Private or Public School?

[Eddie1218]

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Hello ,
I am soon to be a pharmacy student, however I am still debating which school is a better choice for me, Idaho State University (public) or University of the Pacific (private). I have made a list of pros and cons, and I was wondering if anybody could give me their opinion as pharmacist (or pharmacy student).

Idaho State University's (ISU) tuition is just $70,000 for all 4 years, but University of the Pacific (UOP) is $140,000 for a 3 year accelerated program. Basically, UOP allows me to graduate and work one year earlier, but I'll be $70,000 more in debt. I calculated that it would take me a year and a half, at $4,000 a month, to pay $70k at 8% interest.

The other pros and cons are: at UOP I will do 2 years of didactic classroom studying, and I can come back to Los Angeles for my 3rd year. But at ISU, I will have to do 3 yrs of didactic study in Idaho (summers off) and do my rotations in Idaho, Reno Nevada, or Alaska. UOP also offers MBA and PHD programs that I might be interested in.

Given the job outlook in the coming years, the compound interest of loans, and your experience as a working pharmacists, what are your opinions on these 2 school choices?

Any input is highly appreciated!

 

[GoldfishPharmD]

I would go with the cheapest option. Both programs have their pros and cons, but I don't think it'll be worth it to pay double the tuition in this economy. Just my two cents. 🙂

 

[jinga]

Cheapest. 140K is an absurd price for pharmacy school. That's more than Creighton!

 

[Style]

Go with the public school. Make sure to factor in other expenses such as housing. Naturally if you go for the MBA or PhD program, expenses will be more. A license to practice is a license to practice.

 

[Eddie1218]

Yeah, $140k does sound absurd, and that's not even the most expensive school. University of Southern California is $55k a year... crazy

 

[CUninja]

Hello ,
I am soon to be a pharmacy student, however I am still debating which school is a better choice for me, Idaho State University (public) or University of the Pacific (private). I have made a list of pros and cons, and I was wondering if anybody could give me their opinion as pharmacist (or pharmacy student).

Idaho State University's (ISU) tuition is just $70,000 for all 4 years, but University of the Pacific (UOP) is $140,000 for a 3 year accelerated program. Basically, UOP allows me to graduate and work one year earlier, but I'll be $70,000 more in debt. I calculated that it would take me a year and a half, at $4,000 a month, to pay $70k at 8% interest.

The other pros and cons are: at UOP I will do 2 years of didactic classroom studying, and I can come back to Los Angeles for my 3rd year. But at ISU, I will have to do 3 yrs of didactic study in Idaho (summers off) and do my rotations in Idaho, Reno Nevada, or Alaska. UOP also offers MBA and PHD programs that I might be interested in.

Given the job outlook in the coming years, the compound interest of loans, and your experience as a working pharmacists, what are your opinions on these 2 school choices?

Any input is highly appreciated!

If you are worried about money or really want your summers, go with ISU.

If you want the better opportunities, go with UOP.

UOP is better known nationally than ISU, for better or worse.

 

[jinga]

Just keep in mind you'll be paying back every penny...with interest. Also federal loan interest rates are now 6.8% 🙁. Lame - thanks Uncle Sam.

Pharmacists make a decent living but imagine paying that back on a salary of 80-110K - a take home salary of 60-75K. Some people, those borrowing in excess of 200K for pharmacy school, might not even be able to make the minimum payments if their interest rates are too high.

Madness!!!!

So, to conclude: a Pharm.D. is sometimes a Pharm.D.!

 

[WVUPharm2007]

Potata State has been around forever and offers an underrated program. Pacific is an expensive ass new school. I'd go to Idaho State without thinking twice.

 

[tungsten87]

Yeah, $140k does sound absurd, and that's not even the most expensive school. University of Southern California is $55k a year... crazy

so that's ~220K for tuition alone, plus the cost of living in california... some of these students will be almost 300K in debt!

 

[busyizzy]

Pharmacists make a decent living but imagine paying that back on a salary of 80-110K - a take home salary of 60-75K. Some people, those borrowing in excess of 200K for pharmacy school, might not even be able to make the minimum payments if their interest rates are too high.

Minimum payments are 10% of your income, if you use IBR and you solely borrowed from federal loans.

 

[FredDurst]

so that's ~220K for tuition alone, plus the cost of living in california... some of these students will be almost 300K in debt!

It isn't 55K for tuition, it's 39K. This also isn't anything out of the ordinary for CA. With the exception of the UC's, most of the schools are in this general area.

 

[tungsten87]

It isn't 55K for tuition, it's 39K. This also isn't anything out of the ordinary for CA. With the exception of the UC's, most of the schools are in this general area.

39K is still ridiculous.

guys, take a look at these numbers and tell me this isn't crazy:

UCSF COM tuition:

http://registrar.ucsf.edu/registration/fees/medicine

UCSF COP tuition:

http://registrar.ucsf.edu/registration/fees/pharmacy

i don't care how good of school UCSF is this is straight up robbery.

 

[UNMorBUST]

Public....

 

[IndustryPharmD]

I would choose Idaho State.

It's a good school, I have met a few people who went there... and it's not just tuition, everything will be cheaper down there. And it has one of the smallest classes, so you will really get to know everyone.

Plus you will be able to work during school and during breaks, so financially you will be even better off.

Graduating a year early at 70K plust interest and higher other costs plus no vacations/breaks/anything just isn't worth it to me...

 

[xiphoid2010]

39K is still ridiculous.

guys, take a look at these numbers and tell me this isn't crazy:

UCSF COM tuition:

http://registrar.ucsf.edu/registration/fees/medicine

UCSF COP tuition:

http://registrar.ucsf.edu/registration/fees/pharmacy

i don't care how good of school UCSF is this is straight up robbery.

LOL no joke. And I thought OSU's 19K including health insurance was expensive. 🙁 At least here a 1 bedroom apartment within walking distance of COP rents for ~$500 a month, that's like $1500 in Cali I bet.

 

[Eddie1218]

LOL no joke. And I thought OSU's 19K including health insurance was expensive. 🙁 At least here a 1 bedroom apartment within walking distance of COP rents for ~$500 a month, that's like $1500 in Cali I bet.

Yeah, all private schools in Cali cost $39k+ a year. Rent cost is outrageous too -- you'd be lucky if you found a studio for $900, a one bedroom for $11-1200