Applying to Med School? Save Over $1,400 With AAMC Fee Assistance

Applying to medical school can get expensive before you even step into a classroom. Between the MCAT, application fees, and test preparation materials, the costs can add up quickly.

If you’re worried about affording those expenses, the AAMC Fee Assistance Program (FAP) may be able to help.

Eligible applicants can receive more than $1,400 in potential savings through reduced exam fees, waived medical school application fees, and free preparation resources.

The program is administered by the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC), which also manages the MCAT and AMCAS application service.

Here’s how the program works, who qualifies, and what you need to know before applying.

What Is the AAMC Fee Assistance Program?

The AAMC Fee Assistance Program helps aspiring medical students who might otherwise struggle to afford the medical school application process.

Instead of giving applicants a cash grant, the program reduces or eliminates certain fees associated with applying to medical school.

Approved applicants may receive assistance with MCAT registration, AMCAS application fees, preparation materials, and other services.

The program also provides some benefits that may be useful later in medical training.

However, you must be approved before using the benefits. AAMC does not reimburse fees paid before approval.

Who Qualifies for the AAMC Fee Assistance Program?

To qualify for the 2026 program, you must meet all of the following requirements:

• Have a U.S.-based home address. You must provide acceptable documentation proving your current permanent U.S. address.
• Meet the income requirements. Each household reported on your application must have a 2025 total family income at or below 400% of the 2025 federal poverty guidelines for its family size.
• Be preparing to apply to medical school. You cannot currently be accepted to or enrolled in a medical school, including U.S. MD, DO, or international programs.
• Not be a medical school graduate.
• Not be preparing to apply for residency.

AAMC makes an exception for applicants who were previously accepted to medical school but formally withdrew, provided they meet the other eligibility requirements.

You can review the complete rules on AAMC’s official eligibility page.

What Are the Income Limits for 2026?

AAMC uses 2025 federal poverty guidelines to determine eligibility for its 2026 Fee Assistance Program.

Each required household must have a 2025 total family income at or below 400% of the applicable poverty guideline.

For the 48 contiguous states, Washington, D.C., and U.S. territories, the income limits are:

Higher income limits apply in Alaska and Hawaii.

These limits are based on federal poverty guidelines, not Area Median Income (AMI).

Important: If AAMC requires both your household information and your parents’ household information, each household must qualify separately.

For example, having a low personal income doesn’t automatically make you eligible if your parents’ household income exceeds the applicable limit.

Do You Have to Provide Your Parents’ Income?

This is one of the most important requirements to understand before applying.

If you’re under age 26 when you submit your application, AAMC generally requires your parents’ financial information and supporting tax documents.

This requirement applies even if:

• You’re married.
• You file your own taxes.
• Your parents don’t claim you as a dependent.
• You support yourself financially.
• Your parents live outside the United States.
• Your parents are unwilling to provide their financial information.

If you’re 26 or older when you submit your application, parental financial information is not required.

AAMC also provides specific guidance for applicants whose parents are deceased or who have unusual family circumstances.

Before applying, review the official parental information requirements.

How Much Can You Save?

The AAMC Fee Assistance Program provides several benefits that can reduce the cost of applying to medical school.

According to AAMC’s official 2026 benefits page, approved applicants may receive the following assistance.

1. Save $210 on MCAT Registration

The regular MCAT registration fee is $355.

With Fee Assistance Program approval, eligible applicants pay $145 instead of $355.

That’s a savings of $210.

The MCAT fee is discounted, not completely waived.

2. Get Up to $1,092 in AMCAS Application Fees Waived

Applying to multiple medical schools can become expensive quickly.

The Fee Assistance Program waives AMCAS application fees for one application submission covering up to 20 medical schools.

AAMC values this benefit at $1,092.

However, there are important limitations:

• The waiver covers one AMCAS submission.
• You can designate up to 20 medical schools.
• Schools beyond the first 20 require additional fees.
• Unused school designations cannot be carried into another application cycle.

The waiver applies to AMCAS fees, not necessarily every additional fee charged directly by individual medical schools.

3. Get Free Official MCAT Preparation Materials

Approved applicants can receive the MCAT Official Prep Online-Only Bundle at no cost.

This includes AAMC’s online MCAT preparation products.

These resources may help you prepare without purchasing the same materials separately.

You must actively select the preparation benefit through your AAMC account to receive access.

4. Get Free Access to the MSAR Database

The Medical School Admission Requirements (MSAR) database helps prospective students research and compare medical schools.

Approved applicants receive a complimentary two-year subscription, valued at $41, after activating the benefit.

