It’s “back to school” time, so it’s only appropriate that this month’s cover profile takes a look inside the orthodontic program at the University of Connecticut. Under the leadership of Ravindra Nanda, BDS, MDS, PhD, UConn has produced not only new orthodontists, but new products that are used by practitioners around the world.
Orthodontists who have spent upward of a decade in higher education don’t need me to tout the importance of our universities. I do think it’s worth noting, however, that those who pursue and provide higher education are currently being hit by a financial one-two punch. The first punch is the drastic increase in the cost of getting an undergraduate degree. According to a report from Moody’s Analytics,1 “… the cost of tuition and fees has more than doubled since 2000, outstripping the inflation rate across all goods, as well as the growth rates of energy, housing and healthcare costs.”
I have spoken to young orthodontists who were daunted by their six-figure student-loan debt, even though they were entering a profession with relatively high pay. Imagine shouldering the same burden with only a bachelor’s degree. Unfortunately, it is not uncommon. According to the College Board,2 “a ‘moderate’ college budget for an in-state public college for the 2010–2011 academic year averaged $20,339.” That’s not even considering private colleges, where tuition can be more than $50,000 per year.
The cost of tuition would not be such a concern if universities could offer financial aid to all who need it, but here we run into the second punch, which is that states across the country are slashing education budgets. My brother is a professor at a public university going through double-digit cuts, which means charging more, offering less, or both. Closer to home, the University of California system has increased its fees3 by nearly 10% for the upcoming academic year.
I think we can all agree that specialized education is the bedrock upon which successful careers can be built. But with the drastic increase in costs, today’s students are being forced to ask themselves the toughest question: Is it worth it?
Christopher Piehler
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