The Cost of Applying - To Health Professions School - Applying to medical, schools requires an upfront investment

Oct 3, 2026

Applying to medical programs requires an upfront investment across test preparation, registrations, application platforms, and school-specific fees. Expenses can include MCAT prep and practice resources, primary application costs and transcript/letter storage fees, secondary application fees, CASPer distribution, and interview-related travel, lodging, and interview attire. Additional costs may arise from nonrefundable deposits, rescheduling or cancellations, and optional second-look visits. Guidance emphasizes balancing time and money, planning early with mentors and advisors, and using fee assistance programs when eligible.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryHealthcare

FormatPDF

Pages5

Reading Time13 min

AccessFree to download

Sample Medical School Application Expenses

General Advice

Fee Assistance Programs

MCAT Preparation

Standardized Test Registration

Primary Applications / School Selection

The Cost of Applying To Health Professions School Applying to medical, schools requires an upfront investment. This guide will walk you through the expenses you will encounter in the application process. Sample Medical School Application Expenses Range of costs Sample cost | MCAT preparation | Varies widely (minimally ~$300) | $500 | | --- | --- | --- | | MCAT registration | $320 | $320 | | School selection resource: MSAR | $28 | $28 | | Primary (common) application to MD schools: AMCAS
Transcript fees
Letter storage fees | $170 for the first school $40 for each additional Varies by school
Varies by school | 20 schools: $930 $20 | | Secondary application fees | Approx. $50-$150 per school | National median[1]: $1200 | | CASPer test | $10 to take, $10 per school to distribute scores | $40 | | Interviews: Travel to and from the school’s city/town Transportation within school’s city/town Lodging and food
Interview suit and shoes | ~$0-500 per interview
~$0-100 per interview
~$0-200 per interview varies | 3 interviews @
$400 each: $1,200 | | Deposits | May be non-refundable, varies from school to school | | | Second look visits: travel to/from the school, lodging | Optional, varies | | Total: $4,238 This is only a sample. Expenses vary significantly with the most variation tied to type of standardized test prep, number of applications, and number of interviews. In the following pages, we share more details about each expense and some tipson maximizing your investment. General Advice ● Sometimes it makes sense to cut costs but sometimes it’s in your best interest to make some financial sacrifices to reach your goals. Work with mentors and reflect carefully on your needs as you navigate this. ● There is often a tradeoff between time and money. Sometimes it makes sense to slow down to maximize results and sometimes it doesn’t. Take time to weigh the pros and cons. ● Have a frank discussion with family regarding their level of support early in the process, as it may affect your decisions moving forward. ● Have a frank discussion with the Pre-Health Professions advisors about the strength of your candidacy in relation to your goals. Apply only if you feel confident that you can meet your goals. Having to reapply increases the time/financial/emotional cost of applying. ● Apply for a credit card that offers points for travel / lodging. Use this credit card for application expenses, then use the points accumulated toward interviews. Fee Assistance Programs Participating in fee assistance programs is one of the most significant ways to save money. Read through the websites for these opportunities to see if you might qualify. Premed students ● The AAMC Fee Assistance Program (FAP) provides ~$1500 savings on MCAT prep, MSAR, and AMCAS, and many medical schools will waive secondary application fees if you qualify for the FAP. Apply for the program before you begin MCAT study. Benefits last for up to two calendar years. ● If you apply to osteopathic (DO) medical schools, an additional fee assistance program is available. MCAT Preparation The range of costs ● Least expensive: Borrow HPA library books for test prep (free) and use the free AAMC resources. Use free test offers and free trial opportunities and buy the AAMC Official Prep Bundle ($294) for the practice tests and question bank. ● Not too expensive: the above, plus add Next Step practice exams ($99-$249, free practice bundle available) and the U World question banks (7 day free trial, $199-$299 depending on length of subscription)—these have been highly recommended by recent students. ● Middle-range: Next Step, Kaplan, Princeton Review, and Examkrackers are popular test prep companies. They offer in-person or online courses that range from $1,500-$2,000+ . UTC’s Office of Professional Development hosts and MCAT Preparation Course taught by Kaplan each spring semester. ● More expensive: Private tutoring, offered thro

FAQs

What are the main cost areas when applying to health professions school?

The guide groups costs into MCAT preparation and registration, application fees (primary and secondary), CASPer distribution, interview travel and related expenses, and sometimes deposits or optional second-look visits.

How can applicants reduce MCAT preparation costs?

Use free AAMC resources and free test offers, borrow library books for preparation, consider the AAMC Official Prep Bundle for practice tests, and compare next-step and other prep options based on budget.

What fee assistance programs can help lower medical application expenses?

The AAMC Fee Assistance Program (FAP) can provide substantial savings on MCAT prep, MSAR, and AMCAS, and may waive secondary application fees for qualifying applicants. Additional assistance may be available for osteopathic (DO) applicants.

Oct 3, 2026

Uploaded by River Wang