Here are the 10 best medical programs for graduation, detailing top institutions, expenses, and key features:
Doctor of Medicine (MD)
Top Institutions:
- Harvard Medical School (#1 globally): $77,673 tuition + $34,000 living costs 913.
- NYU Grossman: Full-tuition scholarship for all students (only $4,350 fees/year) 713.
- Heidelberg University (Germany): €1,500/semester (~$3,300/year) for international students 13.
Total Cost Range: $0 (NYU) to $300,000+ (private schools over 4 years) 412.
Neuroscience
Top Institutions:
- Johns Hopkins: $70,380 tuition, $24,000 living costs 914.
- University of Oxford: £39,000 (~$50,000)/year for international students 5.
Key Expense: Lab fees up to $2,000/year 14.
Biomedical Research (PhD)
Top Institutions:
- Stanford University: Fully funded (tuition waived + $45,000/year stipend) 10.
- Karolinska Institute (Sweden): No tuition for EU students; $25,000/year for others 25.
Duration: 5-6 years with full funding 10.
Dentistry (DDS/DMD)
Top Institutions:
- University of Michigan: $70,000/year (out-of-state) 7.
- University of North Carolina: $35,788/year (in-state) 7.
Additional Costs: Clinic instruments ($5,000) 14.
Pharmacy (PharmD)
Top Institutions:
- UCSF: $50,537/year (in-state) 9.
- University of Toronto: $45,000 CAD/year (~$33,000 USD) 13.
Total Cost: $150,000–$200,000 with living expenses 12.
Public Health (MPH)
Top Institutions:
- Johns Hopkins: $60,000/year 4.
- London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine: £30,000/year (~$38,000) 13.
Scholarships: NHSC covers 100% for service commitments 12.
Physician Assistant (PA)
Top Institutions:
- Duke University: $95,000 total program cost 3.
- Augusta University: $15,230/semester (out-of-state) 3.
Duration: 24-36 months 3.
Nursing (MSN/NP)
Top Institutions:
- University of Pennsylvania: $50,000/year 7.
- University of California, San Francisco: $12,570/year (in-state) 7.
Additional Fees: Clinical placement costs ($1,500) 14.
Clinical Laboratory Science
Top Institutions:
- Augusta University: $14,285/semester (international) 3.
- UCLA: $45,000/year 10.
Equipment Costs: Lab kits ($800/year) 3.
Physical Therapy (DPT)
Top Institutions:
- University of Pittsburgh: $35,000/year (in-state) 7.
- Augusta University: $5,631/semester (in-state) 3.
Total Program Cost: $70,000–$100,000 4.
Cost Comparison Table
| Program | Cheapest Option | Mid-Range | Premium Option |
| MD | NYU: $0 tuition | UNC: $35k/year | Harvard: $78k/year |
| Dentistry | UNC: $35k/year (in-state) | Michigan: $70k/year | Penn: $77k/year |
| Public Health | Emory: $28k/year | Hopkins: $60k/year | LSHTM: $38k/year |
Key Financial Strategies
- Debt-Free Programs: NYU Grossman (MD), Cleveland Clinic Lerner (MD) 79.
- Loan Forgiveness: Work in underserved areas via NHSC (covers 100% tuition) 412.
- Regional Discounts: Public schools like UAB ($36k/year in-state vs. $66k out-of-state) 14.
- Global Bargains: Germany’s Heidelberg University ($3,300/year) or Sweden’s Karolinska ($25k/year) 513.
