MUSC College of Health Professions reduces tuition by 37% for online healthcare studies program

CHARLESTON, S.C. (April 20, 2022) – Tuition and program fees for the Medical University of South Carolina online Bachelor of Science in Healthcare Studies program through the College of Health Professions will be reduced from $8,483 to $5,000 per semester beginning in fall 2022. Incoming students will now save a total of $13,932 over the four-semester program.

The bachelor's degree program was created to increase access to higher education in health professions for rural, first-generation and underrepresented minority students across South Carolina. Over the years, Lauren Gellar, Ph.D., division director for Healthcare Studies, has made many efforts to increase access and affordability of health care education. Those efforts include reducing the program length in 2019, partnering with the South Carolina Technical College System to create pre-health professions transfer pathways and introducing a pathway to an Accelerated Executive Master in Health Administration. The tuition reduction is one more way the college hopes to increase access.

"I am thrilled that we can continue to enhance access to higher education and increase opportunities for underserved students throughout South Carolina," said Gellar. "When I speak with students, cost often comes up as a barrier." Most students in the Healthcare Studies program are working health care professionals supporting their families while continuing their educations.

Dean Zoher Kapasi, PT, Ph.D., College of Health Professions, emphasized the importance of this program and the tuition changes. "There are more than 400,000 South Carolinians with some college education but no bachelor's degree. The online Healthcare Studies program provides an opportunity for nontraditional students to advance their education and prepare for the projected job growth in health care occupations," he said. "We recognize the significant burden that the cost of higher education can place on students, and reducing tuition is just one way we can work toward improving affordability and reducing student debt."

The change to tuition and fees will be officially published in the MUSC Bulletin in June. To view the new program costs, visit chp.musc.edu/hcs. 

###

About the College of Health Professions Bachelor of Science in Healthcare Studies program

The Healthcare Studies program is a degree completion program that provides a broad foundation in health care and population health. It prepares students to become informed and engaged health professionals who can think critically, understand health research and evidence-based practice, lead health care teams and develop innovative solutions that address diverse populations. Students come from a variety of backgrounds and professions, and many are working professionals hoping to advance their careers by attaining a bachelor's degree. Learn more about the program and admissions criteria.

About MUSC 

Founded in 1824 in Charleston, MUSC is the state’s only comprehensive academic health system, with a unique mission to preserve and optimize human life in South Carolina through education, research and patient care. Each year, MUSC educates more than 3,000 students in six colleges – Dental Medicine, Graduate Studies, Health Professions, Medicine, Nursing and Pharmacy – and trains more than 850 residents and fellows in its health system. MUSC brought in more than $327.6 million in research funds in fiscal year 2021, leading the state overall in research funding. MUSC also leads the state in federal and National Institutes of Health funding, with more than $220 million. For information on academic programs, visit musc.edu.

As the health care system of the Medical University of South Carolina, MUSC Health is dedicated to delivering the highest-quality and safest patient care while educating and training generations of outstanding health care providers and leaders to serve the people of South Carolina and beyond. Patient care is provided at 14 hospitals with approximately 2,500 beds and five additional hospital locations in development; more than 350 telehealth sites, with connectivity to patients’ homes; and nearly 750 care locations situated in all regions of South Carolina. In 2021, for the seventh consecutive year, U.S. News & World Report named MUSC Health the No. 1 hospital in South Carolina. To learn more about clinical patient services, visit muschealth.org.

MUSC and its affiliates have collective annual budgets totaling $4.4 billion. The nearly 25,000 MUSC team members include a world-class faculty, physicians, specialty providers, scientists, students, affiliates and care team members who deliver and support groundbreaking education, research and patient care.