Investing in Your Future
The Kirk Kerkorian School of Medicine at UNLV is an affordable medical degree program that allows students to wisely invest in their future while living in one of the more cost-friendly U.S. cities. The office of student financial services takes great care to build a comprehensive cost of attendance so students have the information and resources available to pay for their four years of study.
Students at the Kerkorian School of Medicine are eligible for federal student loans and are also considered for scholarships received from donors and university support funds. At any time, a student may pursue third-party scholarships, private educational loans, or choose to participate in the active-duty military Health Professionals Service Program.
General financial aid information is provided to prospective students during information sessions and to applicants during the interview process. Students admitted to the school will receive additional information and counseling support from the office of admissions and student financial services, along with access to financial literacy programming within WebCampus.
Tuition and Fees
The Kirk Kerkorian School of Medicine at UNLV charges tuition based on residency status. Applicants who accept admissions will be required to complete a Nevada Residency application with the School’s registrar to verify their residency for the purpose of tuition. Determination of that status is based upon Nevada System of Higher Education (NSHE) and UNLV policies and procedures.
Students with out-of-state residency status in the first year, may establish Nevada residency and reapply to gain in-state tuition status for the second year and beyond.
| Tuition By Academic Year for all students | In-State Resident | Out-of-State Resident |
|---|---|---|
| 2026-2027 | $32,240 | $66,866 |
| 2027-2028 | $32,240 | $66,866 |
| 2028-2029 | $32,240 | $66,866 |
*The Nevada Board of Regents approved the Kirk Kerkorian School of Medicine’s request to freeze tuition for the upcoming biennium in an effort to stabilize the cost of attendance and address the federal financial aid changes per the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OB3/OBBBA).
| Fee | Amount | Years | Summary | Additional Information |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UNLV Technology | $18/credit hour | 1, 2, 3, 4 | Supports technology infrastructure and systems on all UNLV campuses. | Visit the OIT website for more information. |
| UNLV Graduate Professional Studies | $25/semester | 1, 2, 3, 4 | Supports the GPS Association. | Visit the GPSA Website for more information. |
| UNLV Rebel Recycling | $1/semester | 1, 2, 3, 4 | On campus recycling. | Visit the Rebel Recycling page for more information. |
| UNLV Student Abroad | $2/semester | 1, 2, 3, 4 | Access to study abroad programming. | For more information contact the school of medicine career services office. |
| UNLV Student Life Facilities | $223/semester | 1, 2, 3, 4 | Access to the Student Recreation and Wellness Center. Rebel Card required for access. | Visit the Membership page for more information. |
| UNLV Counseling and Psychology Services | $66/semester | 1, 2, 3, 4 | Access to the student Counseling and Psychological Services center. | Visit the Counseling Appointments & Hours page for more information. |
| UNLV Student Health (Center) |
$119.50/semester |
1, 2, 3, 4 | Provides access to student health center facilities and programs, counseling services on campus and other preventive care services | Visit the Student Health Center page for more information. |
| UNLV Student Health Insurance (est.) | $4,143/year |
1, 2, 3, 4 Charged in Fall each year. |
Covers more catastrophic medical needs that are not available through the student health center. This is a health insurance policy typically underwritten by Aetna. | Visit the Student Health Insurance page for more information. |
| UNLV Student Newspaper | $.20/credit hour | 1, 2, 3, 4 | Supports the UNLV Scarlet and Gray Free Press | Visit The UNLV Scarlet and Gary Free Press website for more information |
| Fee | Amount | Years | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| SOM Simulation Lab | $1,050/semester |
1, 2, 3 Annual fee charged to students in years 1, 2, and 3. Billed per semester. |
Covers the clinical skills training area in the Kirk Kerkorian Medical Education Building and the dedicated resources provided to students in order to learn and practice clinical skills, simulations, as well as expenses associated with standard patient (SP) interactions. |
