How to Pay Less for Healthcare School: In-State Tuition, Regional Exchanges, and Loan Repayment

The cost of training is one of the biggest reasons people hesitate to start a healthcare career. The good news: very few people pay the full sticker price, and several programs exist specifically to lower costs for future healthcare workers.

1. Start with in-state public schools

Public universities and community colleges charge state residents far less than out-of-state students, sometimes thousands of dollars less per year. For professional programs such as medicine, dentistry, and pharmacy, public schools also tend to give residents priority for admission.

Check the residency rules early. Most states require you to live there for about a year, for reasons other than school, before you qualify for in-state tuition.

2. Use a regional tuition exchange

Regional exchanges let residents of member states attend public schools in other member states at reduced tuition. Participation varies by program and changes over time, so check with each school.

• WICHE (western states) runs the Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE), the Western Regional Graduate Program (WRGP), and the Professional Student Exchange Program (PSEP), which covers health professions. wiche.edu
• SREB Academic Common Market (southern states) lets students pay in-state tuition for eligible programs that aren't offered in their home state. sreb.org
• MSEP (midwestern states) offers reduced tuition at participating schools. msep.mhec.org
• NEBHE Tuition Break (New England) offers discounts at public colleges across the region. nebhe.org

3. Choose a lower-cost route to the same credential

• An ADN from a community college leads to the same NCLEX-RN exam and RN license as a BSN. Many hospitals will then help pay for an RN-to-BSN program. See the nursing route.
• A hospital-based program in medical laboratory science or radiography often costs less than a university program. See the MLS route.
• Bridge programs let you work, and earn, at one level while you train for the next.

4. Look for employer tuition help

Hospitals facing staff shortages often pay for training in exchange for a commitment to work there afterward, especially in nursing, the clinical laboratory, imaging, and respiratory therapy. Ask HR departments at local hospitals, even before you apply to a program.

5. Apply for scholarships and federal aid

• Fill out the FAFSA every year at studentaid.gov. It's required for federal grants and loans and for many school scholarships.
• Professional societies in most healthcare fields offer student scholarships. Search your field's national and state associations.
• Graduate assistantships can reduce tuition in some master's programs.

6. Use loan repayment and service programs

Several programs repay loans or offer scholarships in exchange for working where you're needed most:

• National Health Service Corps offers scholarships and loan repayment for clinicians, including nurses, PAs, physicians, and dentists, who work in underserved areas. nhsc.hrsa.gov
• Nurse Corps offers scholarships and loan repayment for nurses who work in facilities with critical shortages. Nurse Corps
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness can forgive remaining federal loans after 10 years of qualifying payments while working for a nonprofit or government employer, which includes many hospitals. studentaid.gov/pslf
• State loan repayment programs exist in many states for healthcare workers in rural or underserved areas. Search your state health department's website.

7. Compare total cost and outcomes

A cheaper program isn't a bargain if graduates struggle to pass the exam or find work. Compare the total cost with each program's exam pass rate, graduation rate, and job placement rate. The College Scorecard shows costs and earnings data for many schools.

For a full list of what to compare, use the checklist in the Choosing a program section of Healthcare Tracks.