The Cost of Attendance (COA) for the current academic year is available now. The 2027–2028 COA will be published by June 2027. If you plan to begin your TBES journey in fall 2027, you can review the current COA to estimate your educational and living expenses for your first year.

The Cost of Attendance includes two types of expenses:

• Direct Costs: Expenses billed directly to you by the school, such as tuition and required fees.

• Indirect Costs: Estimated expenses you may have while attending school, such as books and supplies, housing, food, transportation, and other living expenses. These costs are not billed directly by the school.

Funding options for medical education typically include a combination of limited scholarships, federal student loans, and private education loans. Scholarships and grants can help reduce the overall cost, but they are often competitive and may cover only a portion of tuition and expenses. Federal loans may provide additional support for eligible students, while private loans are another option for students who need supplemental funding and meet the lender’s eligibility requirements.

The 2027-2028 FAFSA is now open! 

Eligibility for federal financial aid is limited to U.S. citizens and eligible non-citizens. Financial aid opportunities for international students can be found here. 

Graduate students are considered independent for FAFSA purposes and will not be prompted to provide parental information on the FAFSA.

The FAFSA for 2027-2028 uses tax information from tax year 2025 which should already be available to you under most circumstances.

Complete all of the steps below to secure federal loan funding. 

1. Complete the required Free Application for Financial Aid (FAFSA) online (use FAFSA code 002609)
2. Visit studentaid.gov and log in using your FSA ID
3. Click on the Grants and Loans dropdown and
4. Select Master Promissory Note
   1. complete the Subsidized/Unsubsidized Loan MPN 
5. Click on the Grants and Loans dropdown and
   1. Select Loan Entrance Counseling
6. Track your application through Banner Self-Service. You can log-in using your Rowan credentials

In order to receive funds for the start of class and avoid possible late fees, the financial aid application process must be completed prior to the start of classes.

Eligible applicants will receive a Federal Unsubsidized Loan up to $20,500.00.

*Review FAFSA eligibility here. Seek private education loan options here.

💡 Tip: Start building and maintaining good credit now so you’ll have access to the best private education loan options if you need them. We recommend you apply for private education loans in April 2027.

For international students, funding options can be more limited. Many U.S. federal loans and scholarships are only available to U.S. citizens or permanent residents, and some private lenders may require a U.S. citizen or permanent-resident co-signer. International students can also explore international student loan programs and funding opportunities available through their home country.

💡 Tip: We recommend you apply for private education loans in April 2027.

Having good credit as an incoming and continuing medical student is crucial for securing funding for your education, setting favorable terms for loans, and establishing financial stability for the expensive years ahead. While credit is not a factor for federal Direct Unsubsidized loans received from filing a FAFSA, it is essential for other funding avenues, especially private and federal PLUS loans. 

Developing good financial habits before graduate school can prevent the accumulation of high-interest credit card debt. Unlike student loans, which have relatively lower interest rates, credit card debt comes with very high interest and can be a financial trap.

The 2027-2028 FAFSA is now open! 

Eligibility for federal financial aid is limited to U.S. citizens and eligible non-citizens. Financial aid opportunities for international students can be found here. 

Graduate students are considered independent for FAFSA purposes and will not be prompted to provide parental information on the FAFSA.

The FAFSA for 2027-2028 uses tax information from tax year 2025 which should already be available to you under most circumstances.

Complete all of the steps below to secure federal loan funding. 

1. Complete the required Free Application for Financial Aid (FAFSA) online (use FAFSA code 002609)
2. Visit studentaid.gov and log in using your FSA ID
3. Click on the Grants and Loans dropdown and
4. Select Master Promissory Note
   1. complete the Subsidized/Unsubsidized Loan MPN 
5. Click on the Grants and Loans dropdown and
   1. Select Loan Entrance Counseling
6. Track your application through Banner Self-Service. You can log-in using your Rowan credentials

In order to receive funds for the start of class and avoid possible late fees, the financial aid application process must be completed prior to the start of classes.

Eligible applicants will receive a Federal Unsubsidized Loan up to $20,500.

*Review FAFSA eligibility here. Seek private education loan options here.

Federal student loans have aggregate, or lifetime, borrowing limits. This means that any federal loans you have previously borrowed count toward your overall limit.

For graduate school, you may be able to borrow up to $20,500 per academic year, with a total aggregate federal loan limit of $100,000 for all graduate programs attended.

