Alabama
“As a medical student, substantial cuts to federal student aid programs would directly impact my ability to afford my education and pursue my dream of becoming a physician. Medical school is already financially demanding, with tuition, fees, and living expenses adding up to significant debt. Federal aid programs provide essential support that allows students like me to focus on rigorous coursework and clinical training without the overwhelming burden of financial insecurity. Reducing these resources could force students to take on excessive private loans, delay their education, or even abandon their medical aspirations altogether. At a time when the healthcare system needs more dedicated professionals, limiting access to financial aid would create unnecessary barriers for future doctors, ultimately affecting the quality and accessibility of patient care.”
— Dharti
“As a trainee pursuing a specialty with 9 years of training on a postgraduate salary, PSLF is critical to my ability to continue caring for complex patient populations that present to university affiliate hospitals. The removal of PSLF can discourage trainees to pursue specialties with longer training pathways, exacerbate the physician shortage, and subsequently have dismal outcomes for population health in the U.S.”
— M.Z.
Arkansas
“I am currently financing my medical education through federal student loans. While alternative graduate loan options exist, they often come with exorbitant interest rates and create an undue financial burden during training. Eliminating federal funding for medical student loans would significantly increase the cost of attendance and discourage students from entering lower paying, yet critically needed, specialties.”
— Taylor
California
“I am a first-generation college student, born into a working-class family of modest means. My roots are rural; my background, blue-collar. We do not serve the people by denying the next generation the tools they need to serve. We must invest in education — not reduce it — if we are to ensure a healthier, more equitable future.”
— Xavier
“Having access to PSLF is one of the main reasons why going into pediatrics is a viable option, at least for me. It is worrisome that we might be on the precipice of losing this lifeline. And this will ultimately mean fewer amazing pediatricians and worse care for our children.”
— Karen
“We already face a shortage of physicians, especially in primary care, neurology, and other high-need specialties. We cannot afford to make it harder for future doctors to train and serve. Protecting Grad PLUS and PSLF is not just about supporting students — it is about protecting patients, strengthening communities, and securing the future of American health care.”
— Alvin
Colorado
“Pursuing a career in medicine and creating a family during training would not have been possible without student loan programs such as PSLF. I made these decisions with the understanding there would be a pathway that would allow me to pay off my loans while giving back to the community. Without these programs, rural and in-need communities will continue to suffer from the physician shortages and will dissuade young brilliant minds from a career of caring for others.”
— Noelle
“I would not be able to focus on my education and work towards providing care to underserved populations if not for the financial aid and potential opportunities for loan repayment that are available.”
— Kenton
Connecticut
“Without government loans and graduate plus loans I (and other medical students) would not be able to attend medical school. Please continue to fund our loan programs so we can attract the best people into medicine.”
— Emily
District of Columbia
“As a first-generation student from a medically underserved community, I am pursuing a career as a physician to return to my community as a physician. PSLF allows physicians, passionate about serving the underserved, to give my community the health care we need and deserve.”
— Kimberly
Florida
“I intend to work in a nonprofit or underserved setting after graduation, not only because it’s where I’m most needed, but because it’s part of why I went into medicine in the first place. Maintaining access to both Grad PLUS loans and PSLF is essential to ensuring that future physicians come from all backgrounds and can serve all communities.”
— Jacob
“PSLF and direct student loans allow low-income students and future physicians like me, who are passionate about serving underserved communities regardless of where they come from. I am incredibly grateful for the privilege of serving others and I hope I can be afforded this privilege with financial assistance so I can focus on the most important thing in medicine — the patient.”
— Paris
Georgia
“Without tuition loan programs like GradPlus and repayment options such as PSLF, completing medical school and residency to serve this community would have been impossible. Congress must maintain robust support for these programs. To do otherwise is to vote against the health of your constituents and erode the very promise of the American Dream.”
— Dylan
“I am a first-generation medical student, as are many of my classmates. Georgia, like many other states, is facing a primary care physician shortage, and having access to graduate PLUS loans allows my classmates and I to pursue primary care specialties to serve our communities.”
