PCAP– Primary Care Associate Program

Costs and Financial Aid

Related Info

Foothill College Financial Aid
Collegeboard.com - Paying for College
National Health Service Corps 800-221-9393
Health Professions Education Foundation/ 800-773-1669

Estimated Costs for Entire Program
Academic Year: Spring 2014 - Winter 2016
Educational Fees

California (CA) Resident:

  
Enrollment fees:
$ 31/unit x 98.5 units		 $ 3,053.50
Foothill Student Fees ($47x 8)   $ 376
Stanford University School of Medicine
* Certification Fees:
$ 7,087.50 / quarter    		 $ 49,612.50
Total fees:   $ 53,042
Total CA Resident Costs:   $ 53,042
Non-California Resident Fee ($138x98.5 units in addition to the basic and required enrollment fees) $ 13,593
Total Non-California Resident Cost:  $ 63,581.50
Additional required fees:  
Books & medical equipment $2,200
Home computer or laptop w/email & Internet access $1,500
Fee for required online logging software $90

Living expenses vary among individuals and are excluded from this table. Also, current National Certifying Examination fees of $425 (minimum) are not included. These figures are provided for planning purposes only, and are subject to change. Fees typically are increased for the second fall quarter of the program.

Tuition fees may be refunded under certain circumstances. The specific policy is listed in the quarterly Foothill College Schedule of Classes. Any questions concerning tuition and fees should be directed to the Foothill College Admissions and records Office.

* Certification fee: this fee is established by Stanford University School of Medicine and applies to the quarterly certification process conducted by the Primary Care Associate Program. The quarterly certification process culminates at graduation in the award of the Certificate of Clinical Proficiency, Stanford University School of Medicine. Certification from Stanford University School of Medicine is required to sit for the Physician Assistant National Certifying Examination. The certification fee is not established or mandated by Foothill College and does not preclude enrollment in any Foothill College course.

Financial Aid

The Primary Care Associate Program is a full-time commitment and employment during this time is strongly discouraged.  Applicants are advised to find and apply for financial aid resources even before they are notified of their admission status.

Inquiries about financial assistance can be directed to the Financial Aid office at Foothill College.  Scholarship, loan, and grant information can also be obtained from the internet and at a public library.  Students enrolled in the program are eligible to apply for veterans’ benefits and federal/state grants and loans.  When completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), include Foothill College among the list of schools to which your information should be sent.  The Title IV Code for Foothill College is 001199.  The deadline to apply for the FAFSA is in early March, please pay special attention to this as it can effect your ability to get loans and scholarships.  Applicants who are not California residents should note that additional fees are required.  Residency usually can be established after living in the state for one year.

At this time we would like to encourage you to begin or continue your search for funds which will prove to be sufficient to maintain your desired standard of living while you are studying to be a competent PA. It is to your advantage to procure as much financial support as you can early in the game, so that when the stresses of the clinical year hit, you will not have to additionally worry about how you will pay your next month's bills.

You are encouraged to seek additional sources of public and private sector money, as well as pursue those sources listed here.  We STRONGLY encourage you to apply for the Cal Grant C, as former students have had success in obtaining this grant.  A listing of many potential money sources can be found in the following publications:

Mathes & Dixon, The College Blue Book; Scholarships, Fellowships, Grants & Loans, 17th Ed., and Feingold and Feingold, Scholarships, Fellowships, & Loans, Volume VI, Cassidy and Alves, The Scholarship Book, Schlachter, Directory of Financial Aids for Minorities and Directory of Financial Aids for Women. 

The program advises that you personally check these sources to determine if they are willing to lend to PCA students. It is known that some of them will and we are aware that some students have been successful in the past. Each of these books contains hundreds of entries and you may be interested in going to your local library and doing some research on your own.

If you, your spouse, or your parents belong to a union, fraternal organization, civic club, or a club for individuals of a specific ethnic background or national origin, find out if a scholarship program is in operation through that group. Also, many hospitals have medical auxiliary guilds and county medical societies have auxiliaries which make scholarships available to individuals pursuing medical training.

If you are or have been employed at a hospital in your area, contact them for awards which are available to employees.  Check through the science or health departments of the colleges/universities in which you are presently enrolled for scholarship possibilities. Applying for scholarships takes time and much paperwork, the effort however often pays off.  When applying be "assertive" not "obnoxious." Do not try to anticipate the decisions that selection committees will make, apply for the monies anyway.

Another money-saving idea which you may wish to consider would be sharing living space with one of your fellow students.  Many students own homes, while others need a place to live for a certain period of time.  The benefits include decreased housing costs for all parties, and the luxury of a study partner.  Keep this in mind.   A Housing Resource List is available at our Admissions Office. Good Luck!  Please let the PCA Program Admissions Office know if you have any success with these organizations and any others you find on your own.

Types of Awards
Scholarships/Grants

Usually a scholarship is a financial award that is paid either directly to the student or to the college he/she is attending.  It is most often based on potential or demonstrated talent in a particular field of study or endeavor.  For example, a writer's organization may offer $1000 to a student who plans to study journalism at college.  Most scholarships do not meet full need and need to be supplemented with other funds.  A scholarship may be received both on the basis of financial need and academic achievement.  A grant is on the basis of financial need alone.  There are some that are competitively restricted based on race, religion, occupation, sex or possibly to a specific state, region or city.  Like "scholarship", the term "grant" is often used generically to define any cash award made to a student that does not require repayment.

Loans

Repayment of student loans usually begins six or nine months after you leave college and extends over a number of years.  While they are not gifts and do require repayment, these awards are often offered on a competitive basis by private sector sources.  Many of these awards have an extremely attractive interest rate, and some no interest rate at all!

Fellowships

This type of award is offered only to students at the graduate level of college study.  Awards are usually based on undergraduate level scholastic accomplishments or the professional potential of the student.  They often involve a cash award or stipend to help defray educational and personal expenses.

Public Sector Monies

Loosely defined, public sector monies are monies available through federal and state governmental funding agencies for education purposes. By submitting the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) you become eligible for both federal and state monies which will periodically be awarded to you throughout the academic year.  These awards are issued in the form of grants or loans, and eligibility is determined by financial need.  Such awards are outlined below.  Possession of a baccalaureate degree (graduate) limits your accessibility to some of these sources.

Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)

Private Sector Monies

The private sector consists of corporations, unions, trust funds, religious and fraternal organizations, associations and private philanthropists who provide varying sorts of financial aid programs for college students.  These awards are issued in the form of scholarships and loans.  Each of these programs has its own deadline, qualifications and requirements.  Unlike government programs where you are automatically awarded funds if you meet a specific set of requirements, private sector awards are generally competitive.  Often, they are limited to persons who meet specific qualifications such as having a specific career interest, being a member of a minority group, or of a particular organization, etc..  Do not try to anticipate your chances of being awarded a scholarship.  Let the scholarship committee decide who is to be awarded.  Sometimes extensions are attached to initial deadline dates but don't allow this to encourage procrastination.  Timely, legible and neat applications can be a decisive factor.

More Information:  Other available public and private sector financial aid sources as well as assistance with filling out applications can be obtained at the PCA Program Admissions Office or the Financial Aid Office, Foothill College, 12345 El Monte Road, Los Altos Hills, CA   94022. http://www.foothill.edu/aid/

Stanford Medicine Resources:

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