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ABLE Program

ABLE Program

Click here for ABLE Program cost of attendance

The Advanced Baccalaureate Learning Experience (ABLE) program is a year-long (Fall & Spring) preparatory program that does not in itself lead to a degree.  

  • As a preparatory program, ABLE students who complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and have not exceeded their undergraduate aggregate loan limits may be eligible for loan assistance under the Federal Direct Loans Program.
  • Students may be eligible for up to $12,500 in Federal Direct Loans for the year if you are an independent student or $5,500 if you are still a dependent student at the undergraduate eligibility levels.  
  • The program is not eligible for Federal, State, or MSU scholarships such as the Pell Grant and PLUS Loan Program. Michigan Achievement Scholarship, or Spartan Tuition Advantage.
  • Scholarships in the form of a stipend may be available from the College of Human Medicine.

Important Notes:  

Before committing to the ABLE Program, we want you to understand your funding options:

  • You may need to consider private loans (see below), savings, and family assistance to fund your expenses for the program.    
  • Funding is only available for the fall and spring semesters during the program. You will need to plan to cover summer expenses before starting your medical program in the fall if accepted.
  • It is important to understand your funding options carefully, so you are not caught by surprise when bills arrive.  

Contact the Office of Financial Aid

We encourage ABLE students to contact the Office of Financial Aid OFAMED team regarding your financial aid questions or concerns at ofamed@msu.edu. 

Apply for financial aid

Submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) at fafsa.gov and release the results to MSU (our school code is 002290).

Private (Alternative) Loans

Private educational loans are available from several lenders for students whose cost of attendance has not been met with other financial aid. The FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) is normally not required to apply for a private loan. 

Michigan State University has partnered with ELMSelect to offer a tool that will help students and families. ELMSelect has collected all private lenders used by MSU students in the past five years. This tool allows you to select lenders that specialize in your area of study, and to compare rates and conditions in order to select the loan product that best fits your need.