among students applying to MD programs.
Oct 5, 2023

What percent of medical students are osteopathic? ›

Today, more than 25 percent of medical students in the United States are training to be osteopathic physicians.

Can FAFSA pay for medical school? ›

To become eligible for federal financial aid to help you pay for medical school, you'll need to fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®). The FAFSA could qualify you for the following: Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loans: Medical students can borrow these loans (sometimes called “Stafford Loans”).

How can anyone afford medical school? ›

While a combination of grants and scholarships probably won't pay for all expenses, med students are able to borrow up to the cost of attendance to finance their medical education through the federal direct loan program, which includes four types of student loans offered directly through the U.S. Department of ...

Do med school loans cover living expenses? ›

Nearly all medical students qualify for federal student loans , which may include the Direct Unsubsidized Loan and possibly the Direct PLUS Loan. These loans will cover the entire cost of attendance, including tuition, fees, room and board, and all other official miscellaneous expenses.

Is it possible to graduate from medical school with no debt? ›

Without her, this article wouldn't be possible.” Approximately 1/4 of medical students graduate debt-free. Some of those have major commitments (like the military commitment I had) that are pretty much the equivalent of financial debt. Others come from a wealthy family.

How do med school students survive financially? ›

Paying for medical school with student loans

Many US medical students finance their education through federal loans, which are preferable to private loans for a number of reasons. Federal loans come with repayment options, such as income-based repayment or Pay As You Earn, which cap how much you off each month.

How much debt is 4 years of medical school? ›

Here's a look at the average medical school debt and earnings for graduates nationwide, based on information from the AAMC and the Bureau of Labor Statistics: Average medical school debt: $200,000. Average education debt after medical school: $203,062. Median salary with a medical school degree: $208,000.

What happens if you don't pay medical school debt? ›

If you default on your student loan, that status will be reported to national credit reporting agencies. This reporting may damage your credit rating and future borrowing ability. Also, the government can collect on your loans by taking funds from your wages, tax refunds, and other government payments.

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