New state support expands medical school access for Virginia students
Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine’s in-state tuition rate reduced by more than 23 percent to support Virginians becoming physicians and building careers in the commonwealth.
A new state investment in the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine will lower the cost of medical education for Virginia students more than 23 percent, support workforce-focused training programs, and position the school to expand its role in addressing the commonwealth’s physician workforce needs.
Virginia’s governor and General Assembly approved $6.5 million in recurring annual operating support for the medical school, marking the first continuing state investment that allows the school to offer an in-state tuition rate as it pursues strategic enrollment growth.
The Virginia Tech Board of Visitors approved a $15,000 reduction per year in the medical school's state resident tuition rate, lowering it 23.4 percent from the nonresident rate. The new in-state tuition rate is effective for fall semester 2026.
“As we thoughtfully planned for impactful growth at the medical school, Virginia Tech’s mission as a land-grant institution was extremely important,” said Lee Learman, dean of medical school. “This partnership with the commonwealth to support in-state tuition will mean more Virginians have the opportunity to pursue medical education right here at home.”
Expanding opportunity for Virginians
Since opening in 2010, Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine has intentionally remained small while building a reputation for innovative medical education. The school has begun increasing its class size as part of a carefully planned expansion, and the new recurring state support will help ensure that growth also creates more affordable opportunities for Virginia residents.
“This state support will create real opportunity for the commonwealth’s best and brightest to pursue their dreams as physician thought leaders and serve the health of our communities,” said Melanie Prusakowski, associate dean of admissions at the medical school.
Learman said the goal is to increase the share of Virginia students in each class to approximately half while strengthening the state’s physician workforce.
“Sixty percent of Virginia residents who attend medical school leave the state for their education. Clearly there is a need for more medical school opportunities for Virginians,” Learman said. “If we can retain more of them through in-state options that are affordable, we can play a greater role in supporting workforce development.”
The school also plans to use funding to help develop accelerated three-year pathways into residency, expand primary care training, and strengthen rural health programs designed to prepare physicians for areas with the greatest need.
Building the physician workforce
Learman said recruiting students from Virginia is only one piece of a broader workforce strategy.
“We’ll have more of our own graduates serving the commonwealth and our region over time,” he said. “They’re more likely to practice here if they’ve had an experience in Roanoke, either by being a medical student here or by being a resident afterward.”
Virginia, like many states, faces physician shortages across specialties and geographic regions.
“The states that are able to create more in-state medical graduates, residency positions, and incentives are more likely to keep their workforce rather than seeing the people they’ve trained find homes in other states,” Learman said.
Philanthropic support for in-state students
The state funding comes at a time when substantial philanthropic support is also being dedicated to supporting Virginians at Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine. Earlier this year, Jim ’74 and Augustine ’71 Smith made the largest scholarship gift in Virginia Tech’s history, committing to a $20 million scholarship endowment for the medical school. The scholarships will prioritize students from Virginia, particularly those from rural communities with financial need.
The medical school’s strong focus on research as well as its impact on rural communities played a pivotal role in the Smiths’ decision to support it.
“The opportunity to contribute to a medical education that incorporates research into the curriculum caught my interest,” said Jim Smith, who grew up in Roanoke as did Augustine. “This was a unique chance to enhance our research capabilities and our health care delivery to rural areas. Investing in the education of our most talented young people, I viewed as money well spent.”
Combined with in-state tuition, the scholarships are expected to significantly reduce the cost of earning a medical degree for many Virginia students.
For Learman, the investment represents more than a funding milestone. It’s an opportunity to fulfill the medical school’s mission while addressing one of Virginia’s most pressing challenges.
“When talented students can pursue medical education close to home, they’re more likely to build careers here,” he said. “This investment strengthens our ability to educate the next generation of physicians and ultimately improve access to care for communities across the commonwealth.”
