Anatomy Fellows
8 fellows × $101,100
$808,800
Tuition + all living costs
The Numbers Behind the Crisis
Quantifying the financial harm — and making the stakes clear
What These Students Need
The annual cost of attendance for a fourth-year DO student at KCU is $101,100, comprised of:
| Cost Category | Amount |
|---|---|
| Tuition (2026–2027 academic year) | $59,030 |
| Required Fees (Activity + Academic Support) | $4,230 |
| Total Non-Tuition Costs (fees + living + clerkship travel + health insurance + transportation) | $42,070 |
| TOTAL PER ANATOMY FELLOW | $101,100 |
| TOTAL PER OMM FELLOW (tuition waiver intact) | $42,070 |
Total Funding Need by Group
OMM Fellows
7 fellows × $42,070
$294,490
Living costs + fees only; tuition waiver intact
Grand Total
15 fellows · 2026–27 academic year
$1,103,290
Every dollar goes directly to tuition and cost-of-living support
The June 30 Deadline
The urgency is not hypothetical. The first tuition installment for all eight Anatomy Fellows is due June 30, 2026 — weeks away. Per fellow, the first payment breaks down as:
| Tuition — First Installment | $29,515 |
| Activity Fee | $35 |
| Academic Support Fee | $2,080 |
| Total due June 30 per Anatomy Fellow | $31,630 |
| Total due June 30 for all 8 Anatomy Fellows | $253,040 |
Why Private Loans Are Not a Real Solution
KCU's only offer to these students is to seek private loans. Here is why that is not a viable path for most:
Private medical school loans currently carry interest rates of 11–13% annually
Monthly repayment obligations: $1,000–$1,500 per month
A first-year resident physician earns approximately $60,000–$70,000 per year — roughly $5,166 per month before taxes. Private loan repayment would consume more than 25% of gross monthly income — in addition to existing federal loan obligations accumulated over four prior years of medical school
Unlike federal loans, private loans do not qualify for Income-Driven Repayment plans, Public Service Loan Forgiveness, or other federal protections
Many fellows lack the credit history, income profile, or access to co-signers needed to qualify for these loans at all
Several fellows are parents supporting young children; for these individuals, the financial stakes extend beyond their own circumstances to family stability and children's welfare
Fourth-year students rotate through clinical sites across the country — Kansas City, Joplin, Denver, Phoenix, Sarasota, Detroit — in locations determined by the program, not by the student. Housing costs vary significantly and cannot be controlled. The cost-of-living figures represent conservative institutional estimates that may understate the actual burden for students in higher-cost cities.
What Happens If This Goes Unfunded
Interrupted Education
Fellows who cannot qualify for private loans may be forced to interrupt or permanently withdraw from their medical programs - in their final year.
Unsustainable Debt
Those who do qualify for private loans will face unsustainable debt burdens during residency, with long-term consequences for financial stability, mental health, specialty selection, and practice location.
Systemic Impact
The precedent set will deter future students from pursuing pre-doctoral fellowships, reducing the pipeline of teaching-committed physicians.
The Finish Line Is in Sight
These 15 students are in their final year. Your support gets them across.
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