Application Related Costs & Support

Applying to professional health programs is an exciting step, but it also comes with real financial costs. Knowing what to expect can help you plan ahead, reduce stress, and make informed choices.

Fee Assistance Programs

Northwestern University Assistance Options

Student Enrichment Services: Provides need-based support and is a great "first stop shop!" We can connect you to a number of resources both within the SES office and across campus.
Northwestern Career Advancement (NCA): Provides funding to support or supplement the career development needs of undergraduate students with financial need.

Medicine

AAMC Fee Assistance Program: Need based program and benefits include: reduced MCAT fee, free MSAR subscription, 20 free med school designations, AAMC PREview fee waiver, and secondary application fee waivers.
AACOMAS Fee Waiver: This fee waiver is an application fee discount granted to applicants who apply for the waiver and who meet the specific requirements described in the AACOMAS instructions. The amount of the fee waiver may cover some or all of your program application fees
Health Professions Advising – MCAT Preparation Material Access Codes: HPA has limited number of codes available on a need-based basis for the Online-Only MCAT Official Prep Bundle students should apply first to the AAMC Fee Assistance Program because this prep bundle is just one of many benefits of that program

Physician Assistant

CASPA Fee Assistance Program:

Dental

The Fee Waiver for the Dental Admission Test (DAT)
The primary application (AADSAS) fee waivers cover up to three total program designations. Apply as soon as the application opens in the summer, as waivers are given on a first-come, first-served basis.

Veterinary Medicine

VMCAS Fee Assistance Program: Limited number of fee waivers are provided by VMCAS to qualified applicants on a first-come, first-served basis. Each fee waiver covers only the initial application fee, so if you wish to apply to additional programs, you are responsible for the remaining balance.

Sample Application Expenses

Field	Standardized Tests / Situational Judgement Exams	Primary Application Fee	Secondary Application Fee	Additional Costs (background checks, enrollment deposits, transcripts, application tools/databases subscriptions etc.)	~Total Costs to Apply
Medicine	~$350 MCAT Registration + ~$200-$500 Prep Materials ~$105 AAMC PREview ~$85 CASPer for 7 schools + ~$18 for each additional school	~$180 first school + ~$48 each additional (average apply to 20 schools) ~$1,100 Total	~$25-$200 Per School (average apply to 20 schools) ~$500-$4,000 Total	~$50-$2,000	~$3,700-$8,000 Total
Physician Assistant	~$200-$220 GRE (optional at many programs) + ~$150-$250 Prep Materials ~$85 CASPer for 7 schools + ~$18 for each additional school Some Programs Require This, Many Don’t	~$180 first school + ~$56 each additional (average apply to 10) ~$740 Total	~$25-$125 Per School (average apply to 10) ~$250-$1,250 Total	~$50-$1,000	~$1,500-$3,700 Total
Dental	~$550 DAT Registration + ~$200-$500 Prep Materials ~$85 CASPer for 7 schools + ~$18 for each additional school Some Programs Require This, Many Don’t	~$264 first school + ~$115 each additional (average apply to 12) ~$1,529 Total	~$50-$125 Per School (average apply to 12) ~$600-$1,500 Total	~$50-$2,000	~$3,000-$6,500 Total
Veterinary Medicine	~$200-$220 GRE (optional at many programs) + ~$150-$250 Prep Materials ~$85 CASPer for 7 schools + ~$18 for each additional school Some Programs Require This, Many Don’t	~$241 first school + ~$132 each additional (average apply to 4) ~$637 Total	~$50-$125 Per School (average apply to 12) ~$600-$1,500 Total	~$50-$2,000	~$1,500 -$3,800 Total