Comprehensive Guide to UNLV School of Medicine Tuition and Fees

For aspiring medical students, understanding the financial landscape of medical education is crucial. This article provides a comprehensive overview of the tuition, fees, and financial aid opportunities at the Kirk Kerkorian School of Medicine at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV). This guide serves as an invaluable resource for medical professionals, aspiring medical students, and community members interested in the role the school plays in healthcare within Nevada and beyond.

Overview of the Kirk Kerkorian School of Medicine at UNLV

The Kirk Kerkorian School of Medicine at UNLV is a beacon of change in medical education, research, and clinical care. Founded in August 2014, the school has quickly ascended as a center of excellence in various specializations, from Family Medicine to ENT, and from Internal Medicine to Endocrinology. As one of the medical schools in Las Vegas and Nevada, the University of Nevada, Las Vegas Medical School stands out for its commitment to community and quality education, such as specialized residencies like Rural Family Medicine Residency.

Within eight years of its inception, the school has made tremendous strides. They’ve gone from groundbreaking to completing their first permanent structure, the state-of-the-art Kirk Kerkorian Medical Education Building, in the Las Vegas Medical District. This accomplishment was partly fueled by donors’ generous contributions to the Nevada Health & Bioscience Corporation.

The mission of the Kirk Kerkorian School of Medicine at UNLV is to improve access to high-quality health care in Nevada. They aim to increase the number of physicians and trained specialists committed to serving the region, with a focus on diverse and medically underserved populations. Their mission is to serve as a driving force in healthcare, consistently elevating the standards of medical education and patient care. This vision is brought to life through their core values of Striving for Excellence, Driving Innovation, Serving with Compassion and Humility, Demonstrating Inclusion, and Acting with Integrity. The school is fully accredited, ensuring your medical education meets the highest standards.

Tuition and Fees

Understanding the cost of attendance is crucial for prospective medical students. At the Kirk Kerkorian School of Medicine at UNLV, tuition varies based on residency status. For in-state students, the tuition and fees are $35,297, while out-of-state students face a higher cost of $66,063.

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It's important to note that these figures include both tuition and fees, also referred to as the sticker price. Fees differ by institution and may fund library services, student gym facilities, student centers, technology resources and campus health centers.

Compared with the national average cost of in-state tuition of $12,436, University of Nevada--Las Vegas is cheaper. For students coming from out of state, the tuition is cheaper than the national average cost of out-of-state tuition of $29,815.

As you’re comparing costs of different institutions, also consider the total cost and the net price. At University of Nevada--Las Vegas, the total cost is $26,826 for in-state students and $43,782 for out-of-state students.

Additional Fees

University fees support a wide range of essential services and resources that enhance the student experience both inside and outside the classroom. These fees may contribute to technology infrastructure, campus facilities, student support services, academic resources, health and wellness programs, and co-curricular opportunities.

Several specific fees contribute to the overall cost of attendance:

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Instructional and Graphic Design Support Fee: This fee provides instructional and graphic design support to faculty teaching online courses, which directly impacts the student learning experience.
Technology Fee: This fee covers resources and services that support student engagement and learning.
iNtegrate Fee: This fee helps fund MyUNLV and related applications. MyUNLV is the university’s main student information system. Students use it to easily access services they often need to manage the business of being a student.
Rebel Recycling Program Fee: This fee supports the UNLV Rebel Recycling Program operated by staff and student employees.
Student Union and Recreation Fee: This fee, instituted in 2010 with widespread student backing, supports the Student Union and the Student Recreation and Wellness Center.
Orientation Fee: This fee directly supports staff members and student employees who serve as orientation leaders and assistants, all of whom are dedicated to serving students throughout their transition into UNLV.
GPSA Special Fee: This fee contributes to the activities listed in the GPSA Special Fee for graduate students.

Graduate students taking 9 or more credits and law students taking 12 or more credits have an additional fee that funds health care.

A non-refundable $125 graduation and diploma fee, plus $20 if applying late, will post to your student account when you apply for graduation. The graduation and diploma fee will appear for each degree, not each major, for which you apply. The fee supports full-time positions that play a role in reviewing and processing graduation applications.

All students taking undergraduate courses (100-400 level) shall be assessed the undergraduate fees. All students taking graduate courses (600-700 level) shall be assessed the graduate fees. The course charges on this page do not pertain to law students taking courses during a law term or to dental students.

