New York University said Thursday it would offer all its current and future medical school students free tuition in an effort to tackle soaring debt levels and encourage more applicants. The move - which it said was financed by the generosity of the university's "trustees, alumni, and friends," amounts to a reduction of $55,018 in annual fees, regardless of financial needs or academic merit.
It does not cover living and administrative costs averaging $27,000 a year.
"A population as diverse as ours is best served by doctors from all walks of life, we believe, and aspiring physicians and surgeons should not be prevented from pursuing a career in medicine because of the prospect of overwhelming financial debt," said Dr. Robert Grossman, dean of the NYU School of Medicine.
In its statement, NYU also pointed out that high student debt was putting graduates off pursuing less lucrative specializations including pediatrics and obstetrics and gynecology.
According to the Association of American Medical Colleges, the median debt of a graduating medical student in the US is $202,000 - while 21 percent of doctors who graduate from a private school such as NYU face over $300,000.
"Our hope - and expectation - is that by making medical school accessible to a broader range of applicants, we will be a catalyst for transforming medical education nationwide," said Kenneth Langone, chair of the Board of Trustees of NYU Langone Health.
Thursday's announcement came as a surprise ending to the school's annual white coat ceremony, which marks the start of first-year students' medical careers.
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