Why are tuition & fees going up faster than inflation?

[medpsych1]

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This spreadsheet http://webcache.googleusercontent.c...hic&cd=1&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us&client=firefox-a indicates that WVSOM and KCUMB were the only schools not to raise the total cost of tuition and fees in 2010 despite the fact that the inflation rate for 2009 was negative.
http://www.usinflationcalculator.com/inflation/current-inflation-rates/

Is there any constraint on tuition and fees increases?

P.S. Is it really worth it to pay 49K per year at CCOM compared to 28K per year at LECOM Bradenton? Is CCOM that much of a better school?

 

[CopToEM]

P.S. Is it really worth it to pay 49K per year at CCOM compared to 28K per year at LECOM Bradenton? Is CCOM that much of a better school?

No school is worth an extra 21K to me. Unless their curriculum shines my shoes and services my manhood they can keep it.

 

[DbDan]

No school is worth an extra 21K to me. Unless their curriculum shines my shoes and services my manhood they can keep it.

That 21k goes towards have a faculty that actively gives lectures and teaches the material. For some, the non-PBL cirriculum of CCOM alone is better, not to mention the stronger reputation of CCOM and fact that it has been around over 100 years longer.

 

[CopToEM]

That 21k goes towards have a faculty that actively gives lectures and teaches the material. For some, the non-PBL cirriculum of CCOM alone is better, not to mention the stronger reputation of CCOM and fact that it has been around over 100 years longer.

A board is a board is a board. If a $28K/year school can provide me the tools necessary to gain my education and pass the boards with flying colors why would I ever consider a $49K/year school to do the exact same thing?

As you alluded to - the fact that CCOM has a reputation of being around for a long time may have weight in some places. Many people would agree. As for myself, I would rather not sink into a pit of debt nearly twice that as my colleagues for something as intangible as reputation. Some would say, "Well, reputation means a lot for a specialty like derm." True. What if you don't match to derm, though? Was the $84K gamble truly worth it? Hard to say.

I operate under the understanding that for my intentions and aspirations a quality education does not need to come with a lavish price tag. My education (and a good 90% of the others who read this) will be 100% financed through student loans so $49K a year is truly highway robbery.

The best education I've had in the sciences up to this point in my life was years ago at a community college from a Biology professor. Fast forward and at my university, which carried tuition at least 10x higher, my education was not nearly as personal and well delivered. Money doesn't mean a thing when it comes to quality of education.

To each their own. Your mileage may vary.

 

[Forthegood]

http://www.amsa.org/AMSA/Homepage/About/Committees/StudentLife/TuitionFAQ.aspx

OP: This answers the question directly.

 

[DbDan]

A board is a board is a board. If a $28K/year school can provide me the tools necessary to gain my education and pass the boards with flying colors why would I ever consider a $49K/year school to do the exact same thing?

As you alluded to - the fact that CCOM has a reputation of being around for a long time may have weight in some places. Many people would agree. As for myself, I would rather not sink into a pit of debt nearly twice that as my colleagues for something as intangible as reputation. Some would say, "Well, reputation means a lot for a specialty like derm." True. What if you don't match to derm, though? Was the $84K gamble truly worth it? Hard to say.

I operate under the understanding that for my intentions and aspirations a quality education does not need to come with a lavish price tag. My education (and a good 90% of the others who read this) will be 100% financed through student loans so $49K a year is truly highway robbery.

The best education I've had in the sciences up to this point in my life was years ago at a community college from a Biology professor. Fast forward and at my university, which carried tuition at least 10x higher, my education was not nearly as personal and well delivered. Money doesn't mean a thing when it comes to quality of education.

To each their own. Your mileage may vary.

I completely agree with you. However, PBL is a completely different style of learning and is a large reason, along with other things, for the low tuition at LECOM-B. Not all students will learn and succeed in that style of learning. I knew that I would not do as well sitting down and reading for 8-12 hours a day and teaching myself the material. I do better in a more structured environment with lectures. Unfortunately for me, that means higher tuition at AZCOM than the 28k at Bradenton. Could I have gotten by at LECOM-B? probably. Do I think I would have the success that AZCOM will allow me to? No. To me, the gamble to increase my board scores from a passing to a competitive level was worth the increased cost.

 

[Drrrrrr. Celty]

I completely agree with you. However, PBL is a completely different style of learning and is a large reason, along with other things, for the low tuition at LECOM-B. Not all students will learn and succeed in that style of learning. I knew that I would not do as well sitting down and reading for 8-12 hours a day and teaching myself the material. I do better in a more structured environment with lectures. Unfortunately for me, that means higher tuition at AZCOM than the 28k at Bradenton. Could I have gotten by at LECOM-B? probably. Do I think I would have the success that AZCOM will allow me to? No. To me, the gamble to increase my board scores from a passing to a competitive level was worth the increased cost.

Lecom-E costs around the same and is lecture based.

 

[Bacchus]

Lecom-E costs around the same and is lecture based.

That is true, but it has PBL and independent learning as well. Although the LECOMs are cheaper, a lot of the tuition is subsidizing faculty that are lecturing for those taking the "traditional" route in Erie.

 

[CopToEM]

I completely agree with you. However, PBL is a completely different style of learning and is a large reason, along with other things, for the low tuition at LECOM-B. Not all students will learn and succeed in that style of learning. I knew that I would not do as well sitting down and reading for 8-12 hours a day and teaching myself the material. I do better in a more structured environment with lectures. Unfortunately for me, that means higher tuition at AZCOM than the 28k at Bradenton. Could I have gotten by at LECOM-B? probably. Do I think I would have the success that AZCOM will allow me to? No. To me, the gamble to increase my board scores from a passing to a competitive level was worth the increased cost.

And I too completely agree with you! It's a very personal decision but all other things aside - length of school establishment, reputation in the community, and curriculum style are worth something. I just have never seen a steadfast proof that any school in any field is worth double the tuition of the average school in that field.

 

[scpod]

This spreadsheet http://webcache.googleusercontent.....op of my list. What is most important to you?

 

[DbDan]

Lecom-E costs around the same and is lecture based.

As I'm well aware, but its also in erie 😉 plus the thread was about CCOM vs. LECOM-B