Study of How Health Professions Students Finance Their Education, 1976-1977.

Expenses that health professions students incurred, sources of income to meet those expenditures, and indebtedness incurred by the students during the 1976-77 school year were studied. A questionnaire, which is appended, was mailed to a sample of students registered in schools of dentistry, optometry, osteopathic medicine, pharmacy, podiatry, public health, and veterinary medicine. Based on information provided by the respondents, estimates are made of the relevant sociodemographic characteristics and financial activities of all students registered in these health professions schools. Among the findings are the following: podiatry and osteopathy students reported the highest average annual expenditures of $11,720 and $11,070 respectively, while pharmacy students reported the lowest of $6,740; in each health profession students attending private schools reported average school expenses that were about 150 percent greater than those reported in public schools; married students, especially those with children, reported that they spent more on food, lodging, and other items than did single students; most students financed their education with income obtained from nonrefundable sources; students most frequently reported that they received the largest proportion of their income from their own earnings and savings and from contributions made by their spouses and parents; approximately 40 percent of all health professions students reported that they were in debt prior to entering professional school, and the average debt reported by these was $7,000; and of those students who reported prior indebtedness, most were in debt because of preprofessional school educational expenditures. (SW)