When I went to medical school (1971-1975), in-state medical school tuition was approximately $1,000 a year.  How much should medical school cost today, given inflation.  This web site provides a calculator – inflation calculator

What cost $1000 in 1971 would cost $5285.03 in 2007.

So how much does in-state tuition cost in 2008?  Most students are paying in the range of $20,000 each year.  Medical school tuition has far outpaced inflation over this period.

Perhaps the cost of education really has increased that much.  Of course, faculty size has increased dramatically during this time.  Perhaps we are delivering a far superior educational product in 2008.  Perhaps we charge so much because we can.

Few in medical academe discuss the negative externalities of medical school tuition.  Few in academe discuss the negative externalities of college tuition (which is almost as outrageous.)

We are quickly pricing medical education at such a high range that we insure that our graduates focus on money.  They do have to pay back their loans, so the higher paying specialties become much more attractive.

Higher paying specialties are not necessarily more important.  They are not necessarily more desirable.

I took social psychology in college, so I do understand that once one makes a decision, the reasons that support that decision are strengthened in one’s mind.  So those going into Dermatology can make a case for the wonders of the skin.  Cardiology candidates relish the opportunity to treat heart disease.  We cannot know how the money impacts their love of skin or heart disease.  When does medicine become a job rather than a profession?

Many students forgo medical school because they are not willing to assume the debt.

Should we hold the medical schools accountable for the high tuition?  Why do you think medical school costs so much?