Cost of attendance: MD program
The cost of attendance (COA), also referred to as the “student budget,” is the estimated expenses a student will incur during the academic year for tuition and fees paid to Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine and for academic and living expenses related to enrollment.
Students should review the COA chart for each program and determine if the estimated expenses can be minimized in any way. If you need the full amounts listed for each expense item, then you will need financial assistance up to the total COA. However, living expenses are estimated and students may set an individual budget that is less than the total cost of attendance, thereby minimizing the amount needed to borrow. If needed, the financial aid office is available for budgeting assistance. See COA for more information on estimated living expenses according to your year of enrollment.
Budgets vary according to length of enrollment period and MD program year (example: MD1 period of enrollment is longer than MD2 period of enrollment and therefore has different living expense budgets).
Although a student’s non-tuition/fees costs vary considerably according to individual means, lifestyle choices and budgeting skills, federal aid regulations mandate that financial aid offices develop annual COA budgets that define and limit expenses eligible for financial aid funding. The COA budget provides for a modest but feasible student lifestyle in northeastern Pennsylvania.
The individual student budget components are described in the COA section of the Financial Aid Guidebook. Chapters 5 and 8 of the guidebook provide more detailed information on tuition and fees and COA. Living expenses listed are for independent graduate students not living with their parents. Living expenses will be less for students living with parents.
Students should review the COA chart for each program and determine if the estimated expenses can be minimized in any way. If you need the full amounts listed for each expense item, then you will need financial assistance up to the total COA. However, living expenses are estimated and students may set an individual budget that is less than the total cost of attendance, thereby minimizing the amount needed to borrow. If needed, the financial aid office is available for budgeting assistance. See COA for more information on estimated living expenses according to your year of enrollment.
Budgets vary according to length of enrollment period and MD program year (example: MD1 period of enrollment is longer than MD2 period of enrollment and therefore has different living expense budgets).
Although a student’s non-tuition/fees costs vary considerably according to individual means, lifestyle choices and budgeting skills, federal aid regulations mandate that financial aid offices develop annual COA budgets that define and limit expenses eligible for financial aid funding. The COA budget provides for a modest but feasible student lifestyle in northeastern Pennsylvania.
The individual student budget components are described in the COA section of the Financial Aid Guidebook. Chapters 5 and 8 of the guidebook provide more detailed information on tuition and fees and COA. Living expenses listed are for independent graduate students not living with their parents. Living expenses will be less for students living with parents.