Costs and Financial Aid
There are many venues for financial aid at the University of Colorado School of Medicine. Please visit our website for current cost of attendance information for the Class of 2026*. Information regarding Colorado Residency and the Accountable Student status can be found through the Anschutz Registrar’s web resources.
*Each academic year all figures are reviewed and revised to ensure students are appropriately funded with financial aid.
October – February
Complete the 2023-2024 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) online at www.studentaid.gov with our school code 004508 (University of Colorado Denver). Note: CU Anschutz and the School of Medicine are not listed explicitly when selecting schools to share the information with.
Need-based financial aid is awarded on a first come, first served basis. We recommend using the IRS Data Retrieval Tool (DRT) when completing the FAFSA application. Parental information is not required for CU SOM need-based aid. However, applicants benefitting from the AAMC FAP program and/or those who previously received the Federal Pell Grant are encouraged to add parental information for the Title VII loan program.
Complete the CU SOM Admissions Office request to determine your residency status. Without this, financial aid will not be able to offer an award package.
Begin working on your scholarship searching efforts now. Accepted students will be given access to UCD’s scholarship searching tool, ScholarshipUniverse, but all applicants can also explore online search engines like:
Never pay for a scholarship application. Search for scholarships related to your unique characteristics and interests, not just medicine. Keep copies of all your scholarship essays and applications in a cloud drive to economize on future applications. Use a calendar with reminders for due dates. Remember scholarships are a great way to lessen your borrowing, but you need to put the effort into applying for funding.
UCD Access Student Portal
Watch for information from the Admissions Office regarding student ID number and claiming your student email account. The log in information for your email is the same as UCD Access.
The Financial Aid & Scholarships Office will review your FAFSA and determine if we need additional information. Watch for our email(s) detailing your next steps. If you are required to submit additional documentation, send it as soon as possible, without this information we cannot determine your financial aid offer.
Accepted students, watch for an email notification regarding your award offer. You will use UCD Access to review your award package. It is advisable to print the offer and the estimated financial budget to help you better understand and compare figures.
Waitlisted students, you should still have your FAFSA completed and have CU’s information listed on your application. However, financial aid offers can only be made to accepted students
Personal FinancesUnderstanding your financial circumstances prior to beginning medical school in July should be a top priority. The resources below offer a plethora of information to help you manage your financial matters. Before signing a lease or making another financial commitment remember you will have a limited amount of aid to support all your personal expenses as a medical student. The current monthly allowance is approximately $2,500 for the 2022-2023 year. You are in control; be savvy and consider all your options and resources.
Do You Understand Your Credit Situation?
You can use www.annualcreditreport.com to review your credit report history. Please note you are not provided your credit score, rather, you should review your report to ensure all information is accurate. Every 12 months you are allowed to request one report from each of the agency. It is suggested to obtain one report from one agency every four months.
• Equifax: January
• TransUnion: May
• Experian: September
This approach allows you to have a regular review of your credit history throughout the year, versus taking all three reports once.
Note: If you are offered a federal Graduate PLUS loan you will be required to pass a credit check to receive the funds. Generally, you must have “adverse-free credit history” to be approved. Examples of adverse history include, but not limited to delinquencies, bankruptcies, liens, or court judgments against you. If you are concerned about your credit history and being able to obtain the PLUS loan, please contact us to discuss your situation. Students with adverse history will be given the opportunity to appeal the credit decision, if caused by an error, or reapply with a credit-worthy cosigner. Credit decisions are made by the US Department of Education Direct Loan Program, not CU.
You are strongly encouraged to use the months leading up to the start of medical school to understand and organize your finances. The Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) www.aamc.org/first created an unbiased website dedicated to supporting your financial knowledge as it relates to paying and borrowing for medical school. They also have a free partnership for additional financial wellness information.
Email: deedee.colussy@cuanschutz.edu
Phone: 303.724.9117
AAMC: www.aamc.org/first
The School of Medicine offers many ways for students to apply for scholarships, awards and other opportunities. Please explore the scholarship application portal to find those that might interest you.
Apply
- Diversity & Equity (available to all students)
- Leadership & Merit (available to all students)
- Research (MSIII’s & MIV’s only)
- Commitment to Primary Care (available to all students)
- Commitment to Rural Care (only available to students enrolled in the Rural Track)
Applications require an essay that addresses the specific questions. Scholarships will be awarded based on how well the student demonstrates the required criteria in the essay. Where applicable, please include evidence of leadership, service and scholarly work. A separate CV can be uploaded for this purpose.
Resources and Information
- Medical School Funding Search Engines
- External Scholarship Opportunities
- Financial Aid Resources
- DiversityJobs Scholarships
- DACA Scholarships
- Northern Colorado Medical Society Legacy Scholarship
Armed Forces Health Professions Scholarship Program
Application
The HPSP is offered through the Army, Navy, and Air Force (the Marine Corps is part of the Department of the Navy and is served by Navy doctors, and the Coast Guard is staffed by doctors from the Public Health Service).
Military Scholarships are highly competitive and are based on excellence of grade point average (GPA) and Medical College Admissions Test scores (MCAT). Decisions do not take into account financial need. Basic requirements for the HPSP are that the student is a US citizen and meets the qualifications for commissioning as a military officer. An application and interview are required during the time the student is applying to medical school, and for those accepted to the scholarship program, paperwork is activated at the school where the student is accepted.
