Costs and Financial Aid

Medical school is a major investment, and we understand that you may have questions and concerns about financing it. We’re here to help you explore your options for financial aid and connect you with the resources to help with the cost of attendance.

Medical Student Cost of Attendance (COA)

How is Cost of Attendance determined?

Cost of Attendance is the total amount of aid, including scholarships, grants and loans, that you are eligible to receive for the entire year. The Cost of Attendance is derived based on living expenses in the Winston-Salem area and information from student surveys. The amount provided each year allows a Wake Forest University School of Medicine student to live comfortably alone, not luxuriously. Cutting costs in any way, including getting a roommate, budgeting money for food and other expenses, and living as frugally as possible are recommended.

It is not required that you accept the full Cost of Attendance each year. The amount you accept is flexible. You are allowed to return funds if you accept too much or request more if you run short as long as you stay within the Cost of Attendance.

Financial Aid and Scholarships

We understand that medical school can be expensive and we are proud to offer a variety of MD Program-specific scholarships and traditional financial aid to make your experience affordable and enjoyable. Additionally, students are encouraged to apply for forgivable service loans.

Wake Forest University School of Medicine Dean's Medical Excellence Scholarship

The scholarship recognizes the academic achievement and potential of students who, through sharing their varied cultural perspectives, will enhance the education of all school of medicine students and the excellence of the school of medicine. If you are awarded a Dean’s Medical Excellence scholarship, it is renewable each year; contingent on meeting satisfactory academic progress (SAP) and satisfactory professional conduct. All accepted students are considered for the Dean’s Medical Excellence Scholarship with the submission of their secondary application. There are no separate application requirements.

The school of medicine awards approximately 250 scholarships from our endowed resources each year. A listing of our endowed scholarships can be found on page 24 in the Financial Aid Handbook (PDF). The majority of these scholarships are based on demonstrated financial need and require annual reapplication.

The deadline for Need-Based Scholarships is March 15th of each year.

Students (incoming and current) are encouraged to apply for need-based scholarships each year while in medical school. Information needed includes the current year's FAFSA (please use the IRS data retrieval tool to link applicant and parental tax information for prior- prior year) and the CSS Profile (the profile is needed from all incoming students applying for need based scholarships). Copies of applicant and parental income tax returns may be requested.

Need-Based Scholarship Application Process

Deadline: March 15 — regardless of acceptance status or class year.

Application Submission  
FAFSA Available October 1  
CSS Profile Available October 1  
Financial Aid Need-Based Application Deadline March 15  
Award Notification  
Financial aid Award Letters Emailed Between April 10 - 25  

Disbursement Dates

   
Federal Loan Disbursement Dates
(Refunds to students are direct deposited within 14 days of disbursement date)
Date student receives refund
MS1 - Fall 2023 July 7, 2023 July 14, 2023
MS2 - Fall 2023 July 10, 2023 July 14, 2023
MS3 -Fall 2023 May 22, 2023

May 26, 2023

MS4 - Fall 2023 May 15, 2023 May 19, 2023
MS1 - Spring 2024 December 4, 2023 December 8, 2023
MS2 - Spring 2024 December 11, 2023 December 15, 2023
MS3 - Spring 2024 November 13, 2023 November 17, 2023
MS4 - Spring 2024 October 30, 2023 November 3, 2023
120 Day Federal Loan Excess Fund Return  
MS1 - Fall 2023 October 18, 2023  
MS2 - Fall 2023 October 23, 2023  
MS3 - Fall 2023 September 1, 2023  
MS4 - Fall 2023 August 25, 2023
MS1 - Spring 2024 March 18, 2024  
MS2 - Spring 2024 March 25, 2024  
MS3 - Spring 2024 February 20, 2024  
MS4 - Spring 2024 February 6, 2024  

How do I manage this money?

The Office of Financial Aid is available to meet with you one-on-one to talk about managing these disbursements. Due to the strict amount allowed for each year, it is important that you have a spending plan. There are many creative ways to manage these funds. For example, you might pay rent for the entire semester when you receive your first disbursement and again in January. Another way to make your money last is to deposit your disbursement into a savings account and "pay" yourself monthly or bi-monthly.

Current students: The Office of Financial Aid has a Financial Aid Course in Canvas that is used as a repository for students to access financial aid information quickly.