Nondiscrimination
Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine does not discriminate on the basis of race, gender, color, national or ethnic origin, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, veteran status, or physical handicap when administering financial assistance to students. In evaluating applicants for admission, the Admission’s Committee selects candidates without regard to the candidate’s ability to pay for medical school.
Enrollment Status
In order to receive funds from federal loan programs, a student must be enrolled at least half time. Virtually all Case Western Reserve MD students are registered as full-time degree candidates. Should a student’s enrollment drop to less than full time (a rare occurrence in the MD program), s/he must notify the Financial Aid Office as soon as possible so that any necessary revisions can be made to the financial aid award. Federal regulations mandate that when changes to enrollment status necessitate adjustments to federal loans, the adjustments must be made within forty-five days of the date of the status change. It is essential that whenever possible the Financial Aid Office be notified of enrollment status changes before they go into effect.
Satisfactory Academic Progress
Federal regulations require that federal aid recipients make satisfactory progress in their degree programs. The conditions for satisfactory progress to the MD degree are detailed in the Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) Policy. If at any time a student feels that his/her financial aid may be in jeopardy because of this requirement, s/he is urged to seek the advice of a Financial Aid Officer before aid has to be withdrawn. The financial aid staff will work to identify a substitute financial arrangement whenever possible. Once the student resumes making satisfactory academic progress, s/he is again eligible for federal financial aid.
Citizenship Status and the Federal Financial Aid Programs
A student’s citizenship status must fall into one of the following categories to receive federal student aid from the US government:
- US Citizen
- US National (includes natives of American Samoa or Swain’s Island)
- US permanent resident who has an I-151, I-551, or I-551C (Alien Registration Card)
- Foreign national holding an Arrival-Departure Record (I-94) from the US Immigration and Naturalization Service showing one of the following designations:
- Refugee
- Asylum Granted
- Indefinite Parolee
- Humanitarian Parolee
- Cuban-Haitian Entrant (valid only if issued before April 1, 1980)
- Other eligible non-citizen with a Temporary Resident Card (I-688)
- Foreign national with a suspension of deportation case pending before Congress
If an applicant has only a Notice of Approval to Apply for Permanent Residence (I-171 or I-464A), s/he is not eligible for federal student aid.
International and Deferred Action on Childhood Arrivals (DACA)
International and DACA students may be eligible for private educational loans. Most lenders will require non-US citizens to have a credit-worthy US citizen as co-signer.
Dual Degree Candidates
MSTP (MD/PhD Medical Scientist Training Program)
Most students in MSTP receive funding administered through the MSTP Office at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine and are ineligible (based on the amount of the grant) for additional aid. Students who determine that they have a shortfall between their MSTP funding and the standard budget may apply through the Office of University Financial Aid during years M1, M2, and throughout the PhD years for student loans to meet this gap. Funds from the Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan Program are generally used for this purpose.
MSTP students will apply for aid, if needed, during their M3 and M4 years through the Case Western Reserve University School Of Medicine Office of Financial Aid.
MD/MPH
Students in the combined MD/MPH program apply through the Case Western Reserve University School Of Medicine Office of Financial Aid for financial aid funding during years one, two, three and four of the MD program. If an additional year of study is needed to complete the program, the student will apply for aid for year five through the Office of University Financial Aid and pay the Graduate Studies tuition rate.
MD/MBA
Students in the combined MD/MBA program apply for financial aid through the Case Western Reserve University School Of Medicine Office of Financial Aid in years one, two, three, four of the MD program. If an additional year of study is needed to complete the program, the student will apply for financial aid for year five through the Weatherhead School of Management Office of Financial Aid.
OMFS
Students entering the OMFS program have obtained their dental degree. During years three and four of the MD program, students may apply for federal student loans through the Case Western Reserve University School Of Medicine Office of Financial Aid.
Research and/or Academic Enrichment (additional graduate coursework)
Students matriculating in Fall 2013 or later who take a fifth year to complete additional graduate school coursework or combined master/MD degrees within the medical school will be assessed four consecutive years of full MD tuition and will pay 25% of the then-current MD tuition rate during the fifth year.
Students who elect to extend their MD program by a fifth year to complete a research project or who participate in academic enrichment will be assessed four consecutive years of full MD tuition and will pay a Continuation Fee* in the fifth and final year.
Students enrolled in a dual degree program outside the School of Medicine (e.g., Dentistry, Law, Management) will have different tuition requirements based on the specified program. The semesters in which students are required to take a leave of absence from the medical school in order to complete program requirements in another school will not be assessed a Continuation Fee or medical school tuition.
(* The Continuation Fee is 5% of the then-current annual MD tuition and maintains a full-time student enrollment status, malpractice insurance coverage and eligibility for health insurance. Tuition rates subject to annual review by the Office of the Dean.)
Remediation
Students who must repeat Years 1 and/or 2 for academic reasons will be assessed four consecutive years of full tuition and will pay 50% of the then-current tuition for each additional year. Students who must repeat any year for any other reason (e.g., Disciplinary) must pay full tuition for the additional year and for all subsequent years until graduation at the then-current rate.