Washington, D.C. – Pathway to Medicine

Healthcare education in Washington, D.C.

Washington, D.C., is home to 3 medical schools: George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Georgetown University School of Medicine, and Howard University College of Medicine. Howard is one of four historically Black medical schools in the United States and has trained a significant proportion of Black physicians nationally. The District’s concentration of federal agencies, national health organizations, and policy institutions makes it uniquely suited for students interested in health policy and public health.

Washington, D.C. is home to 3 MD schools.

Pipeline programs and pre-med resources

George Washington University offers a 7-year combined BA/MD program (one of the oldest in the country) with a MCAT-waived pathway for exceptional high school applicants.

Howard University College of Medicine offers a 6-year combined BS/MD program and multiple pipeline programs for underrepresented students interested in medicine, including summer enrichment programs.

Georgetown University School of Medicine emphasizes community service and cura personalis (care of the whole person). Georgetown’s location provides clinical training at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital and multiple affiliated sites throughout the D.C. metropolitan area.

The D.C. area offers extensive clinical volunteering, research, and policy internship opportunities through NIH (Bethesda), Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, the VA Medical Center, and numerous nonprofit health organizations headquartered in D.C.

For students in Washington, D.C., we recommend starting with our level-specific guides: Middle School, High School, or Undergraduate. See also our What Is Pre-Med? and Pre-Med Requirements pages.

Scholarships and loan repayment

DC Tuition Assistance Grant (DC TAG)

Provides up to $10,000 per year (up to $50,000 total) for D.C. residents attending public universities outside D.C., and up to $2,500 per year for private universities. This effectively gives D.C. residents in-state-equivalent tuition at public universities nationwide. Details through the Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE).

DC Health Professional Loan Repayment

D.C. offers loan repayment for healthcare providers serving in underserved D.C. communities. Check current programs through the D.C. Department of Health.

For federal programs available in all states, see our Income-Driven Repayment, PSLF Guide, and Military Medical Scholarships pages.

Medical schools in Washington, D.C.

George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences (MD, Washington) | Website
Georgetown University School of Medicine (MD, Washington) | Website
Howard University College of Medicine (MD, Washington) | Website

For complete data including application systems and school details, see our Medical Schools Database and filter by state.

Help us improve this page

If you know of a Washington, D.C.-specific program, scholarship, or resource that should be listed here, please use the Contact Us form or the “Share Your Thoughts” button. We update state pages regularly based on community input.

Last verified: March 2026