Physicians are increasingly uncertain if their career choice was worth the debt they took on for training — and some of them would not choose medicine again under new federal caps on student loans, according to new data from Panacea Financial shared with Becker’s.
The survey included responses from 270 physicians and was conducted in early 2026.
Here are six takeaways from the survey:
1. Only 47% of physicians said they would still choose medicine again under the new federal loan cap policy. Another 27% said they would not choose medicine again, while 26% were unsure.
2. Paying of debt was the single most common financial priority named by respondents, cited by 79% as their top goal.
3. Debt repayment ranked above retirement savings, homebuying and investing as priorities. Among those paying down debt, 88% identified student loans as the primary burden.
4. Of physicians who said they struggle to balance loan repayment with other financial goals, 37% were already in practice, a sign that higher attending salaries do not automatically resolve debt-driven financial stress.
5. Financial confidence among physicians also remains low. On a five-point scale, 71$ of respondents rated their financial confidence as a 3 or below. physicians actively in practice averaged just 3.27 out of 5, and medical students averaged 2.33, with residents and fellows averaging 2.63.
6. Forty-six percent of respondents said they do not fully understand their loan repayment, forgiveness or refinancing options.
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