Medical school debt statistics.
Debt by specialty, by school, salary-to-debt ratios, PSLF savings estimates, and 2026–2027 interest rates. All data sourced from AAMC, Marit Health, and studentaid.gov.
Average medical school debt by specialty
Reflects the average debt load carried by physicians in each specialty at graduation, based on AAMC survey data combined with specialty-specific enrollment patterns. Sorted by average debt (highest first).
| Specialty | Avg Debt at Graduation | Attending Salary | Training Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cardiology | $258,000 | $507,000 | 6 yrs |
| General Surgery | $255,000 | $368,000 | 5 yrs |
| Radiology | $252,000 | $463,000 | 5 yrs |
| Neurosurgery | $250,000 | $788,000 | 7 yrs |
| Urology | $248,000 | $461,000 | 5 yrs |
| ENT | $246,000 | $410,000 | 5 yrs |
| Plastic Surgery | $243,000 | $479,000 | 6 yrs |
| Anesthesiology | $241,000 | $396,000 | 4 yrs |
| Ophthalmology | $238,000 | $373,000 | 3 yrs |
| Orthopedic Surgery | $237,000 | $624,000 | 5 yrs |
| Neurology | $236,000 | $293,000 | 5 yrs |
| Dermatology | $232,000 | $476,000 | 3 yrs |
| OB/GYN | $228,000 | $312,000 | 4 yrs |
| Psychiatry | $219,000 | $277,000 | 4 yrs |
| Emergency Medicine | $218,000 | $358,000 | 3 yrs |
| Internal Medicine | $213,000 | $248,000 | 3 yrs |
| Pediatrics | $199,000 | $222,000 | 3 yrs |
| Family Medicine | $198,000 | $236,000 | 3 yrs |
| National Average (all physicians) | $202,450 | — | — |
Source: AAMC Graduation Questionnaire 2024 (debt averages); Marit Health 2026 (attending salary). Training years include residency + typical fellowship where applicable.
Debt-to-income ratios by specialty
Debt-to-income (DTI) ratio = average debt ÷ first-year attending salary. A ratio below 1× is excellent; 1–2× is manageable; above 2× requires an aggressive repayment strategy. Sorted best ratio first.
PSLF savings vs. aggressive payoff by specialty
Estimated total amount paid over your medical career under two strategies: (1) PSLF path — IDR payments during training, then 10 years of IBR as an attending at a qualifying employer, with remaining balance forgiven; (2) Aggressive payoff — paying off in 5–7 years as an attending. Sorted by PSLF savings (highest first).
| Specialty | Avg Debt | PSLF Path Total Paid | Aggressive Payoff Total | PSLF Savings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Neurosurgery | $250K | $198K | $328K | +$130K |
| Cardiology | $258K | $216K | $344K | +$128K |
| General Surgery | $255K | $229K | $348K | +$119K |
| Radiology | $252K | $219K | $336K | +$117K |
| Urology | $248K | $215K | $331K | +$116K |
| Anesthesiology | $241K | $201K | $316K | +$115K |
| ENT | $246K | $212K | $327K | +$115K |
| Neurology | $236K | $217K | $332K | +$115K |
| Plastic Surgery | $243K | $208K | $322K | +$114K |
| Orthopedic Surgery | $237K | $194K | $306K | +$112K |
| Ophthalmology | $238K | $196K | $308K | +$112K |
| Dermatology | $232K | $187K | $296K | +$109K |
| OB/GYN | $228K | $204K | $313K | +$109K |
| Psychiatry | $219K | $204K | $311K | +$107K |
| Emergency Medicine | $218K | $178K | $282K | +$104K |
| Internal Medicine | $213K | $197K | $301K | +$104K |
| Pediatrics | $199K | $186K | $282K | +$96K |
| Family Medicine | $198K | $183K | $278K | +$95K |
These are population averages, not individual advice. PSLF forgiveness is tax-free at the federal level. State tax treatment varies.