— Aili
Iowa
“I grew up in a town of 2,500 people. I had access to education, but now I am dependent on Grad PLUS loans to complete my medical education in a feasible and reasonable way. This is only more true for students coming from families with less than my own. To continue to support rural America, there must be ways for rural kids to have access to education for vital jobs.”
— Samantha
Idaho
“It is extremely important that we provide federal aid to students who are passionate about providing care to underserved and rural populations. Without federal aid, the majority of students would not be able to afford pursuing higher education without going into tremendous debt. This would be a disservice to the brilliant individuals out there with a passion for medicine and to the general public that desperately need physicians.”
— Elaina
Illinois
“The threat to educational federal aid programs is a threat to the future of America's healthcare system. These federal aid programs have successfully allowed students of ALL socioeconomic, racial, ethnic, and geographic backgrounds to pursue the field of medicine with the hope to make our communities healthier and happier. This proposal would severely impact our ability as physicians to serve populations that need our care the most.”
— Julia
“Now is the time to increase access to federal funds and loan forgiveness programs so that our aging population has people to care for them in the near future.”
— Julia
Indiana
“Without the government support I have received throughout the majority of my life, I would not exist in this society today as a medical student with the ultimate purpose of serving and giving back to those in need.”
— Elijah
Louisiana
“Federal student loans and the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program are crucial for me as a fourth-year medical student because they provide essential financial support and a realistic path to managing the significant debt incurred during medical school.”
— Jonathan
“I can only speak for myself when I say that I chose to attend medical school to make a difference in the lives of my future patients. I entered medical school knowing that I had the option to take out loans, which allowed me to focus on my studies without the immediate need to work. We have taken on this debt to learn how to save lives and maintain the health of Americans. We hope that our government will work with us to create better solutions, rather than leaving us to struggle with debt for the rest of our lives.”
— Vivien
Maryland
“This is my American Dream, and as a first-generation student, it would not be possible without Grad PLUS loans and PSLF. Many students rely on these programs to pursue their medical education and fulfill their dreams of providing comprehensive care to patients nationwide. It is crucial to support our future health care providers to ensure that the U.S. healthcare system is composed of individuals who are committed to serving.”
— Fatima
Maine
“Federal loans and the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program are essential tools that make medical education financially viable. Cutting these programs would be catastrophic — further discouraging applicants and ultimately reducing the number of future doctors when the healthcare system can least afford it.”
— Joe
Michigan
“Federal funding for student loans is absolutely essential for the majority of students to attend medical school. We would be missing out on the contributions of tens of thousands of future physicians each year if we cut these essential funds, which would continue to negatively affect the health of the country for years to come.”
— Anjali
“Federal funding from loans such as Grad PLUS and Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) have been invaluable in my ability to attend medical school. I cannot emphasize enough how much the PSLF is determining where I choose to apply and practice. I hope policy makers understand the impact of federal funding on if their constituents are able to access health care.”
— Natalie
Minnesota
“I’ve always served in communities of higher need, fulfilling the duties of a hospitalist, emergency physician, and primary care provider. I’m able to do this because of loan repayment programs — I’m able to give to those who need it most because I knew there would be help with my student loans. Without loan forgiveness, many of us in rural and underserved settings will have to leave for more lucrative positions or be at risk financially.”
— Laura
Missouri
“I could never have afforded undergraduate and graduate education to become a physician without affordable student aid options and the opportunity to participate in PSLF — which I intend to do so that I can serve my community as a family physician. I am so grateful to live in America where someone like myself, who grew up lower income, was able to become a physician and give back to those around me.”
— Emma
“The Grad PLUS loans are essential for me to afford medical school. I am forced to take out Grad PLUS loans to pay for tuition and living expenses. These programs allow people like me, who did not come from a family with money, to attend medical school.”
— Alexa
“As a first-generation student from a medically underserved community and [as someone who is] passionate about medical education, PSLF allows me the option to pursue academic medicine and to practice in underserved communities.”
— Ayanna
Mississippi
“Living in a rural community and being from a state that is underrepresented in the medical world, it is my goal to become a physician to give back to our state to put our healthcare satisfaction back on top. Without financial aid and graduate assistance loans, I will not be able to pursue my dream of becoming a physician.”