| SOM Administrative | $475/semester |
1, 2, 3, 4 This is an annual fee charged to students for all 4 years. Billed per semester. |
Covers a comprehensive wellness program as well as including instruction in techniques that have been demonstrated to reduce physician burnout and stress. These evidence-based techniques cover a broad spectrum of wellness practices. Covers disability insurance for all students that is tailored to the circumstances related to medical professionals’ education and career track. Covers access to Certiphi and Magnus which track student compliance with immunization, background checks, drug screens, etc. as required for clinical rotations. Student receive access to a management portal for these documents as well. |
| SOM Lab Support | $775/semester |
1, 2, 3, 4 Annual fee charged to students for all 4 years. |
Covers virtual anatomy and other anatomical imaging learning labs and training equipment. Covers cadaveric prosection/dissection and the resources to learn and practice human gross anatomy in the cadaver lab at the Kerkorian Medical Education Building. |
| SOM USMLE Board Exam Prep | $275/semester |
1, 2 First 4 semesters of study. |
Covers subscription to the U.S. Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) Board preparation materials for the Step 1 and Step 2. |
| SOM NBME | $640 in fall semester only |
1, 2, 3 Charged in the fall semester for the first 3 years. |
Covers the expense for the National Board of Medical Examiners (NBME) Customized Assessment Service’s exams needed for student summative assessment in the curriculum. Also provides learning materials to support phase success. |
| SOM Student Research | $500/Semester |
2, 3 Charged to students in year 2 and year 3. Billed per semester. |
Covers the cost of lab equipment and supplies for research projects and all costs associated with data analysis in the students’ field work. May also support research publication and travel to present nationally. |
Cost of Attendance
Cost of attendance is comprised of annual tuition, fees, and cost of living categories. It varies based upon the medical student’s year of study, curriculum and training requirements, and changes to cost of living. The purpose of cost of attendance is to grant a student maximum borrowing power and a budget guide, but students are not required to accept loans if they are not needed and student individual budgets may vary.
At the Kirk Kerkorian School of Medicine at UNLV, cost of living* includes room and board; transportation; books and supplies; health insurance; federal loan origination fees; costs associated with the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) examination; and expenditures incurred in the fourth year of study to participate in visiting electives and apply to residency.
Enrolled students may also find a detailed cost of attendance in their WebCampus portal.
*Cost of living is commonly calculated on a 12-month schedule and assumes a single occupant, one-bedroom apartment at a localized market average rate along with utilities. On campus housing, such as dormitories, is not an option. Additional mileage consideration is also included for clinical training travel, along with year-of-study specific educational/training expenses.
| In-State Residents | Year 1 | Year 2 | Year 3 | Year 4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Enrollment Costs | ||||
| Tuition | $32,240 | $32,240 | $32,240 | $33,207 |
| Health Insurance Fees | $4,143 | $4,643 | $5,143 | $5,643 |
| Other Fees - Medical School | $6,790 | $6,790 | $6,240 | $2,500 |
| Other Fees - UNLV | $1,571 | $1,662 | $1,625 | $1,678 |
| Total Enrollment | $44,744 | $45,335 | $45,248 | $43,028 |
| Student Living Costs | ||||
| Room/Board & Food | $28,893 | $28,893 | $28,893 | $28,893 |
| Books/Supplies | $1,970 | $775 | $550 | $250 |
| Transportation | $5,643 | $5,693 | $5,743 | $5,793 |
| Personal Expenses | $4,710 | $4,710 | $4,710 | $4,710 |
| Total Living | $41,216 | $40,071 | $39,896 | $39,646 |
| Misc Costs | ||||
| Personal Computer | $750 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Step 1 Exam Registration Fee | $0 | $690 | $0 | $0 |
| Step 2 Exam Registration Fee | $0 | $0 | $700 | $0 |
| Visiting Student Elective Travel | $0 | $0 | $0 | $6,000 |
| Match/Residency Fees & Travel | $0 | $0 | $0 | $4,500 |
| Student Loan Origination Fees | $530 | $530 | $530 | $530 |
| Total Misc. Costs | $1,280 | $1,220 | $1,230 | $11,030 |
| Total Cost of Attendance | $87,240 | $86,626 | $86,374 | $93,704 |
*Amounts may be subject to change.