Kirk Kerkorian School of Medicine at UNLV students also incur several specific fees:

Student Recreation and Wellness Center Access: Additional fees apply.
Catastrophic Medical Needs Coverage: Covers more catastrophic medical needs that are not available through the student health center. Annual fee charged to students in years 1, 2, and 3.
Comprehensive Wellness Program: This is an annual fee charged to students for all 4 years. Covers a comprehensive wellness program as well as including instruction in techniques that have been demonstrated to reduce physician burnout and stress.
Certiphi and Magnus Access: Covers access to Certiphi and Magnus which track student compliance with immunization, background checks, drug screens, etc. as required for clinical rotations.
Virtual Anatomy Labs: Covers virtual anatomy and other anatomical imaging learning labs and training equipment.
NBME Customized Assessment Service: Covers the expense for the National Board of Medical Examiners (NBME) Customized Assessment Service’s exams needed for student summative assessment in the curriculum. Charged to students in year 2 and year 3.
Research Project Support: Covers the cost of lab equipment and supplies for research projects and all costs associated with data analysis in the students’ field work.

Cost of Attendance

Cost of attendance is comprised of annual tuition, fees, and cost of living categories. It varies from year to year based upon the academic year length, curriculum and training requirements, and changes to cost of living. Cost of living is calculated on an 11 to 12-month schedule depending on the year of study and assumes a single occupant, one-bedroom apartment at a localized market average rate along with utilities. On campus housing, such as dormitories, is not an option.

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Total Misc. Total Misc. Students are typically eligible for residency by the second year.

Financial Aid and Scholarships

The Kirk Kerkorian School of Medicine at UNLV recognizes the financial challenges of medical education and offers various financial aid and scholarship opportunities.

Federal Student Loans

Medical students are eligible to borrow from the federal Direct Unsubsidized loan program along with the Direct PLUS program if they started medical school by the 2025-2026 academic year or earlier. Students may be eligible for up to $47,167 per academic year from the Direct Unsubsidized program. Direct PLUS has no lifetime maximum and caps at the cost of attendance not covered by scholarships and/or Direct Unsubsidized loans each academic year.

Professional (medical) students may be eligible for up to $50,000 per academic year from the Direct Unsubsidized program. The medical school aggregate limit for this program is $200,000 and does not include undergraduate borrowing, but does include other graduate program borrowing (e.g., master’s, PhD, other doctorate programs or post-bacc).

Students must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to show eligibility for loans and to receive loan disbursements. During onboarding, a financial aid award letter is generated and students may decide what loan funds they wish to take during the academic year. Medical students must submit the FAFSA annually to remain eligible for loan programs and any scholarships they receive. Students should review the Student Aid Report generated by the FAFSA process to ensure information is accurate.

Scholarships

Upon admission, students receive the Kerkorian School of Medicine Application for Scholarships from the Office of Student Financial Services. Scholarship awards can range from one to four years in duration and can be $500 all the way up to covering the cost of tuition and fees. In addition, students may pursue third-party scholarships through national databases and self-driven searches. The School also announces scholarship opportunities as they become available.

Additional Financial Literacy Resources

Additional financial literacy topics are also available from AAMC along with a medical student loans calculator.

Tuition Refund Policies

The Kirk Kerkorian School of Medicine is governed by the tuition refund policies in place through UNLV. These policies provide a tiered refund policy dependent upon the length of time that a student participates in the academic program at the university. Please note that withdrawal prior to the eighth week may result in having to return federal student financial aid (student loan) funds.

Curriculum Overview

The school offers a comprehensive curriculum that prepares students for various branches of medicine, including UNLV Internal Medicine and UNLV Family Medicine.

Phase I - Foundations for Lifelong Learning

Embarking on your journey at Kirk Kerkorian School of Medicine at UNLV means stepping into a curriculum designed not just to impart knowledge, but to shape you into a competent and compassionate physician. The first phase utilizes Problem-Based Learning (PBL) that plunges students into realistic patient scenarios, fostering critical thinking and collaborative skills. Alongside PBL, Team-Based Learning (TBL) supplements your understanding of basic sciences. Here, active participation isn’t just encouraged; it’s essential.

Additionally, the school promotes community immersion through service learning. Students start their hands-on medical training in the simulation center, developing essential practical and analytical skills. In this phase, students also initiate a scholarly project under faculty guidance, offering firsthand experience in research and the scientific method.