— Caroline
“I plan to become a primary care physician to support the underserved community I come from. Without any financial assistance, I would not be able to complete my medical education. I am writing to plead for the preservation of Grad PLUS loans, so that medical students across the country can continue in our programs.”
— Nancy
Nebraska
“Without Grad PLUS loans, I would not have been able to afford my medical education. This kind of aid is critical to myself and the majority of my classmates to pursue careers as physicians, which will ultimately benefit society as a whole.”
— Anna
North Carolina
“Without being able to access federal loans, my dream to enter the health care field would not be a possibility.”
— Ryan
New Hampshire
“As a physician who chose to serve in a nonprofit academic medical center, I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to care for patients with some of the most challenging blood cancers. But I would not be here — treating lymphoma, advancing cellular therapies, training the next generation of oncologists — without the support of federal programs like Grad PLUS and Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF).”
— Charles
New Jersey
“These programs ensure that medicine remains accessible — not only to those who can afford it, but to those most committed to service. We can’t build a stronger, more equitable health care system by stripping away the support structures that make it possible. The choice is clear, and the stakes are real.”
— Christian
“Going to medical school is the only thing I ever truly wanted in life. Medicine is my passion and my only option to attend is through the use of government loans. I am the exact person who you want to become a doctor. I have faced massive hardships growing up in a low socioeconomic status allowing me to be in touch with the experiences of my patients. I approach every patient from a place of compassion. My family could never afford tuition and fees, and it would be extremely difficult to get a loan from a private institution. The reliance on student loans to attend medical school holds true for most medical students. We need these programs to exist in order to enter our career.”
— Jessica
Nevada
“As a first-generation college student, first-generation immigrants and low-income family, student loans is what made my education and pursuing my future career possible.”
— Cecelia
New York
“PSLF will empower me to devote my career to delivering the accessible, high-quality care that so many deserve — without being overwhelmed by debt. … When I graduate, I plan to practice in federally qualified health centers and schools that serve children with disabilities — settings that rely heavily on physicians who are willing to accept lower reimbursement rates in exchange for the profound impact they make. Eliminating or cutting these federal aid programs would force many of my peers — and me — to reconsider our commitment to underserved care.”
— Reeda
“I was fortunate enough to benefit from loan forgiveness via PSLF and I would not have pursued an academic primary care career if this program were not in place. For the sake of saving primary care, we must [continue] these loan forgiveness programs”
— Patricia
“I am residency training director and can attest to the essential nature of federal student aid programs such as PSLF to help doctors in training manage the financial burdens of medical education and residency. Without these, we risk undermining the required growth in our workforce of doctors to meet the needs of our nation.”
— Paul
“If not for the GRAD PLUS loan program, my family and I would not have been able to attend medical school.”
— Seth
Ohio
“As future physicians, we enter this field with a deep desire to serve our communities, often in underserved and high-need areas. The Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program plays a critical role in making this path possible. … Please, uphold this essential program — for us, for future physicians, and for the patients who need us most.”
— Amber
Oregon
“Federal financial aid for medical students is an investment in America’s future. Every medical student I know would be unable to attend medical school and earn an MD without significant financial assistance. We already have a doctor shortage in the U.S. Restricting federal student aid would only worsen it and jeopardize the health of our nation for generations to come.”
— Molly
Pennsylvania
“I am here because I believe deeply in the power of medicine to heal, to uplift, and to serve. I want to go back into the communities that raised me — communities that are often underserved and overlooked — and provide the kind of care that treats not just illness, but the whole person. … Financial aid is the bridge between my lived experience and my purpose.”
— Martin
“Grad PLUS is the only reason I am able to attend medical school as a first-generation college student. Without it, I would not have even applied. PSLF is something I was expecting to have available to me in the future as I am applying to family medicine this year. I want to provide primary care in my local community and having PSLF would really help me pay back my loans without stress.”
— Eliza
“Having Grad PLUS loans made medical school available to me; the cost would have otherwise been prohibitive. Federal loans are preferable given the flexible income-based repayment plans, PSLF opportunity, and fixed interest rate. Having PSLF and IDR plans makes me feel more comfortable choosing a longer Residency training.”