| Out-of-State Residents | Year 1 | Year 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Enrollment Costs | ||
| Tuition & Non-Resident Registration Fee | $66,866 | $66,866 |
| Health Insurance Fees | $4,143 | $4,643 |
| Other Fees - Medical School | $6,790 | $6,790 |
| Other Fees - UNLV | $1,571 | $1,662 |
| Total Enrollment | $79,370 | $79,961 |
| Student Living Costs | ||
| Room/Board & Food | $28,893 | $28,893 |
| Books/Supplies | $1,970 | $775 |
| Transportation | $5,643 | $5,693 |
| Personal Expenses | $4,710 | $4,710 |
| Total Living | $41,216 | $40,071 |
| Misc Costs | ||
| Personal Computer | $750 | $0 |
| Step 1 Exam Registration Fee | $0 | $690 |
| Step 2 Exam Registration Fee | $0 | $0 |
| Visiting Student Elective Travel | $0 | $0 |
| Match/Residency Fees & Travel | $0 | $0 |
| Student Loan Origination Fees | $530 | $530 |
| Total Misc. Costs | $1,280 | $1,220 |
| Total Cost of Attendance | $121,866 | $121,252 |
Students are typically eligible for residency by the second year. Please see Year 3 and 4 above for cost details.
*Students who do not apply for residency and maintain their non-resident status will continue to pay the non-resident registration fee in Year 3 and 4.
*Amounts may be subject to change.
Student Loans
Medical students are eligible to borrow from the federal Direct Unsubsidized loan program along with the Direct PLUS program if they started medical school by the 2025-2026 academic year or earlier. Students starting in the 2026-2027 academic year will be limited to only the federal Direct Unsubsidized program.
Interest rates on federal loan programs are determined each June and borrowing cannot exceed the cost of attendance set each academic year and/or exceed the limits set by programming guidelines. Private loan interest rates are determined by the borrower’s credit and there are options for fixed or variable interest. Private loans are also subject to the annual cost of attendance for borrowing limits.
Entering MD Academic Year 2025-2026 or Earlier* – Legacy Borrowers
Students may be eligible for up to $47,167 per academic year from the Direct Unsubsidized program. The lifetime maximum for this program is $224,000 for medical students and does encompass borrowing done during other degrees such as bachelor’s, graduate, or post-bacc programs.
Direct PLUS has no lifetime maximum and caps at the cost of attendance not covered by scholarships and/or Direct Unsubsidized loans each academic year. Direct PLUS access ends with the 2028-2029 academic year (June 30, 2029), so those who extend any time in their medical degree studies, may be subject to the new loan considerations.
Expected time to completion (ETC) does apply to students with legacy, so students who go beyond four years of study, starting July 1, 2026, will lose legacy status.
Entering Academic Year 2026-2027 or Later* – New Borrowers
Professional (medical) students may be eligible for up to $50,000 per academic year from the Direct Unsubsidized program. The medical school aggregate limit for this program is $200,000 and does not include undergraduate borrowing, but does include other graduate program borrowing (e.g., master’s, PhD, other doctorate programs or post-bacc). A new lifetime maximum for all federal loan borrowing will be $257,500, including previous Direct (Grad) PLUS but excluding Parent PLUS.
Direct PLUS is not available to those beginning in July 2026 and students will need to explore private educational loans to bridge any gap they may experience in the cost of attendance. The Kirk Kerkorian School of Medicine provides a private loan exploration tool called FastChoice to all admitted students. In 2026, the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) also partnered with ELFI to provide a private loan option to MD students at Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME) accredited schools.
*Details and information subject to change.
Students must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to show eligibility for loans and to receive loan disbursements. During onboarding, a financial aid award letter is generated and students may decide what loan funds they wish to take during the academic year. Admitted applicants are strongly encouraged to submit their FAFSA to campus no later than 10 days after accepting their seat.
