How much does it cost to become a doctor in the US?

One of the biggest hurdles that one must pass to become a doctor is the expense. While doctors make decent salaries that do start with, and while the amount does look handsome, many doctors struggle to pay off debts during their early years. Because becoming a doctor isn't just hard, it's also expensive. For this blog, Dr. Matt Boente, M.D., breaks down how much it costs to become a doctor.

The first financial crux is getting a college degree. Research shows that public colleges charge an average tuition fee of around $20,000, while private, non-profit colleges charge over $50- 60,000. This includes tuition, the usual fees, and lodging. This amount increases further as most medical schools in the country have pre-requisite courses such as two semesters of biology with labs, two semesters of organic chemistry with labs, physics, math, and even an English or a writing course.

After college, students have to pay a bit over $320 to register and take the Medical College Admission Test or MCAT. If they score well and meet the medical school's requirements, they can then enroll. And in medical school, the tuition fees go up even further. Currently, the most expensive tuition fee for medical school is Columbia University in New York city, which charges med students close to $70,000 a year.

Dr. Matt Boente, M.D., notes that tuition fees alone can rack up close to half a million dollars. And that doesn't include the eight years' worth of personal spending, books, review seminars, and cups of coffee the students will be drinking throughout this journey.

Dr. Matt Boente, M.D., is deeply passionate about the world of medicine and encourages the youth to aspire to become doctors. He is also a huge Chicago Cubs fan. To know more about Dr. Boente and his practice, visit this page.