Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine: $11,131 Tuition

$11,131Tuition

63Students

Private nonprofit4-yearData: 2023-24

About Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine

Geisinger Commonwealth trains future doctors with a laser focus on serving rural Pennsylvania and other underserved areas. This medical school enrolls just 63 students in Scranton, creating an intimate learning environment where future physicians develop both clinical skills and a commitment to community health. The school emerged from Geisinger Health System's recognition that rural communities desperately need more primary care doctors.

Students pay $11,131 annually regardless of residency status, making this one of the most affordable medical schools in the country. Most private medical schools charge over $60,000 per year, putting Geisinger Commonwealth's tuition at roughly one-sixth the national average. This pricing reflects the school's mission to remove financial barriers that might prevent students from choosing primary care careers in underserved areas.

Women comprise over 92% of the student body, reflecting broader trends in medical education where female enrollment has surged. The 5:1 student-faculty ratio ensures intensive mentoring and hands-on learning opportunities. White students make up nearly 86% of enrollment, with limited racial diversity across other groups. The school operates on a non-traditional calendar system designed around clinical rotations and community-based learning experiences that prepare graduates for real-world primary care practice.

Academics & Faculty

Geisinger Commonwealth trains future doctors specifically for primary care work in rural and underserved areas. The school maintains a 5:1 student-faculty ratio with just 63 students, creating an intensely personalized medical education experience. This tiny cohort means every student gets direct mentorship from faculty. The curriculum emphasizes community medicine and preparing physicians who will serve populations that struggle to access healthcare. Students train extensively in family medicine, internal medicine, and pediatrics rather than specialized fields. The school partners with Geisinger Health System to provide hands-on clinical training throughout Pennsylvania's smaller communities. Nearly 93% of students are women, reflecting national trends in primary care medicine.

Source: College Scorecard / U.S. Department of Education

Student-to-Faculty Ratio: 5:1
Full-Time Faculty: 96.3%
Carnegie Classification: Associate College (Mixed)

Popular Programs by Earnings

Popular programs by earnings
Program	Level	Median Earnings
Medicine.	Doctoral	$58,426
Biology, General.	Master	$17,859

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Campus Life

This small medical school enrolls just 63 students, creating an intimate learning environment where everyone knows each other. The 5:1 student-faculty ratio means you'll work closely with professors who can provide individual mentorship. Women make up 92% of the student body, reflecting the school's focus on training primary care physicians who often serve underserved communities.

Scranton sits in northeastern Pennsylvania's mountains, about two hours from Philadelphia and New York City. You'll need heavy winter coats for snowy winters that can last into March. The campus operates on a unique calendar system designed around medical training cycles rather than traditional semesters. Most students live off-campus in apartments throughout Scranton, a former coal mining city of 76,000 people. Weekends often involve study groups given the intensive curriculum, though students explore nearby hiking trails in the Pocono Mountains or catch Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders baseball games. The school's mission emphasizes rural medicine, so students frequently volunteer at local health clinics and community health fairs.

Setting: City-Small
Calendar System: Other

Campus Safety (2023)

23 total reported incidents. Source: Clery Act / U.S. Department of Education

Campus safety incidents by location
Offense	On Campus	Residential	Noncampus	Public Property
Fondling	7	0	0	0
Aggravated Assault	6	0	0	0
Burglary	4	0	0	0
Domestic Violence	3	0	0	0
Motor Vehicle Theft	2	0	0	0
Robbery	1	0	0	0

Climate & Weather

January Avg: 20°–35°F
July Avg: 62°–84°F
Annual Precipitation: 38.7"
Annual Snowfall: 45.1"

Student Demographics

The student body at Geisinger Commonwealth reflects the school's mission to train primary care doctors for underserved areas. Women make up over 90% of students, mirroring national trends toward female dominance in primary care specialties. The small enrollment of just 63 students creates an intimate learning environment with a 5:1 student-faculty ratio. The predominantly white student body suggests the school draws heavily from Pennsylvania's rural communities, which aligns with its focus on training physicians who will return to serve these same underserved regions after graduation.

Men: 7.9%
Women: 92.1%
White: 85.7%
Black: 1.6%
Hispanic: 0.0%
Asian: 4.8%

Location

Scranton sits in northeastern Pennsylvania's coal country, about 120 miles from New York City and 110 miles from Philadelphia. The city of 76,000 anchors the Lackawanna Valley, surrounded by the Pocono Mountains and Endless Mountains regions. Former mining communities dot the landscape, creating the exact rural and underserved settings where Geisinger Commonwealth trains its future doctors. The area blends small-city amenities with easy access to outdoor recreation and agricultural communities. Scranton's blue-collar heritage and proximity to medically underserved populations make it an ideal location for a school focused on primary care training. Students considering colleges in Pennsylvania may also compare Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine with similar schools in the region.

Address: Scranton, Pennsylvania 18509

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the student-faculty ratio at Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine?

The school maintains a 5:1 student-faculty ratio with just 63 total students. This intimate setting allows for intensive mentorship as students train to become primary care physicians serving rural and underserved communities.

How much does Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine cost for tuition?

Annual tuition costs $11,131 for both in-state and out-of-state students. This relatively low cost for medical school reflects the institution's mission to train doctors who will serve communities that often lack adequate healthcare access.

What type of doctors does Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine train?

The school specializes in training primary care physicians with 92.06% of students being women. The curriculum emphasizes preparing doctors to work in rural and underserved communities where healthcare shortages are most critical.

Where is Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine located?

The medical school operates in Scranton, Pennsylvania, a small city setting. This location provides students with exposure to both urban and rural healthcare challenges that they will likely encounter in their future practice.

What is the demographic breakdown at Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine?

The student body is 85.71% white and 4.76% Asian, with very limited racial diversity overall. The school's small size of 63 students means each incoming class represents just a handful of future physicians.

Does Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine follow a traditional academic calendar?

The school operates on an "Other" calendar system rather than the typical semester or quarter format. This specialized scheduling likely reflects the unique clinical training requirements and rotations needed for medical education.