For more information on eligibility requirements or other loan programming announcements and guidelines, please visit the federal student aid website.
UNLV FAFSA CODE: 002569
Medical students must submit the FAFSA annually to remain eligible for loan programs and any scholarships they receive. Students should review the Student Aid Report generated by the FAFSA process to ensure information is accurate. Additional documents or processes may be required such as master promissory notes, tax verification papers, citizenship proof, entrance counseling, and secondary loan applications/co-signer documentation.
At this time, graduate students may file as independent on their FAFSA application.
| Fall Disbursement | Spring Disbursement | |
|---|---|---|
| Class of 2027 | Begins July 1, 2026 | Begins January 3, 2027 |
| Class of 2028 | Begins July 1, 2026 | Begins January 3, 2027 |
| Class of 2029 | Begins July 1, 2026 | Begins January 3, 2027 |
| Class of 2030 | Begins July 5, 2026 | Begins January 3, 2027 |
Scholarships
Through the generosity of donors and organizations that support the mission of the Kirk Kerkorian School of Medicine at UNLV, along with designated university funding, admitted applicants have the opportunity to be awarded scholarships to assist with the cost of attendance.
Upon admission, students receive the Kerkorian School of Medicine Application for Scholarships from the Office of Student Financial Services. That application along with admissions materials and the FAFSA are reviewed by the School's Scholarship Committee.
Scholarship awards can range from one to four years in duration and can be $500 all the way up to covering the cost of tuition and fees. The School's Scholarship Committee works diligent to provide aid to as many students as possible each year, and current fundraising by the Dean includes a focus on endowments to provide scholarships for many years to come.
In addition, students may pursue third-party scholarships through national databases and self-driven searches. The School also announces scholarship opportunities as they become available. Students who are interested in attending medical school debt free can also consider the active-duty military Health Professions Scholarship Program from the Army, Navy, or Air Force.
Gainful Employment and Financial Value
The Kirk Kerkorian School of Medicine at UNLV reports its statistics on paid medical training placement, upon graduation, through official Match data. The average salary for a first-year medical resident is tracked annually by the AAMC.
National physician earning potential over the lifetime of a career will vary by specialty, practice employer type, and area of the country. Enrolled students receive access to AAMC Careers in Medicine in order to learn more about this professional earning trajectory and to explore their alignment with a specialty.
Physician earning and career pathway is also dependent on the individual’s ability to pass boards and obtain state licensure. Maintaining career good standing as a licensed professional is also required. Work is subject to national workforce capacities.
The AAMC officially tracks average medical school debt for both public and private accredited allopathic medical schools.
Financial Literacy
Prospective applicants and students can find free and robust resources regarding the financing of medical school from the AAMC FIRST website. Additional financial literacy topics are also available from AAMC along with a medical student loans calculator. Enrolled students can also find additional resources from the Office of Student Financial Services in their WebCampus portal.
Tuition and Fees Refund Policy
The Kirk Kerkorian School of Medicine is governed by the tuition refund policies in place through UNLV. These policies provide a tiered refund policy dependent upon the length of time that a student participates in the academic program at the university. Students who are contemplating withdrawal will need to speak with the school’s registrar and the assistant dean for student affairs.
The policy is:
- Withdrawal prior to the first week of classes: 100% refund of tuition and fees
- Withdrawal after the first week of classes: 50% refund of tuition and fees
- Withdrawal after the seventh week of classes: No refund of tuition and fees
*Dates are determined by the school's academic calendar, not main campus’s.
In addition, please note that withdrawal may result in having to pay back scholarship funds and you may be subject to returning federal loan dollars per a different guideline set by the Department of Education and managed by the UNLV Office of Financial Aid. Private loans may also have their own terms regarding a student’s withdrawal and liability to return the funds.
All withdrawal situations must be approved by the Student Progress Committee or other campus entities in the case of medical withdrawal.