The University of Nebraska Board of Regents Friday approved professional and graduate tuition increases for programs in the UNMC Colleges of Dentistry and Nursing and the School of Allied Health Professions.
The increases, which take effect this fall, bring tuition to the mid-point of peer institutions for the College of Dentistry’s D.D.S. program, the College of Nursing’s graduate programs and for Allied Health’s graduate professional programs in physical therapy and medical nutrition.
Students currently enrolled in the programs will not have their tuition increased as a result of the board’s vote. No undergraduate tuition rates are affected.
“These are highly competitive programs and, with the board’s decision, tuition levels for UNMC’s graduate and professional programs are, and will remain, at the mid-point of its regent-designated peer institutions,” said John Adams, Ph.D., assistant vice chancellor for budget and strategic planning.
The new revenue will be invested directly back into the programs and benefit the students – the majority of whom are Nebraska residents, Dr. Adams said. The new revenue will be used to hire new faculty and bring faculty salaries closer to the average of peer institutions.
- The College of Dentistry faculty salaries are currently 15.5 percent below the average of their peers; the increase narrows the gap to 8.5 percent.
- College of Nursing faculty salaries are currently 5.8 percent below the average of their peers; the increase narrows the gap to 1.9 percent.
- SAHP faculty salaries are currently 8.4 percent below the average of their peers; the increase narrows the gap to 1.3 percent.
The deans consulted with student leaders regarding the proposed tuition levels, Dr. Adams said, noting that they supported the increase because it allows UNMC to remain competitive and further enhance student education.
The new tuition rates, including the universitywide tuition increase, are equal to the means of the tuition rates of UNMC’s peer institutions, Dr. Adams said. It also, he said, remains below that of similar Nebraska/regional programs in nursing and allied health.
Unlike most undergraduate programs, graduate and professional students launch their careers at higher salaries. The average starting salary of each program is:
- D.D.S. — $80,000;
- Master’s of physical therapy — $57,000;
- Medical nutrition — $47,341;
- Nursing M.S.N. program — $60,000; and
- Nursing Ph.D. — $75,000.