How To Apply For Aid
Scholarly Awards
The School of Medicine awards approximately 30 full-tuition MD scholarships per year.
All students accepted are considered for scholarly awards. Awards are made announced in April.
Selection criteria include: outstanding academic performance and achievement, a broad range of intellectual interests, demonstrated leadership, commitment to interests other than academic work, and unique life experiences that may contribute to a medical career.
Need-Based Scholarships
It’s relatively easy to apply for need-based financial assistance (scholarship/grant) at Perelman. We use the financial information that you provide for yourself, your parent(s), and if applicable, your spouse. Applicants for financial aid are required to submit the following:
- The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) - for federal loans only - Penn's institutional code #003378
- CSS Profile Perelman's institutional code #2951
- All documents should be uploaded via Penn's online document submissions portal
- Documents:
- parents' federal income tax return, all pages and schedules filed
- parents' W-2 Form(s)
- students' and spouses’ (if applicable) federal income tax return, all pages and schedules filed
- students' and spouses’ (if applicable) W-2 Form(s)
- student tax waiver (if needed)
- parent tax waiver (if needed)
Recommended Deadline: March 31
Due to limited University resources, we must consider each student's entire financial situation. Your financial aid application will not be evaluated unless the required parental/spousal information is provided. This is so even though all graduate students are technically "independent" under federal guidelines. We will take imputed parental contribution into account when awarding financial aid, but students may be able to make that contribution up in the form of an additional loan.
*In order to fully evaluate the applicant’s total financial situation, in cases of divorced, separated, or unmarried parents, the School of Medicine requires information and tax returns for both custodial and biological parents.
The School of Medicine reserves the right to request additional information in order to perform their analysis.
Processing Applications
Students receive a four-year need-based scholarship award determined by our financial need analysis. It is rare that this amount will be increased while you are in medical school. However, if there are significant changes in your or your families original financial standing while in medical school, you can appeal for additional funding. Any additional support will depend on available funding at that time.
Completed applications take approximately 2-3 weeks for packaging to take place.
Need Analysis
Need Analysis is a process of evaluating the ability of each student and the student’s family to pay the cost of education (student budget). Financial need is determined by subtracting the amount the student and family can afford to contribute (as determined by the need analysis formula and financial aid policy) from the total cost of education (as reflected in the student budget).
The Financial Aid Office determines the amount of financial need for each student, and then puts together a financial aid package to meet that need.
After analyzing your financial aid application and your student budget (cost of education), the School of Medicine Financial Aid Office will determine whether or not you require financial aid, and will send you an award letter proposing a package of assistance.
Changes in your Financial Circumstances
Report changes in your or your family's financial circumstances to the Financial Aid Office as soon as they occur. Changes in employment status of student, spouse, and/or parents and changes in college plans of spouse or child (if applicable), and changes in student marital status are examples of circumstances that may affect your financial aid award.
Continuing students who are applying for financial aid for the first time or who are requesting reconsideration for need-based aid are required to file all the documents listed above. Awards will be announced during the summer.
DACA Students
Accepted DACA students are eligible for need and merit-based scholarships. DACA students should submit the CSS Profile application and supporting financial documentation for need-based scholarships. No additional application is necessary for merit-based scholarships.
However, DACA students are not eligible for federal Title IV loans from the Department of Education. Private loans may be available with a creditworthy co-signer.
The website Immigrant Rising has comprehensive information on scholarships available. There are a few scholarship lists within this larger site:
The Latin Medical Student Association also provides scholarship opportunities for students with DACA and undocumented status.
In addition, we wanted to highlight the Pre-Health Dreamers community, a network of over 1000 health career focused undocumented students. Among other resources, they have developed a consolidated list of some of the health professions specific opportunities that may be of interest. For general information, the National Association for Student Financial Aid Administrators has put together a tip sheet for undocumented students that has links to scholarship resources and eligibility information.
DACA recipients are also eligible for the AAMC’s Fee Assistance Program (FAP). More on eligibility requirements and information can be found through the AAMC.