Compare Your Aid Offers
Enter each school’s award letter. We turn them into the numbers that matter: what you’ll owe at graduation, and what strings come attached.
Award letters
| A In-state public Least debt | B Private school | C Private school | D Military HPSP Service program | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Net cost, 4 years | $240,000 (better) | $260,000 | $312,000 | — Tuition & required fees paid, plus a monthly stipend at the program’s current rate |
| Federal loans | $200,000 At cap (better) | $200,000 At cap (better) | $200,000 At cap (better) | — Only if needed for living costs |
| Private loans | $42,114 (better) | $62,114 | $114,114 | — Usually none |
| Debt at graduation | $290,975 Lowest (better) | $315,017 +24,042 vs. best | $377,526 +86,551 vs. best | Near $0 Near $0 |
| PSLF-eligible (federal) | $240,350 (better) | $240,350 (better) | $240,350 (better) | n/a n/a |
| Strings attached | Need-based; reapply each year with the FAFSA | Merit; renewal may require good academic standing | Check whether it’s guaranteed all four years | Active-duty service after training, about one year per scholarship year; residency through the military match |
Net cost, 4 years
- In-state public
- $240,000
- Better
- Private school
- $260,000
- Private school
- $312,000
- Military HPSP
- —
- Tuition & required fees paid, plus a monthly stipend at the program’s current rate
Federal loans
- In-state public
- $200,000
- At cap
- Better
- Private school
- $200,000
- At cap
- Better
- Private school
- $200,000
- At cap
- Better
- Military HPSP
- —
- Only if needed for living costs
Private loans
- In-state public
- $42,114
- Better
- Private school
- $62,114
- Private school
- $114,114
- Military HPSP
- —
- Usually none
Debt at graduation
- In-state public
- $290,975
- Lowest
- Better
- Private school
- $315,017
- +24,042 vs. best
- Private school
- $377,526
- +86,551 vs. best
- Military HPSP
- Near $0
- Near $0
PSLF-eligible (federal)
- In-state public
- $240,350
- Better
- Private school
- $240,350
- Better
- Private school
- $240,350
- Better
- Military HPSP
- n/a
- n/a
Strings attached
- In-state public
- Need-based; reapply each year with the FAFSA
- Private school
- Merit; renewal may require good academic standing
- Private school
- Check whether it’s guaranteed all four years
- Military HPSP
- Active-duty service after training, about one year per scholarship year; residency through the military match
Ask for a better package
Some schools will reconsider an award if you share a stronger competing offer. In-state public’s offer is the one to show the others. Ask politely and in writing.
Compare the same years
Award letters often show one year. We multiply by 4 and add interest, so a small yearly difference shows its real size.
Service programs are a career decision
HPSP, NHSC and state programs trade debt for years of service and less say over where you train and work. Read the contract before the dollars.
Uses the same loan math as What Med School Really Costs: federal 8.07% and the $50,000/yr cap, private 7.50%, interest built up during school. Service-program terms come only from each program’s current published terms. PGYield doesn’t earn referral fees from lenders.