— Gavin
Puerto Rico
“Without this support, the overwhelming cost of medical education would prevent many qualified and passionate individuals from becoming physicians. … it will severely impact the pipeline of future doctors and worsen the existing physician shortage, especially in underserved areas. These loans are not just an investment in students — they are an investment in the health and well-being of our nation.”
— Raymond
South Carolina
“At a time when students are facing rising costs of education and we are facing physician shortages especially in rural areas, we need continued federal funding for the continuation of the Grad PLUS and Direct PLUS loans and Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program. Funding these critical programs is essential to the health and healthcare of our nation.”
— Donna
South Dakota
“Without student aid, becoming a physician would have been impossible. I have dedicated many, many years of my life to my education to help the health of our community. … We should be supporting physician education to help our country and communities be healthier. Limiting access will greatly limit the number of people who can become providers.”
— Cassie
Tennessee
“Thanks to government-provided loans, I’m able to pursue a passion that allows me to give back to the same underserved and underrepresented communities I grew up in. I now have the opportunity to provide the kind of care that I once lacked access to. Without student aid, millions of brilliant and capable individuals would be unable to pursue medicine simply because of the financial burden. To continue advancing the field and discovering new ways to care for those in need, we must ensure these support systems remain in place — for the sake of future doctors and the patients they will serve.”
— Gatkek
“Medical school is a rigorous and costly endeavor, but these programs allow students — especially those from diverse and underrepresented backgrounds — to pursue their passion for medicine without the insurmountable burden of private loans or financial insecurity. Grad PLUS has provided me with the necessary funding to focus on my studies, leadership roles, and service to my peers rather than worrying about financial barriers. PSLF, in turn, offers a pathway for aspiring physicians like me to give back to underserved communities without being crushed by loan repayment. Eliminating or reducing these programs would create even greater barriers for future physicians and exacerbate the physician shortage at a time when our communities need us most.”
— Caitlyn
Texas
“These programs open the door to students like me who are driven to serve but lack the financial means to access medical training. PSLF gives hope to future doctors who want to work in underserved areas — not for high salaries, but to make a lasting difference. I am committed to becoming a physician for my community, but without support, that dream is at risk. Protecting these programs means protecting the future of health care in communities like mine.”
— Tamjeed
“I don't have any family help, so these loans are the only way that I'm able to achieve my goals of becoming a physician and helping improve access to care for families even less fortunate than mine.”
— Payton
“As a first-generation medical student, federal aid is one of the only ways that I can afford to attend medical school. … Removing adequate student aid will be an extreme barrier which would bar many students like myself from receiving a medical education required to become a physician and serve our communities.”
— Saurika
Utah
“I love my job, which includes teaching the next generation of physicians, and I'm grateful for the PSLF program which helped with the tuition debt associated with attending medical school.”
— Elizabeth
“Without these financial aid options, medicine could become a profession only for the elite, exacerbating inequalities in health care and limiting the talent pool. Accessible education benefits both individual students and society as a whole.”
— Gavin
Vermont
“Our country and aging population cannot afford to lose medical students, because in only a matter of years, that will worsen the physician shortage in the U.S.”
— Jessica
Washington
“As a first-generation student from a medically underserved community, I am pursuing a career as a physician to return to my community as a physician. Without aid, I would have never been able to attend medical school and give back to the country that has provided me with this opportunity.”
— Mahad
Wisconsin
“Programs like PSLF allow students like me to give back to medically underserved communities without the impossible burden of overwhelming debt standing in the way. Without these resources, careers in medicine would be limited to only those who can afford it. Protecting Grad PLUS, Direct PLUS loans, and PSLF isn’t just about students — it’s about the future of health care. It’s about ensuring every patient, no matter where they live or what they look like, has access to physicians who understand and are committed to their communities.”
— Saundra
West Virginia
“As a medical student, I've seen firsthand how essential federal support for student aid is to sustaining academic medicine. Access to financial aid enables students from all backgrounds to pursue medical education without overwhelming debt.”
— Aish
More on the Numbers
- Medical student Grad PLUS borrowing is less than 10% of all PLUS borrowing. Despite being a small proportion of total borrowing, almost half of MD students rely on the Grad PLUS program and borrow more than $1 billion in Grad PLUS annually.
- Delinquency among medical students is rare.