This resource can help you compare schools’ admissions requirements and other information before deciding where to apply.

5. Save on the AAMC PREview Exam

The program also provides assistance with the AAMC PREview professional readiness exam.

Eligible applicants receive:

• A waiver of the $100 registration fee for their first PREview exam.
• A 50% discount on subsequent registrations.

AAMC specifies that the 2026 PREview benefit applies to the 2026 testing year.

Approved applicants can also access the PREview Scored Practice Exam at no cost after selecting the preparation benefit.

6. Additional Benefits for Accommodations and Future Residency Applications

Some applicants may qualify for financial assistance toward an updated medical or psychoeducational evaluation needed to support an MCAT accommodations request.

The program also includes a 60% discount on up to 50 ERAS residency applications for eligible former Fee Assistance Program recipients when they reach that stage of medical training.

This is a future benefit. It does not mean current medical students can newly apply for FAP just to obtain residency application discounts.

How Much Are the Benefits Worth?

Four of the program’s benefits have clearly stated dollar values:

This total doesn’t include the additional value of free preparation materials or other possible benefits.

The $1,443 is potential savings, not a cash award. Your actual savings depend on which services you use and whether you’re eligible to use them during the applicable period.

How Do You Apply?

Applications are submitted through your AAMC account.

Here’s the general process:

1. Visit the official AAMC Fee Assistance Program page.
2. Sign in to your existing AAMC account or create a new one.
3. Read the 2026 Fee Assistance Program Essentials, which AAMC requires applicants to review.
4. Complete the online Fee Assistance Program application.
5. Provide your personal, household, and financial information.
6. Upload or submit the required supporting documents.
7. Wait for AAMC to review your application and determine eligibility.

You may need to provide federal tax returns, W-2 forms, 1099 forms, or other income documentation.

Applicants under 26 should also prepare the required parental financial documentation.

You can review AAMC’s application document checklist before getting started.

What Documents Prove Your U.S. Address?

AAMC requires proof of your current permanent U.S. address.

Your documentation must include your full name and address.

An identification document must be unexpired, while other accepted address documents generally must have been issued within 60 days before submission.

Check AAMC’s approved documentation list before uploading anything.

Apply Before Paying for the MCAT or AMCAS

One of the biggest mistakes you can make is paying for services before your Fee Assistance Program application is approved.

AAMC benefits are not retroactive.

That means:

• You won’t receive a refund for an MCAT registration fee paid before approval.
• Previously paid PREview fees aren’t refunded.
• Previously purchased preparation materials aren’t reimbursed.
• You cannot apply your AMCAS fee waiver to an AMCAS application submitted before FAP approval.

Because the review process takes time, it’s worth applying as early as possible.

However, AAMC also warns that it isn’t responsible for MCAT or medical school application deadlines missed while waiting for a Fee Assistance Program decision.

Is the 2026 Fee Assistance Program Still Open?

As of October 8, 2026, AAMC’s official Fee Assistance Program page shows that applications are being processed.

The status update says AAMC is processing applications that reached Submitted and Pending Verification status on October 6.

That confirms the program is actively reviewing applications.

However, the exact closing date for the 2026 Fee Assistance Program application period has not been confirmed here.

Applicants should check the official program page and their AAMC account for the latest application availability and instructions.

When Do the Benefits Expire?

If your Fee Assistance Program application is approved during calendar year 2026, your benefits generally expire on December 31, 2027.

However, individual benefits have their own restrictions.

For example, the 2026 PREview benefit applies to the 2026 testing year, and AMCAS fee waivers are limited to one application submission.

December 31, 2027, is the general benefit expiration date, not the 2026 application deadline.

Can You Apply More Than Once?

AAMC allows applicants to apply once per calendar year and receive Fee Assistance Program awards a maximum of five times during their lifetime.

You must meet the eligibility requirements each time you apply.

If you receive another award in a later calendar year, unused benefits from your earlier award expire when the new award is approved.

Relief Recap

Medical school applications can be expensive, but you may not have to cover every fee yourself.

The AAMC Fee Assistance Program offers eligible applicants more than $1,400 in potential savings, including discounted MCAT registration, waived AMCAS fees for up to 20 schools in one submission, free preparation materials, and additional benefits.

To qualify, you’ll need to meet AAMC’s income, residency-address, and medical school application requirements. Applicants under 26 generally must also provide parental financial information.

Most importantly, apply before paying for your exams or submitting AMCAS, because benefits aren’t retroactive.

If you’re planning to apply to medical school and money is a concern, visit the official AAMC Fee Assistance Program website to review the requirements and get started.