Tuition Reimbursement

[yellowwood]

As an answer to the problem of high tuitions and scarcity of workers in certain career fields, I would suggest--

When I was going to college, there was a shortage of teachers. The tuition for my third and fourth years was escused on the condition that I work as a teacher in my state for at least three years after graduation.

Now we are hearing that there is a shortage of (for instance) healthcare workers, including physicians.

Why not pay for some of their years of education on the condition that they successfully complete their coursework and work in their fields?

[avaistheone1]

1. The AMA has restricted the number of physicians that can be trained a year at our

universities.


So what you are talking about would involve more than a major mind-shift in this country. It would take a great deal of political will.

[hedgehog]

2. My family doctor has a daughter finishing medical school. She will

not be a family doctor like her father in part because she has such a heavy debt burden to pay off. When you need a specialist, you need a specialist, but most of us need a GP most of the time!

[frazzled]

3. There are already tuition forgiveness programs for

law school graduates who go into public service or nonprofit work for a number of years. (Though I've heard these positions are rare as hen's teeth to come by these days, even for graduates of very fine law schools).

The federal government (and some states) also has many other full or partial loan forgiveness programs:

AmeriCorps
AmeriCorps is a network of national service programs that engage more than 75,000 Americans each year in intensive service to meet critical needs in education, public safety, health, and the environment. Through AmeriCorps, students can receive money to help pay for school. Serve full time, usually for a term lasting 10–12 months, to be eligible for an education award of up to $4,725. Working part time offers eligibility for a partial award.

Volunteers in Service to America (VISTA)
Part of AmeriCorps, VISTA focuses on empowering people in low-income areas. By volunteering at least 1,700 hours with private, nonprofit groups that help eradicate hunger, homelessness, poverty and illiteracy, students can receive $4,725 from VISTA toward repayment of student loans, as well as a living allowance and deferment of their loans. Volunteers work as community organizers, recruiting volunteers, raising funds or helping develop new programs.

Teach for America
Each year, Teach for America selects 2,000 recent college graduates for training to become full-time teachers in urban and rural public schools. These teachers receive a salary, health benefits and insurance similar to that of other beginning teachers. They also qualify to receive forbearance on student loans and an education award of $4,725 for each year of service, which can be used for student loans or toward future education.

Peace Corps
" The toughest job you'll ever love" will allow you to defer repayment on student loans under several federal programs, i.e., Federal Stafford, Perkins, PLUS, or Direct Loans. Volunteers with Perkins loans are eligible for a 15% cancellation of their outstanding balance for each year of Peace Corps service.

National Defense Education Act
If you become a full-time teacher in an elementary or secondary school that serves students from low income families you could have a portion of your Federal Perkins Loans forgiven. Contact your school district's administration to see which schools qualify under this program.

National Health Service Corps
This program repays up to $25,000 a year of health professionals’ student loans if they work in under-served areas. Recipients also earn a competitive salary and some tax benefits. Applicants must be fully trained allopathic or osteopathic physicians specializing in:

Family medicine
General pediatrics
General internal medicine
General psychiatry
Obstetrics/gynecology
Other professionals who qualify:

Primary care nurse practitioners
Primary care physician assistants
Certified nurse-midwifes
Dentists
Dental hygienists
Mental or behavioral health professionals (clinical psychologists, clinical social workers, licensed professional counselors, marriage and family therapists and psychiatric nurse specialists)
Recipients must serve full time, commit to working in an underserved area for at least two years and be U.S. citizens

http://www.collegeanswer.com/paying/content/pay_loan_forgive.jsp