What employers pay back student loans?

[chirodoc]

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I'm just exploring but I've read several accounts and heard from some up to 75% of their tuition is paid back. Is this accurate? I'm considering different fields to move into and obviously have current student loans that make things real difficult. Having the ability to have my tuition paid in exchange for years of service actually doesn't sound that bad. I guess it's similar to what Doc's get for military or health corps service, right?

How do they work tuition reimbursement and salary offers? Does one negatively effect the other? I.E. low salary b/c they are paying tuition or is their such a high supply/demand difference it's considered a perk of being a Pharmacist? Thanks for tolerating the dumb question. 😕

 

[DownonthePharm]

Someone just told me last night that Indian Health Services pays back your student loan in full (up to $80K) at sign on, but you get paid a little less (~$70k) than a typical pharmacist. Im not sure what the obligation is, but if you are pretty young when you start out, theoretically you can retire with them a get 70% of of your salary while you are working somewhere else.

Ok, all this is coming from a fellow pre-pharm student, so it may or may not be correct.

 

[Pharmcdc]

Someone just told me last night that Indian Health Services pays back your student loan in full (up to $80K) at sign on, but you get paid a little less (~$70k) than a typical pharmacist. Im not sure what the obligation is, but if you are pretty young when you start out, theoretically you can retire with them a get 70% of of your salary while you are working somewhere else.

Ok, all this is coming from a fellow pre-pharm student, so it may or may not be correct.

Actually this is somewhat true. I am not sure about how much of a student loan they will pay back, however the retiring part is true. The Indian health falls under the department of health. The United States Public Health Service is a commisioned corp that work for the surgeon general much like the Air Force, Army, Navy and Marines work for the President. Joining the PHS gives you the same benefits as a commisioned officer in the other military branches which includes retiring after 20 years(so start at 25, retire at 45). They have a Navy rank structure, but dont worry, you dont deploy overseas, however you can be called up to respond to national disasters such as Katrina. How do I know, well my wife is a PHS officer. They payed her a salary her senior year and in return she owed them 18 months of service(2 months for every 1 month payed). This is not a bad way to serve if you are feeling patriotic and you would like to have all the perks of being in the military(although you really aren't) I know it can be a little confusing, but no hidden tricks. Here is the web site for more info www.usphs.gov.

 

[DHG]

Actually this is somewhat true. I am not sure about how much of a student loan they will pay back, however the retiring part is true. The Indian health falls under the department of health. The United States Public Health Service is a commisioned corp that work for the surgeon general much like the Air Force, Army, Navy and Marines work for the President. Joining the PHS gives you the same benefits as a commisioned officer in the other military branches which includes retiring after 20 years(so start at 25, retire at 45). They have a Navy rank structure, but dont worry, you dont deploy overseas, however you can be called up to respond to national disasters such as Katrina. How do I know, well my wife is a PHS officer. They payed her a salary her senior year and in return she owed them 18 months of service(2 months for every 1 month payed). This is not a bad way to serve if you are feeling patriotic and you would like to have all the perks of being in the military(although you really aren't) I know it can be a little confusing, but no hidden tricks. Here is the web site for more info www.usphs.gov.

This is interesting...
But the salary for "staff pharmacist" positions was 58K, GS-11 level. That's quite a bit lower than retail or even hospital. I wonder how much the benefits would raise that ammount to give a more accurate picture? Thanks for the link.

 

[Pharmcdc]

This is interesting...
But the salary for "staff pharmacist" positions was 58K, GS-11 level. That's quite a bit lower than retail or even hospital. I wonder how much the benefits would raise that ammount to give a more accurate picture? Thanks for the link.

Not true if you join the PHS instead of working directly for the indian health. As a pharmacists you earn the salary of a military officer O-3. (like an Air Force Captain) This is roughly 75K, however your housing allowance is location dependent. For example, you would get like 1200 in San Antonio for housing, while in Maryland you get like 2500 a month(tax free). So the pay is not so bad. Also, you and all your family members have free healthcare. It still does not equate to the 100-115k you could make, but its all in how you look at it.

 

[Pharmcdc]

Not true if you join the PHS instead of working directly for the indian health. As a pharmacists you earn the salary of a military officer O-3. (like an Air Force Captain) This is roughly 75K, however your housing allowance is location dependent. For example, you would get like 1200 in San Antonio for housing, while in Maryland you get like 2500 a month(tax free). So the pay is not so bad. Also, you and all your family members have free healthcare. It still does not equate to the 100-115k you could make, but its all in how you look at it.

http://www.military.com/Resources/ResourcesContent/0,13964,49020,00.html#O

https://secureapp2.hqda.pentagon.mil/perdiem/bah.html
The first link shows current pay charts. The second link will allow you to put in zip codes to find out how much housing allowance(tax free) you would get where you would want to live. You also get a food allowance which is almost $200 a month(tax free). Yes I was in the military 🙂 Air Force.