Medical school financing 1991-1992: comparing seven different types of schools

Medical schools are often thought of as relatively homogeneous entities with similar financial and structural characteristics. In fact, they are of several types. For this report, the authors group the 126 accredited U.S. medical schools that share at least one key characteristic (e.g., being community-based) into seven groups, provide an analysis of the differences in revenue patterns for the groups, examine intragroup differences, and present detailed information about the student financial aid that all schools provide. The data used in this analysis were derived from the schools' responses to the Part 1A and the Part 1B questionnaires of the Liaison Committee on Medical Education for the academic year 1991-92. The results of the analysis indicate that there were substantial differences in the financial structures both within and between the groups studied. The differences suggest that generalizations regarding how medical schools will be affected by impending changes in health care reform are likely to be tenuous at best.