3 year pharm. school vs 4 year pharm. school

[dxb8307]

Advertisement - Members don't see this ad

Hi, I wanted to get some input on the cost of pharmacy schools. I have a bachelor's degree in biology and would like to apply to 3 year schools but I get so discouraged when I see the prices that they charge. Is it worth to graduate a year early with 150k in debt or is it better to attend a public 4 year school and get away with only 90-100k in debt???? How much is too much to invest into pharmacy education? Thank you in advance.

 

[coffee4drug]

If I were to choose, I would rather graduate a year later than to owe any amount beyond $100,000, especially now job security is so uncertain.

 

[aboveliquidice]

If I were to choose, I would rather graduate a year later than to owe any amount beyond $100,000, especially now job security is so uncertain.

The math isn't simple... Remember to add opportunity cost. Don't forget to add living costs as well.

 

[SHC1984]

You should apply to Lecom at Erie PA. Only 25K a year for three years. Thats 75K when you graduate. Not bad!

Anything more than 100K is too much to invest in pharmacy. Generally anything more than your first year's salary is too much. So around 100K is the max anyone should put into pharmacy unless of course they are crazy. LOL...

How highly ranked is your public pharmacy school? I mean my state school is UNC, ranked #2, so I if I was to choose between that and some three year no name program, I would choose UNC! I don't care if its 4 years, the name is better, its highly ranked etc.

So really it depends on the ranking too. Not just cost. You should take ranking AND cost into consideration. 🙂

 

[delano2000]

You should apply to Lecom at Erie PA. Only 25K a year for three years. Thats 75K when you graduate. Not bad!

Anything more than 100K is too much to invest in pharmacy. Generally anything more than your first year's salary is too much. So around 100K is the max anyone should put into pharmacy unless of course they are crazy. LOL...

How highly ranked is your public pharmacy school? I mean my state school is UNC, ranked #2, so I if I was to choose between that and some three year no name program, I would choose UNC! I don't care if its 4 years, the name is better, its highly ranked etc.

So really it depends on the ranking too. Not just cost. You should take ranking AND cost into consideration. 🙂

Sweet. Maybe I should look into that school.

 

[rxforlife2004]

of course 3 yr program!!! The faster, the better. Why? The faster u graduate, the sooner u are able to land a job. Considering the fact that you will see less and less job openings annually. Why would u wanna bother staying in another year longer while u can get out faster?

 

[deleted205891]

You should apply to Lecom at Erie PA. Only 25K a year for three years. Thats 75K when you graduate. Not bad!

Do you currently go to Erie? I've heard really bad things about that school.

 

[crazybob]

Do you currently go to Erie? I've heard really bad things about that school.

She goes to Mercer.

OP, I would consider the one for 4 years. Well, unless you like studying and you want to finish a year earlier.

 

[KARM12]

3 year programs generally move at a faster pace. Some make the argument that in a 3 yr program, since you are going year round, there is less time to gain experience through internships/part-time jobs. Having gone to a 4 yr program, I don't know how true this may be.

 

[charfdorn]

Hi, I wanted to get some input on the cost of pharmacy schools. I have a bachelor's degree in biology and would like to apply to 3 year schools but I get so discouraged when I see the prices that they charge. Is it worth to graduate a year early with 150k in debt or is it better to attend a public 4 year school and get away with only 90-100k in debt???? How much is too much to invest into pharmacy education? Thank you in advance.

From a pure cost standpoint, you need to subtract what you can make in that extra year of pharmacy school (as an intern) from what you can make as a pharmacist... then that extra 50k doesn't seem so bad.

 

[SHC1984]

Do you currently go to Erie? I've heard really bad things about that school.

No, I never been to Erie PA. But I just know the school is very cheap especially for a private school. I know nothing about that school other then the fact that it is very cheap and it's a three year program.

However to me, the cost is important, but the ranking is just as important. If someone got into UCSF and a cheap three year program they would be foolish to go to the three year program. Yes, UCSF is more expensive, but it's also ranked the highest so it's worth it.

I got accepted into South which is a three year program, but I choose Mercer b/c it's ranked higher, has a better name, etc.

 

[aboveliquidice]

No, I never been to Erie PA. But I just know the school is very cheap especially for a private school. I know nothing about that school other then the fact that it is very cheap and it's a three year program.

However to me, the cost is important, but the ranking is just as important. If someone got into UCSF and a cheap three year program they would be foolish to go to the three year program. Yes, UCSF is more expensive, but it's also ranked the highest so it's worth it.

I got accepted into South which is a three year program, but I choose Mercer b/c it's ranked higher, has a better name, etc.

Wow... and that name buys you???

 

[aboveliquidice]

3 year programs generally move at a faster pace. Some make the argument that in a 3 yr program, since you are going year round, there is less time to gain experience through internships/part-time jobs. Having gone to a 4 yr program, I don't know how true this may be.

Also, many topics are not as well discussed. Often, it seemed as though many important topics were glossed over. This resulted in more studying on your own time.

 

[DASicari]

I read that Duquesne has this three and a half year PharmD program. Not only is it not a standard four year program program- it is weekend classes only. Crazy.

http://www.duq.edu/pharmacy/weekend/index.cfm

 

[firework]

Are you at UNC? I'm here too.

You should apply to Lecom at Erie PA. Only 25K a year for three years. Thats 75K when you graduate. Not bad!

Anything more than 100K is too much to invest in pharmacy. Generally anything more than your first year's salary is too much. So around 100K is the max anyone should put into pharmacy unless of course they are crazy. LOL...

How highly ranked is your public pharmacy school? I mean my state school is UNC, ranked #2, so I if I was to choose between that and some three year no name program, I would choose UNC! I don't care if its 4 years, the name is better, its highly ranked etc.

So really it depends on the ranking too. Not just cost. You should take ranking AND cost into consideration. 🙂

 

[SHC1984]

Are you at UNC? I'm here too.

I missed the deadline for UNC and UCSF. I applied to pharmacy school in Jan, their deadline was in Nov. 🙁