Average medical school debt by institution
Average federal loan debt at graduation among students who borrowed, at select U.S. medical schools. Schools offering full-tuition scholarships (like NYU Grossman) produce significantly lower average debt. Sorted lowest to highest.
| School | Type | State | Avg Debt (borrowers) | % Graduating with Debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NYU Grossman School of Medicine | Private | NY | Full scholarship | — |
| Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai | Private | NY | $91,000 | 45% |
| Harvard Medical School | Private | MA | $112,000 | 48% |
| Washington University in St. Louis | Private | MO | $113,000 | 51% |
| Johns Hopkins School of Medicine | Private | MD | $121,000 | 53% |
| University of North Carolina SOM | Public | NC | $131,000 | 60% |
| Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine | Private | MN | $134,000 | 58% |
| Stanford University School of Medicine | Private | CA | $138,000 | 55% |
| Weill Cornell Medicine | Private | NY | $139,000 | 58% |
| UCSF School of Medicine | Public | CA | $140,000 | 62% |
| University of Texas Southwestern | Public | TX | $143,000 | 66% |
| Yale School of Medicine | Private | CT | $149,000 | 64% |
| University of Washington School of Medicine | Public | WA | $152,000 | 64% |
| University of Michigan Medical School | Public | MI | $154,000 | 67% |
| University of Virginia SOM | Public | VA | $156,000 | 69% |
| University of Colorado SOM | Public | CO | $162,000 | 70% |
| Perelman School of Medicine (Penn) | Private | PA | $168,000 | 67% |
| Ohio State University COM | Public | OH | $174,000 | 72% |
| Duke University School of Medicine | Private | NC | $181,000 | 69% |
| Indiana University SOM | Public | IN | $183,000 | 74% |
| Vanderbilt University School of Medicine | Private | TN | $184,000 | 71% |
| University of Pittsburgh SOM | Private | PA | $193,000 | 74% |
| Columbia Vagelos P&S | Private | NY | $200,000 | 77% |
| Emory University School of Medicine | Private | GA | $210,000 | 77% |
| Northwestern Feinberg School of Medicine | Private | IL | $228,000 | 80% |
| Penn State College of Medicine | Private | PA | $229,000 | 83% |
| Case Western Reserve SOM | Private | OH | $236,000 | 82% |
| Boston University Aram V. Chobanian SOM | Private | MA | $248,000 | 85% |
| Georgetown University SOM | Private | DC | $259,000 | 89% |
| Thomas Jefferson University (Sidney Kimmel) | Private | PA | $265,000 | 90% |
Source: AAMC Graduation Questionnaire 2024. Debt figures represent median federal loan debt among graduates who borrowed. In-state vs. out-of-state tuition differences affect public school figures.Compare schools side by side →
Federal student loan interest rates 2025–2026
Fixed rates set by Congress annually (10-year Treasury yield + statutory add-on). Rates apply to loans first disbursed July 1, 2025 – June 30, 2026. Medical students primarily borrow unsubsidized graduate loans at 8.08% and Grad PLUS at 9.08%.
| Loan Type | Rate (2025–26) | Borrowing Limit | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Direct Subsidized (undergrad) | 6.53% | $23,000 lifetime | Interest paused during in-school & grace periods |
| Direct Unsubsidized (undergrad) | 6.53% | $57,500 lifetime | Interest accrues immediately |
| Direct Unsubsidized (grad/prof) | 8.08% | $138,500 lifetime | Most med school loans fall here |
| Grad PLUS | 9.08% | Cost of attendance | Eliminated for new borrowers July 1, 2026 |
| Parent PLUS | 9.08% | Cost of attendance | Some parents borrow for med school |
Source: studentaid.gov interest rates. Interest during training assumes capitalization at end of grace period.
Put these numbers to work for your situation
National averages are useful context — but your actual debt, specialty, employer type, and income determine whether PSLF or aggressive payoff wins for you. The MedDebt Calculator models the full physician journey with your specific numbers in about 2 minutes.