Once you reach the $100,000 aggregate loan limit, you are no longer eligible to receive additional federal student loans. Similarly, once you have borrowed a total of $224,000 throughout your higher education journey, you will no longer be eligible for federal student loans.

💡 Tip: Keep track of how much you’ve already borrowed federally. This will help you plan how much more you can take for medical school. If you reach your maximum aggregate loan limit prior to completing your medical degree, you may borrow private education loans to fund your remaining education. 

If your federal student loans do not cover the full cost of your medical education, you may have other options to help fill the gap up to your Cost of Attendance:

• Explore scholarships and grants. Look for opportunities through national medical organizations, foundations, and private organizations. These funds generally do not need to be repaid. You can begin by checking out our Scholarships webpage.

• Consider private education loans. Private lenders may offer additional funding for educational expenses. Eligibility, interest rates, repayment terms, and co-signer requirements vary by lender.

💡 Tip: Start building and maintaining good credit now so you’ll have access to the best private education loan options if you need them. We recommend you apply for at least three months prior to your first term.

If you need additional funding to help cover your educational expenses, a private education loan may be an option. Follow the steps below to explore lenders, apply for a loan, and notify the Student Financial Aid Office once your loan has been approved.

1. Compare Private Loan Lenders

Use ELM Select to explore private education loan options from participating lenders. ELM Select allows you to compare lenders and review information about available private education loan products to help you identify options that may meet your needs.

Tip: We recommend applying to 2–3 lenders within the same time frame so you can compare your options. Applying within a short period may also help you evaluate offers based on similar timing and circumstances.

2. Notify the Rowan-Virtua SOM Student Financial Aid Office When Your Loan Is Approved

Once your private education loan has been approved, email the Student Financial Aid Office at stratfinaid@rowan.edu.

Subject: Private Loan Notification

Please include the following information in your email:

• Student Name
• Banner ID
• Lender Name
• Approved Loan Amount
• Full-Time Students: Indicate whether you plan to enroll in or waive Rowan University's student health insurance.

Incoming graduate students will begin receiving award letters via email prior to your first academic term.

FAFSA Filers: Allow two weeks from the date of submission to receive your federal loan package on your award letter. If more than two weeks has passed, you may have outstanding requirements. Your aid package and award letter will not generate until all outstanding requirements are complete. 

To review your file for outstanding requirements, make sure you have your Rowan Network credentials set up so you are able to log into Self-Service Banner. Once logged in, click on the Financial Aid tab, Finaid 9x Self-Service to view and complete any outstanding requirements. Be sure to routinely check this section as new requirements may appear. 

You will not have to accept your loan award. If you would like to adjust or cancel your loan amount, simply email stratfinaid@rowan.edu from your University email address with your request prior to the start of the fall term.

Be sure to complete the Entrance Counseling and MPN to complete the loan eligibility process.

Any updates or changes to your aid will be reflected in Self-Service Banner. Click on the Financial tab, FinAid 9x Self-Service.

You can find the disbursement dates in the Announcements & Dates to Remember section on our homepage, expected to be updated by June for the 2027-2028 academic year.

When your financial aid is disbursed, it will first be applied to any outstanding charges on your student account. If your account shows a negative balance after your aid has been applied, this means you have a credit balance and are eligible for a refund.

You’ll know your refund has been processed when the negative balance on your student account changes to a zero balance.

Your e-bill will be sent to your University email account by the Bursar Office approximately 30 days before the start of your term. If your account shows a negative amount due, you will receive a refund for that amount. The billing due date will be provided with your e-bill.

Additional payment options are available on the Bursar’s website.

Full-time students: Health insurance will appear as a charge on your first-term bill. Information about how to waive or enroll in the University’s health insurance plan will be emailed to you by the Bursar’s Office by the start of the fall term.

The Rowan University Military Services Office supports military/veteran students with education benefits. The office can assist you with questions about your benefits and how they apply to your educational expenses.

Contact their office at militaryserviceoffice@rowan.edu.

The New Jersey Residency Policy and Eligibility for In-State Tuition policy can be found here.

After reviewing the policy, if you are classified as an out-of-state student and think you meet the criteria to be considered a New Jersey resident for tuition purposes, you may apply for a change in residency.  To apply, you would complete the Residency Analysis Form found at here.

There are additional documents required to be submitted with the Residency Analysis form which are described in Part II of that form.  In order to allow enough time for processing the request it is recommended that the form and all required items be submitted at least five (5) weeks before the start of the semester for which you are seeking a change in tuition. 

Please contact the University Registrar at registrar@rowan.edu for additional information.