Professional
School Funding

Paying for professional school

Figure out what school will really cost before you commit.

Professional school funding gets complicated quickly. We help students and parents sort through scholarships, service programs, family contributions, and loans without pretending there is one right answer.

Choose a guide Estimate your funding gap →

Before you compare schools, find these four numbers:

  1. Total annual cost
  2. Gift aid
  3. Available support
  4. The remaining gap

Start with your program

Different degrees, different financial pressure.

A medical resident, an associate dentist, and a rural veterinarian may graduate with similar debt and face very different repayment realities.

01

MD and DO

Paying for medical school

Scholarships, service commitments, federal aid, and planning around residency income.

 02

DDS and DMD

Paying for dental school

Tuition, clinical costs, practice plans, and service-based funding options.

 03

DVM

Paying for veterinary school

Debt-to-income tradeoffs, shortage-area programs, and career-specific awards.

Questions families actually ask

Start with the decision in front of you.

How much is still unfunded after aid? Use the calculator How much should parents contribute? Read the parent guide Which grants and service programs exist in my state? Browse state funding Which tools and services are worth considering? Browse reviewed resources

New federal loan rules

2026 funding update · 11 minute read

How much can you borrow after July 1, 2026?

New professional students face a $50,000 annual limit, a $200,000 professional aggregate, and no new Grad PLUS borrowing. Prior graduate debt can reduce what remains.

Understand the new limits →

For parents

Helping is not the same as taking on every cost.

Get a framework for discussing contributions, Parent PLUS loans, co-signing, and retirement boundaries.

Go to parent resources