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Gainful Employment
As
you consider becoming a student at Dragon Rises College, here are some facts
that might help you decide. These are the new federally mandated disclosures for
Dragon Rises College.
Occupation
References:
Link to
Acupuncturist
in new federal listing, O*Net
CIP
Code: 51.3301, Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine
Standard Occupation Code: 29-1199.
Program Costs:
Total tuition is $49,500 for the 10-semester program (paid as $4,950 per
semester).
Total fees for the entire program, including clinic liability insurance, are
$1,950
Books and supplies can cost $6,000 for the entire program (most purchased in
early semesters). The majority of textbooks will be used throughout your
professional life.
On-time
completion rate:
10
of 11 (91%) in most recent graduating class (one student took an extra semester)
Job placement
rate for students completing the program:
10 of 11 (91%) from the last graduating class are in practice
6
of 6 (100%) from previous graduating class are in practice
46
of 51 (90%) graduates from all classes are working, and all but one are licensed (since DRCOM started, 2001)
Median loan debt
incurred by students completing the program (most recent grads):
Title IV loan debt median amount borrowed: $86,071
Private educational loan debt amount borrowed: none
Institutional finance plans amount owed: none
A Note from the
Financial Aid Desk:
Taking out student loans is a big commitment,
and I dont want you to enter it lightly. Student loans are like a mortgage,
only the investment is in yourself, not a house and land. For most students,
taking on debt is the price to pay for the opportunity to learn a valuable skill
and vocation. Although you will have $10,250 available to you per semester, you
may borrow less than the maximum if for any reason you don't need the full
amount.
The concern people may have is about being able
to repay the debt they incur while attending college. It is essential to look
at both sides the responsibility and the opportunity. Our students are
generally very successful in their practice, and if it is something you pursue
wholeheartedly, you will be successful too. Dragon Rises College has a very
good reputation, and our graduates are often invited to join an existing
practice.
One main factor that Acupuncture schools use to
comply with new transparency regulations is how many students graduated a year
ago, and of those, how many are in practice. Our rate for that class
(graduating Dec. 2009), as well as the next one, Dec. 2010, is 94%. That is, a
total of 17 people graduated in the last two years, passed their boards, got
licensed, and all but one are practicing the medicine that inspires them. No
one from Dragon Rises College is in default, according to the Department of
Education statistics. This sounds to me like opportunity taken and combined
with responsibility, in other words, success.
The Department of Education wants students to be
able to pay back their loans. So they have become creative in offering
repayment plans to fit many diverse circumstances. Unlike mortgage bankers,
they have always been inclined to find a plan that helps you succeed, not a way
to punish you for getting behind. Since 2008 they have developed even more
choices for shorter or longer, higher or lower payment schedules. As long as
you stay in communication with your lender, you will be fine.
I hope you
will decide to follow your heart and enter this profession, not blindly, but
with information and forethought. I am always happy to discuss your concerns
and answer your questions.
Kate Ellison
Financial Aid
Administrator
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