How should an international student weigh direct-entry PA pathways vs. cheaper transfer routes?
I’m an international student, and my biggest concern is affordability along with job outcomes after graduation. I’m trying to decide between a few paths:
MCPHS: It’s a 3+3 program, and I received an $18k scholarship per year, which lowers the tuition to around $29k/year for the first 3 years, then about $36k/year for the 3 years in the professional phase. I also found a room where I would only have to pay $600/month in rent, and the commute to school would take around 35 mins by train.
Drexel: The program lasts 5.25 years, and after my grant and scholarship, the total cost (including tuition, dining, housing, and insurance) would be around $53k/year. Housing and dining are required at Drexel for the first 2 years. After that, I plan to move out starting in year 3. What I’m unsure about is whether there are additional tuition costs, because it looks like I would need to take summer classes to complete the required credits each year, but I can’t find clear information online about summer tuition or whether my scholarship applies to those classes. In year 3, I'd also have a 6-month paid co-op, so I could use that money to cover part of my living expenses**.**
My third option is going to a community college for 2 years, transferring to a university, and then applying to PA school. But what really worries me is that there seems to be very limited scholarship and financial aid available for international transfer students
I’d really appreciate your honest opinion and advice