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$230K for MPA/MPH Program


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I am a prospective PA student who was offered an interview at Touro Mare Island. From my research, most of the current programs would put me in debt at the range of $70k-$120K, which is doable. However, Touro Mare Island's breakdown tuition is about $230K including room and board, approximately 18-20K a year. I feel that this is very harsh for a PA Program, granted it is a combined 3 years program for a masters in PA and public health. I have no debt from my undergrad. My priority is to get accepted into a PA program, but I am considering if it is worth it for this type of price range. It's as high as med school tuition although i have no desire of going to med school. Has anyone ever been in this high range of debts from school and how did you tackle it? Any advice is greatly appreciated. 

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A $230K debt with a 6% fixed rate would cost you close to $2,600 per month. With a PA salary that is doable but you need to consider whether you will have a mortgage loan, car loans, college savings for kids, retirement savings, etc. I know MDs, dental specialists and some others who have had that kind of debt along with annual earnings well in excess of $175K. Do you think your earnings will merit that kind of debt? Why not skip the public health degree for now and see if you want it later in life. At that point you may want a doctorate?

 

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I'm doing a combined PA/MPH program and will have roughly that amount of debt after 3 years.  It's not ideal and certainly something to consider.  Personally this is my second career so I wanted to complete both degrees at once to *hopefully* be done with school for a long while.  I thoroughly enjoy getting both degrees at once; I think it's a unique experience that will enhance my PA education in a way that completing the MPH later may not achieve.

 

Some of my classmates know that having the MPH is key to how they want to practice after school - places like the CDC, NIH, and Doctors without Borders basically require both (DOB will hire an MPH and you can use your PA skills, but they won't hire a PA exclusively).

 

Obviously these programs wouldn't exist if no one could afford them, so it can be done.  Rumor has it that having the MPH *may* garner you a higher PA wage depending on where you work, but I have no data to back that up.  It's all a personal choice.  You applied for a reason and had to have known what their COA was so this shouldn't be a surprise.

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you don't have to live on mare island. you can live in Vallejo for a lot less. it's a good program. I wish I did a pa/mph combined program. I like the program I attended, but my long term goals really needed the public health stuff. that's why I went back for the DHSc in global health.

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Thank you all for your inputs. I really like the idea of the program focusing on primary care and underserved population, that's why i applied. I was just surprised that the school's tuition is so expensive considering that at least 30-40% of their students have reportedly coming from disadvantaged backgrounds. This program is a dual program, there's no option to just get masters in PA alone.

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You can get loan payback and subsidies from such a variety of organizations these days, as well as complete remaining loan forgiveness after you work for 10 years for a not for profit or for a governmental agency. Most people do not do the best job of negotiating their loan paybacks, even people who are eligible for these programs frequently don't apply.   For example, if you were a PA/MPH and got accepted by the US Public Health Service, you would get substantial loan payback and later on tuition assistance for a doctoral degree, plus an excellent salary, benefits, and retirement and the chance to really use both of your degrees in different assignments.  Or if you went National Health Service Corps or any number of state loan payback programs. 

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The tuition is expensive because people are willing to pay it. 230k IMO is a joke. I personally wouldn't attend such an expensive program unless it was my only PA school acceptance. I'd rather get my PA degree and do a 1 yr inperson or online MPH while working and making money. I got my MPH and PA degree (in december), for combined 96k in tuition, as a reference.

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The tuition is expensive because people are willing to pay it. 230k IMO is a joke. I personally wouldn't attend such an expensive program unless it was my only PA school acceptance. I'd rather get my PA degree and do a 1 yr inperson or online MPH while working and making money. I got my MPH and PA degree (in december), for combined 96k in tuition, as a reference.

To be fair the $230k is in reference to COA, not just tuition. My tuition alone for both degrees will be about $120k which is on par with most PA and public health schools at $40k per year.

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ouch....my tuition back in the day was 30 k for my entire program....

The times they are a'changin.  Public and in-state tuition is definitely more reasonable than private, but most private schools run in that same neighborhood.  When schools have a 5% acceptance rate, they can pretty much charge what they want these days because someone is going to be willing to pay for it, unfortunately.

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The tuition is expensive because people are willing to pay it. 230k IMO is a joke. I personally wouldn't attend such an expensive program unless it was my only PA school acceptance. I'd rather get my PA degree and do a 1 yr inperson or online MPH while working and making money. I got my MPH and PA degree (in december), for combined 96k in tuition, as a reference.

That is what i am afraid of. I am waiting to hear more back from other programs. I also don't live in California. So i have to be prepare to make a decision if this is the only program that I hear back ;/

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MT2PA- I went to a private med school affiliated program...

Yea, sorry.  I was referring to someone else's praise to state schools.  But tuition across ALL types of schools have become more expensive, for every type of program.  OP could potentially find a dual program at a public/state institution and find it to be lower COA.

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If I was in your position, I honestly wouldn't attend such a expensive program. If you don't get accepted to another program this year then apply next cycle. You have to realize that the 6% interest starts the 1st day you start school so by the time you graduate it will end up being a lot more than 230k. Just taking into consideration tuition alone:120k in tuition @6% on a 10 year payment plan would add another 50k so you'd end up paying 170k PLUS add cost of living). I would be ok paying for a DO degree for 230k because of the income potential but not for PA school. Just my opinion. 

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Thanks for everyone inputs. It's unreal how expensive these programs can be nowadays. I decided to do the interview and see if i can find out any more information in person, then make a decision later if I am offered a spot. Regardless, @bio 's suggestion is doable for me, to wait another year to save almost half of that tuition cost, instead of paying more than $230k price, i still can't wrap my head around it.

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Be careful .......

 

You do not necessarily need to take out the full loan recommendation. Sometimes they allocate money that is not essential for most students to cover those with greater expenses.

 

If you took out 230K in loans and desired a career in underserved primary care I see flashing lights and sirens. How will you afford that ? If you pay out these loans over a long period you pay back lots in interest. You could be looking at paying over 1500 a month for ell over 10 year. If you make 85-90k working at a community health center s/p tax you have 60 s/p loans you have 40.

 

emed makes sense .. maybe you can reduce that nut by living elsewhere ? check with the program how flexible that number is.

 

PA kelly also makes sense but those programs are not a guaruntee. Even if you think you are a top candidate for that type of a program you need to envision what life is without a loan repayment program.

 

My two cents. Speak with family and PA/ MD's about this. You can obtain an MPH part time / online from top public health schools. Many hospitals will pay for this. You can start your first year following PA school.

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