Tuition Costs of Master’s of Health Professions Education Programs: A Cross-Sectional Analysis

Abstract

Purpose The increasing professionalization of medical education during the past 2 decades has ushered in an era in which formal degrees, particularly master’s of health professions education (MHPE), have become important for career advancement in medical education. Although tuition costs can pose a substantial barrier for many seeking advanced degrees in health professions education, data on tuition associated with these programs are lacking. This study examines the accessibility of pertinent cost-related information available to prospective students and the variability of costs among programs worldwide. Method The authors conducted an Internet-based, cross-sectional study, augmented with emails and direct contact with educators, to extract tuition-related data for MHPE programs between March 29, 2022, and September 20, 2022. Costs were converted to an annual total within each jurisdiction’s currency and converted to U.S. dollars on August 18, 2022. Results Of the 121 programs included in the final cost analysis, only 56 had publicly available cost information. Excluding programs free to local students, the mean (SD) total tuition cost was $19,169 ($16,649), and the median (interquartile range) cost was $13,784 ($9,401– $22,650) (n = 109). North America had the highest mean (SD) tuition for local students ($26,751 [$22,538]), followed by Australia and New Zealand ($19,778 [$10,514]) and Europe ($14,872 [$7,731]), whereas Africa had the lowest ($2,598 [$1,650]). The region with the highest mean (SD) tuition for international students was North America ($38,217 [$19,500]), followed by Australia and New Zealand ($36,891 [$10,397]) and Europe ($22,677 [$10,010]), whereas Africa had the lowest ($3,237 [$1,189]). Conclusions There is substantial variability in the geographic distribution of MHPE programs and marked differences in tuition. Incomplete program websites and limited responsiveness from many programs contributed to a lack of transparency regarding potential financial implications. Greater efforts are necessary to ensure equitable access to health professions education.

Characteristics and motivational factors of candidates applying to the Master in Health Professions Education (MHPE) program

“…Despite the numerous programs in medical education that have emerged globally and the heightened demand of medical education experts, no published literature could be found analyzing the characteristics of applicants of MHPE. Studies have been conducted to determine aspects of MHPE programs, including course information on institutional websites, 14 tuition costs, 15 and factors influencing completion rates, 16 but the demographics of MHPE applicants and factors that motivate applicants to pursue this program have not been explored. Without these data, it is difficult to determine the level of interest individuals have in pursuing HPE and the impact they will subsequently create in this domain.…”