Phase II - Core Clerkships & Clinical Proficiency

In the second phase, the curriculum revolves around seven core disciplines: family medicine, internal medicine, neurology, obstetrics/gynecology, pediatrics, psychiatry, and surgery. A unique feature of the program is the six-week “selective” period, providing an opportunity to delve into other medical specializations. Upon completing each core discipline, you’ll be assessed through summative exams, aiming to set you up for a successful performance on the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) Step 2 CK.

Phase III - Tailoring Your Career Path

As graduation draws closer, the curriculum narrows its focus to three pivotal objectives: settling on a medical specialty, building a competitive residency application, and gearing up for the increased responsibilities of a licensed physician. This phase offers a flexible curriculum, where students can select a sub-internship or intensive care unit rotation, complete a Nevada community medicine rotation and a Capstone project. The remaining time is intentionally unscheduled, allowing for residency interviews, further educational pursuits, and some well-deserved leisure time.

Unique Aspects of UNLV SOM

The Kirk Kerkorian School of Medicine at UNLV isn’t just another medical school; it stands out for several reasons:

Community-Centric: All four years include community-based service learning, reflecting the school’s commitment to serving Nevada’s diverse population.
Flexible Clinical Education: Along with core clerkships, students can explore different disciplines through selective rotations.
Innovative Anatomy Learning: A blend of virtual and cadaveric dissection techniques provides a holistic understanding of human anatomy.
Holistic Education: Principles of bioethics, integrative medicine, nutrition, and pain management are seamlessly integrated into the curriculum.
Early Emergency Response Training: The program offers immersive emergency response skills training right from the start.

Application Process

Primary Application Phase

Application Platform: American Medical College Application Service® (AMCAS®)
Earliest Submission Date: May 30, 2023
Application Deadline: October 01, 2023
Application Review Starts: July 01, 2023
Letters of Recommendation via AMCAS®: Yes
- Minimum Number of Letters: 3
- Maximum Number of Letters: 5
- Preferred Letter Writers: Writers should have direct professional experience with the applicant (educational, community, clinical, research, employment, military, etc.), or be from a formal pre-medical committee.
- Additional Requirements: Letters must be official and include signatures.
- Types of Accepted Letters:
  - Committee Letter: Authored by a pre-health committee or advisor to represent your institution’s evaluation. May include other supporting letters.
  - Letter Packet: A set of letters collected and distributed by your institution without an evaluative committee letter.
  - Individual Letters: Letters from single authors. Do not duplicate if already part of a Committee Letter or Letter Packet.

Secondary Application Phase

Requirement: Yes
Application Fee: $75
Fee Waiver: Available
Invitation Policy: By invitation only within 14 days of initial screening.
Deadline: Complete within 14 days of invitation.

Interview Process

First Invitations Sent: August 1, 2023
Format: Standardized, closed file with required video component.
Regional Interviews: Not available
Applicant Interview Data:
- In-State: 173
- Out-of-State: 127
- International: 0
- Total: 300
Interview Day Details: Designated week with asynchronous video, virtual live sessions in small/large groups and 1:1. Optional in-person visits may be available later.

Facilities

Imagine walking into their state-of-the-art Simulation and Clinical Skills Center where standardized patients, virtual reality, and computerized simulations come together to form a training ground for budding physicians. Guided by renowned experts, you can explore a multitude of specializations, be it UNLV’s rural family medicine residency, ENT, or Endocrinology.

Their Virtual Anatomy Lab is a marvel in itself. It employs a Sectra table to take you through the human body from macro to microdissection. You can scrutinize CT and MRI scans as if you were peering into the human body itself, while the school’s Prosection Lab allows you to delve deeper into advanced cadaver dissection, led by knowledgeable faculty. Here, you can observe Dr. Jocelyn Burke, an assistant professor specializing in robotic foregut surgery and a member of the Robotics Committee of the American Foregut Society, as she combines her clinical knowledge with cutting-edge technology to teach you about gastrointestinal disorders.

Their interactive Dr. Barbara Atkinson Forum allows students to engage in keynote sessions and discussions, named in honor of the Founding Dean and her immeasurable contributions to the school. Learning Studios facilitate a variety of educational settings equipped with top-notch display and AV technology. Level three focuses on Problem-Based Learning and Academic Success, combining critical thinking with test preparation, facilitated by a comprehensive support center for counseling and peer tutoring.

The school is also home to specialized programs such as the Down Syndrome Program, which works in collaboration with the UNLV Department of Physical Therapy. This initiative aims to improve the healthcare and well-being of those with Down syndrome through evidence-based care and innovative research opportunities.

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