Financial Aid: Grants, Scholarships, and Loans

The College of Human Medicine recognizes that earning a medical degree is a financial struggle for most students. In keeping with its philosophy of service to students, the MSU Health Professions Financial Aid Office strives to lessen that struggle through grants, fellowships, loans, and other forms of aid. Students who are familiar with the offerings and services of the MSU Health Professions Financial Aid Office will be in the best position to meet their financial responsibilities, so the office staff invites students not only to read this section carefully, but to stop by the office, located at 252 Student Services Building, to investigate other avenues of support available to medical students. This section of the guide will outline some of the primary sources of financial aid for medical students.

Financial Aid Services

In addition to providing sources of financial aid and help in applying for these grants and loans, the MSU Health Professions Financial Aid Office has prepared a budget outlining medical student expenses throughout each of the four years of medical school. This budget includes consideration of tuition, fees, housing, food, health care, transportation, and other life- and medical school-related expenses. This budget should help students plan their financial needs for the next four years.

The Financial Aid Office has developed a computer program for students that allows them to check the status of their financial aid packages whenever they wish. Called FINAID, the program displays whether a student's aid has been applied to his or her MSU account, if a student's loan check(s) is/are ready to be picked up, and if there are problems with his or her financial aid that need to be addressed.

Apply for financial aid as soon after January 1 as possible by completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Pick up your FAFSA at any College or University Financial Aid Office or apply online. E-mail your financial aid questions to the MSU Health Professions Financial Aid Office or call them at (517) 353-5188.

Grants and Scholarships

The following grants and scholarships require the completion of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), available from any Office of Financial Aid or at the FAFSA website.

Equal Opportunity Program Fellowship (EOF)
This fellowship of up to $2,400/year is available to disadvantaged and minority graduate and professional students. Applicants must complete the EOF application, available through the Graduate Education Opportunity Programs Office, 116 Linton Hall, (517) 353-1803, in addition to the FAFSA.

Loans

All loans require students to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Some of the loans also require that other forms be completed; such requirements will be noted in the loan description.

Loan for Disadvantaged Students (LDS)
Applicants for this loan must be enrolled full-time, have proven need, and meet the federal definition of coming from a disadvantaged environment. Application for this loan requires the applicant to complete the parental income, asset information, and signature sections of the FAFSA, regardless of dependency status. Repayment begins one year after the student completes ceases to pursue a full-time course of study, or after completion of a residency program. Eligibility is determined by the MSU Health Professions Financial Aid Office based on availability of funds. MSU will provide the loan note.

Some loans and fellowships are available for medical students who intend to pursue particular specialties, especially those in primary care. The MSU Health Professions Financial Aid Office has information on these funds. Information about the Primary Care Loan for physicians-in-training who plan to pursue a primary care specialty is outlined below.

Service-related Scholarships

Armed Forces Health Professions Scholarship Program:
Air Force, Army, Navy
This scholarship pays tuition, fees, educational expenses (books, equipment, etc.), and a monthly stipend in exchange for military service. Recipients must serve summer active duty (45 days) and one year as a commissioned officer for each year of scholarship support, with a minimum of three years of service. There is no voluntary withdrawal from the program after receiving benefits. For more information on the application procedure, contact (ARMY) Sergeant Dan Ebbers at (517) 337-8975; (NAVY) Hn2 DeWayne Snader at (313) 259-1004 ext. 233; or (AIR FORCE) Technical Sergeant Randee Bonk at (517) 332-6390.

National Health Service Corps (NHSC) Scholarship Program
This scholarship pays tuition, fees, and a stipend for up to four years in exchange for salaried service in a high-priority health manpower area in the United States. Recipients must serve one year for each year of scholarship support, with a minimum of two years of service. For more information on the application procedure, visit the NHSC website, or contact the National Health Service Corps Scholarship Program, U.S. Public Health Recruitment, 1010 Wayne Avenue, Suite 1200, Silver Springs, MD 20910. Phone: (800) 638-0824.

The MSU Health Professions Financial Aid Office will be able to meet your proven financial need to attend the College of Human Medicine under most circumstances. However, a poor credit rating, which may include defaulting on a previous educational loan, will interfere with the University's ability to meet your medical school financial budget. Should you have financial need that is unmet through a standard financial aid package administered by the MSU Office of Financial Aid, you should carefully and proactively reevaluate your plans to matriculate at the College of Human Medicine. The College of Human Medicine and the MSU Health Professions Financial Aid Office are not responsible for meeting your unmet financial need. Financing your medical education is your responsibility.

The College of Human Medicine is not responsible for meeting unmet financial needs.

A dependent care allowance may increase certain categories of this single student budget.

Residency status questions should be directed to Dugald McMillan, Associate Registrar, at (517) 353-4491 or mcmilla3@msu.edu.

*The College of Human Medicine has a computer access requirement. For approved students who wish to purchase a computer, a technology fee (up to $3000) will be added to the non-tuition expenses.

**Tuition and fees are subject to change by MSU Board of Trustees. Tuition amounts reflect full-time (12+ credits/semester) attendance. Tuition amounts, and therefore total costs, change when student attends less than full-time. Note: eligibility in most financial aid programs is limited to students enrolled on a full-time basis.

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