THIS WEEK IN HISTORY
- 09 Feb - 15 Feb, 2019
New York University (NYU) is offering free tuition for all of its medical students. It is reported that the move is a first among major U.S. medical schools.
Rising tuition and six-figure loans have been pushing new doctors into higher-paying fields and contributing to a shortage of researchers and primary care physicians. The associate dean for admissions and financial aid, Dr. Rafael Rivera, says there’s a “moral imperative” to reduce debt.
Tuition had been set at about $55,000 for the coming year. Most medical students will still need to pay about $29,000 for annual room and board and other living expenses. NYU estimates it will need about $600 million to fund the tuition package in perpetuity. It has raised more than $450 million.
COMMENTS