The TCU Burnett School of Medicine at TCU Class of 2026 received an early graduation gift of $1.8 million.
The $1.8 million anonymous gift will cover the final semester of tuition for all 60 students in the class of 2026.
This contribution continues a growing tradition of donor-funded tuition support that has been common since the Burnett School of Medicine was founded in 2019.
Students, many of whom are working across the country in preparation for residency matches this March, learned about the gift during a Zoom call with Dean Stuart D. Flynn, M.D.
“Most of them are traveling around the country doing away rotations to compete for residency spots,” said Prescotte Stokes, the assistant director for digital development and content strategy for the Burnett School of Medicine.
According to the Education Data Initiative, the average medical school debt balance in the United States has increased over the past decade. In 2024, the U.S. number climbed to $212,341, while the average debt of Burnett School of Medicine students sat at $170,393, according to an MSAR report.
The total cost of attendance for a single student’s full academic year in the Burnett School of Medicine class of 2026 is $111,506.
This anonymous gift lifts a heavy burden, according to fourth-year Burnett School of Medicine student Courtney Franz.
“This is just one less thing that you have to carry with you every day. I can just really focus on caring for patients,” said Franz.
Since its 2019 inaugural class, the Burnett School of Medicine has seen an ongoing pattern of scholarship contributions.
In 2019, the class of 2023 was provided full first-year tuition through the H. Paul Dorman Charter Scholarship Program.
In 2021, an anonymous couple funded full tuition for the 2021-22 academic year for all 60 students in the class of 2024. An anonymous family donation also covered the class of 2024’s next academic year, 2022-23.
Another anonymous donor family introduced merit-based awards in 2024. Eligible students enrolled in the Burnett School of Medicine were able to receive up to $20,000 to help cover tuition.
These gifts sparked a tradition of giving that runs strong through the Burnett School of Medicine and motivates its current students.
Cort Ewing, a fourth-year Burnett School of Medicine student, said, “I think that it’s really inspiring, and I’m really grateful that we have people here to support us. I can’t wait until I’m in a position one day to do that for the school and for future students.”
Another fourth-year student, Mariah Drown, said, “It’s just something I’ve never experienced in any other place I’ve lived, and I just feel really fortunate to be a part of that community.”
Tuition support allows students to fully focus on their professional development while alleviating financial stress. In turn, the Burnett School of Medicine has successfully matched 100% of previous classes to residency programs, according to a TCU press release.
With this year’s donation, the pattern of selfless gifts continues to empower future doctors at the Burnett School of Medicine.