Program Parameters
The Armed Forces Health Professions Scholarship Program (HPSP) is a scholarship between two and four years in length offered to students in health professions schools. HPSP students receive full tuition, school-related expenses, and a stipend as benefits. The stipend (fall of 2008) was approximately $1,900 per month. Expenses are reimbursed by the submission on an itemized form with receipts and a signed approval letter from the school stating that the expenses are reasonable. Tuition is paid directly to the school.
HPSP students owe as many years of service to the military as they receive support. Residency does not count toward the payback. Salary during residency is about $20,000 greater than non-military (~$60,000/year). Senior residents earn roughly $70,000. Many patients are retirees and dependents.
HPSP students upon entry to medical school become an ensign in the Navy, 2nd lieutenant in the other two branches of the service, and upon graduation from medical school become a lieutenant/captain. Military residencies are quite good, and they must go through the same standards of accreditation as do civilian residencies. Board pass rates for military residency graduates have been uniformly excellent, and many have been able to obtain excellent fellowship opportunities.
Important issues to consider
There are some important issues to consider. A flexible mindset and willingness to compromise will enable a graduate to get a good posting. Internship and residency are relatively separate entities and require separate applications, and where the preliminary year and advanced years can be separated at the military’s discretion. This is probably truer in specialties that require a number of years of training than perhaps primary care choices such as medicine, pediatrics and family medicine. Each year there are a small number of senior medical students in the HPSP who defer their commitment to do civilian residencies, although the needs of the military are given the highest preference.
For further information contact the appropriate service representative:
Airforce:
United States Air Force
TSgt Thomas Doyle
Thomas.Doyle@rs.af.mil
14241 East 4th Avenue
Suite 354
Denver, Colorado 80011-7188
303-367-8096
Army:
United States Army Medical Recruiting
SFC Gregory Craft
Gregory.Craft@usarec.army.mil
14001 East Iliff Avenue, Suite 403
Aurora, Colorado 80014
303-873-0491
Navy:
John L. Turner, Jr. HMC (FMF)
Hospital Corpsman, Chief Petty Officer
John.I.Turner2@navy.mil
303-866-1990, x312
Cell: 303-868-2380
National Health Service Corp
Application
To obtain information about this program, please visit the following website: https://nhsc.hrsa.gov/ or call them at 1-800-221-9393.
Program
The National Health Service Corp is a program of the Federal Health Resources and Services Administration’s Bureau of Primary Care. The mission of the NHSC is to increase the access to primary care services and reduce health disparities by assisting communities through site development and by preparation, recruitment and retention of community-responsible, culturally competent primary care clinicians.
The program pays for tuition and fees, books and supplies, equipment and monthly stipend for up to four years of education. Upon completion of residency or training, students serve a year for year commitment, based on the number of years of support, with a minimum of a two year commitment in a federally designated health professional shortage area of greatest need.
Indian Health Service (HIS) Scholarships for Native Americans
Application
To obtain information about this program, please utilize the following contact:
Indian Health Service Scholarship Program
801 Thompson Avenue, Suite 120
Rockville, Maryland 20852
Phone: 301-443-6197
www.ihs.gov
The number of awards on a yearly basis is dependent upon availability of funds. The application deadline is normally in March of each year.
Program:
In fulfilling its mission to ensure that American Indians and Alaska Natives have maximum involvement in meeting their own health needs, the HIS offers scholarships. Scholarships are not limited to certain schools. Expenses covered include: tuition, books, fees, incidentals, tutorial services, and equipment. A monthly stipend of approximately $1,250 was provided for academic year 2008-2009. Professional scholarships funds are available up to four years, minimum service obligation is two years, but students are obligated year for year of service for the requisite years of funding.
How do I find School of Medicine scholarship opportunities in the Scholarship Universe?
Please use the search field in the platform's top right-hand corner to navigate the three CU School of Medicine scholarship opportunities. Keywords to utilize are: “MD1” or “CU School of Medicine”
How many scholarships could I receive?
Although you can apply for multiple scholarships, we strongly encourage you to only apply to one as you will not be awarded in more than one category.
What is the award amount?
Award amounts vary for this academic year and scholarship awardees can anticipate awards within the following range of $5,000 - $25,000 dollars per academic year. Award amounts rely heavily on various factors including residency status, financial aid contributions, and donor selection.
When will I be notified if I am awarded a scholarship?
Students will be notified if they are awarded a scholarship and the amount awarded approximately 2-4 weeks after the scholarship cycle closes.
What can I use my scholarship on?
SOM scholarships can only be applied toward tuition. If your tuition is already paid for (e.g. GI bill, HPSP, NHSC, or other scholarship), SOM scholarships will only cover the outstanding balance of your tuition up to the amount of the scholarship you were awarded. This scholarship will be rescinded if your tuition is already paid in full.
Is my application able to be reviewed prior to the deadline?
All applications will be received until the close date and will not be reviewed before the closing date.
What are the different types of scholarships offered by the School of Medicine?
Categories of scholarship opportunities include Diversity & Equity, Leadership, and Primary Care.
How do I reset my password?
For any questions on password reset, please contact the Help Desk at 303-724-4357.
Office of Admissions Contact Information
| Location
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School of Medicine
CU Anschutz
Fitzsimons Building
13001 East 17th Place
Campus Box C290
Aurora, CO 80045
303.724.5375
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