These are examples of official lender pages to investigate, not rankings or endorsements. The links are currently direct, unpaid links. If compensation is added later, it will be clearly disclosed and will not determine inclusion. Read our policy.
Private borrowing should solve a number you already know. Ask the medical school for a complete cost-of-attendance and aid projection, then subtract scholarships, institutional help, service funding, savings, defined family support, and available federal aid.
Do not borrow the lender's maximum simply because it is available. A gap that repeats for four years can become much larger once accrued interest and residency-year payments are included.
Official starting points
Medical school lenders and products to investigate.
Availability, underwriting, school eligibility, rates, and benefits can change. Check each official page and obtain personalized terms before comparing offers.
Sallie Mae Medical School Loan
Sallie Mae publishes a dedicated medical-school loan page with interest and repayment choices. Verify the current residency option, deferment, fees, discounts, and co-signer rules in the final documents.
Visit the official medical loan page →College Ave Medical School Loans
College Ave publishes a medical-school loan page. Compare its personalized offer with the same loan amount, term, repayment option, and co-signer setup used for every other lender.
Visit the official medical loan page →SoFi Graduate Student Loans
SoFi offers a broader graduate private-loan product. Confirm that your school and medical program qualify and compare training-period terms carefully.
Visit the official graduate loan page →The medical-school test
A loan that works in school can fail during residency.
Ask for the exact payment required during residency, the maximum number of eligible months, documentation requirements, and what happens to unpaid interest. Then model the payment using realistic resident income and living costs.
- Does every medical residency qualify, or only specified programs?
- Is the payment fixed, interest-only, or fully deferred?
- When does unpaid interest capitalize?
- Can fellowship years qualify after residency?
- What happens if training is interrupted or extended?
- How much forbearance remains after using a residency option?
Do not assume refinancing will solve an unaffordable contract later. Future approval and pricing are not guaranteed.
Compare actual approvals
Use the same facts for every offer.
| Term | What to record |
|---|---|
| Price | Personalized APR, fixed or variable rate, fees, and required discounts |
| School years | Required payment, grace period, and capitalization timing |
| Residency | Monthly payment, maximum duration, eligibility, and documentation |
| Hardship | Total forbearance months, increments, and interest treatment |
| Co-signer | Release requirements, notices, and responsibility after death or disability |
| Repayment | Term, estimated monthly payment, and estimated total repayment |
Before borrowing
Put the full medical-school funding plan on one page.
Separate scholarships, service commitments, family support, federal loans, and the private gap before accepting debt.
Common questions
Private medical school loan FAQs
Are medical-school loans different from graduate loans?
Some lenders offer profession-specific products with residency features, while others use a general graduate product. The final contract matters more than the product name.
Should I choose the lowest advertised rate?
No. Compare personalized APRs and the full repayment structure. The lowest advertised rate may require exceptional credit, a co-signer, automatic payments, or a repayment option that does not fit residency.
Primary sources
- Federal Student Aid: Federal Versus Private Student Loans
- Consumer Financial Protection Bureau: Private Student Loans
Lender terms and eligibility change. Confirm the current product page, approval disclosure, final disclosure, and promissory note before signing.