How to apply for medical school scholarships

Medical school scholarships are one way to lessen your loan burden as you work toward completing your medical education. As a prospective or current medical student, you can explore different types of scholarship funding options, such as institutional scholarships, service-based scholarships or outside funding. 

The AMA has the answers to frequently asked questions on medical school scholarships and how you can begin pursuing these opportunities. 

Students can apply for medical school scholarships prior to beginning their medical education training and as they progress through medical school. 

Outside of institutional scholarships, organizations such as nonprofits, community organizations and medical societies also offer scholarship funding for medical students. In addition, service-based scholarships provide medical students a chance to pay for most of their education in exchange for a commitment to serve a certain population. 

A number of U.S. medical schools are recognized for offering full-tuition and full-ride scholarship awards, though these are competitive and will vary based on eligibility. Some of the schools offering full-ride medical scholarships or grants include (but are not limited to): 

• Albert Einstein College of Medicine
• Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine
• Duke University School of Medicine
• Emory University School of Medicine
• John Hopkins School of Medicine
• Kaiser Permanente Bernard J. Tyson School of Medicine
• UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine

Scholarships are common at the medical school level, though significant merit-based scholarships are less frequent. The availability of financial assistance a medical school provides students with will vary significantly, and can be based on merit, need or other mission-driven attributes. 

Scholarships are a viable option for those who qualify, but it is also important to keep in mind that more legwork may be needed to pursue multiple scholarships. 

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Though comprehensive national data on the total number of medical school scholarships awarded annually in the U.S. is limited, a survey of 2024 graduating medical students conducted by the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC), as cited in this AMA article, found that 65% of graduating medical student respondents had some form of financial assistance (for instance, grants, stipends or scholarships) that was not a loan. 

Medical school scholarship applications and eligibility requirements vary by institution, location, specialty and area of interest. Here is some general guidance to keep in mind: 

1. Check with your medical school: Medical school advisers or the office of financial aid will be a resource for students looking for scholarships. These experts can help guide you through several avenues for funding.
2. Do your research: Identify the opportunities that align with your area of interest or specialty to learn more about the financial options available. The Association of American Medical Colleges, for instance, maintains a Loan Repayment, Forgiveness, Scholarship, and Other Programs Database which allows users to search and sort for scholarship opportunity programs.
3. Review eligibility and application deadlines: Keep an eye on the necessary application cycle deadlines and required materials (such as transcripts, letters of recommendation, etc.) to ensure you are able to complete your application in time.

Because scholarship application and eligibility requirements vary, there is no “right” Medical College Admission Test® (MCAT®) score. However, a strong MCAT score can significantly improve your chances of earning a medical school scholarship, especially merit-based scholarships. For general context, according to U.S. News & World Report, the average MCAT score among entering students at U.S. medical schools in fall 2023 was about 512.

The AMA offers several fellowships and scholarships for medical students. The AMA Foundation Physicians of Tomorrow Scholarship provides $10,000 scholarships to students entering their final year of medical school.  In addition, the Medical Student Section (MSS) Government Relations Advocacy Fellow offers the opportunity to be a full-time paid member of the AMA's federal advocacy team for 1 year. 

Learn more about the MSS, which strives to be medical students' voice within the AMA for improving medical education and advocating for the future of medicine.

All AMA awards and scholarships

Programs at the AMA Foundation

Medical student leadership opportunities