By: Kari Bernard, PhD, PA-C
Director, Doctor of Medical Science Program at the College of Idaho
Your Guide to Paying for a DMSc
Covering the cost of a doctorate can seem tough at first, but you’ve got choices. With a little planning and some lesser-known resources, you can make tuition and other costs more manageable.
- Employer Funding: Your workplace might help pay for school.
- CME Funding: Programs that grant continuing medical education (CME) credit for coursework can make financing easier. Check if your employer allows CME or professional development funds to be applied toward tuition.
- Tuition reimbursement: Some healthcare organizations pay back part or all of your tuition, often through direct or third-party programs.
- Scholarships: Employers may provide professional development scholarships for advanced degrees.
- Paid academic leave: Certain employers, like one in Anchorage, AK, grant up to 80 hours of paid study time per semester.
- Military Benefits: If you or your family have served in the military, there may be funding available for advanced education.
- GI Bill: The Department of Veterans Affairs offers GI Bill benefits to help pay for tuition, books, fees, and even housing while you’re in school. Learn more and check eligibility at va.gov/education.
- Additional support: Programs like Tuition Assistance Top-Up can fill tuition gaps beyond GI Bill coverage. The Spouse Education Assistance Program helps spouses of active-duty service members fund advanced education.
- Federal Financial Aid: Many graduate students can apply for federal student loans to help cover tuition and related costs.
- Explore options and eligibility at https://studentaid.gov/
- Payment plans: Some graduate programs make paying easier by offering monthly payment plans, either through the school or a third-party provider.
- Scholarships: Scholarships can help reduce tuition costs and some DMSc programs offer their own awards. Additionally, many national, state, and community organizations, along with special interest groups, provide funding for advanced education.
The U.S. Department of Labor’s CareerOneStop scholarship finder is a useful place to begin your search.
The College of Idaho’s Commitment to Affordable Higher Education
- Since its founding in 1891, The College of Idaho (C of I) has maintained a strong commitment to making higher education affordable. The Doctor of Medical Science (DMSc) program reflects this priority by offering several funding options to help reduce the cost of earning an advanced degree:
- Category 1 CME:
- DMSc students receive up to 36 hours of Category 1 CME for completing DMSc coursework.
- Employer Funding:
- The College of Idaho works closely with employers who provide tuition reimbursement and other employer support.
- Military Benefits:
- DMSc students at C of I may use VA benefits like the GI Bill and other military funding to pay for their doctorate degree.
- Federal Financial Aid:
- Our semester-based program allows DMSc students to participate in federal financial aid programs.
- Interest Free Monthly Payment Plan:
- C of I works with Nelnet, an interest free payment plan program. After paying a reasonable enrollment fee, DMSc students make monthly tuition payments rather than larger lump sums each semester.
- Scholarships: The DMSc programs offers several scholarships to honor our regional affiliations, national collaborations, and military service.
- Idaho Legacy of Healing Scholarship – eligible applicants are graduates of the Idaho State University PA program or preceptors who take 3 or more ISU PA students per academic year. Adjunct, affiliate, or faculty who are less than 0.5 FTE also qualify.
- WWAMI Healthcare Steward Scholarship - eligible applicants are graduates of the University of Washington MEDEX Northwest PA program or preceptors who take students for 2 or more months per academic year.
- PA Military Service Scholarship- eligible applicants are active duty soldiers, reservists, National Guard, or veteran PAs.
- PA Clinical Leadership Scholarship – members of affiliate organizations, including the Society of Emergency Medicine PAs, are eligible for this scholarship.
Affordable doctoral education is within reach. Explore the Doctor of Medical Science degree at the College of Idaho today.
Register for an upcoming Virtual Info Session or explore our DMSc program online to learn more about our specialty tracks and accelerated pathways.