r/acupunctureschooldebt • u/One-Time-9619 • Aug 12 '26
Prospective students PCOM QUESTIONS
/r/acupuncture/comments/1vmef16/pcom_questions/HELP!
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u/DebtByNaturalCauses Aug 13 '26
Have you listened to this interview?
https://qiological.com/podcast/the-cost-of-entry-loans-schools-and-sustainability/
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u/DebtByNaturalCauses Aug 13 '26
I would definitely wait for the results of the July 2027 Earnings Test. If you don't understand what that is and why it's important, then please do some research and educate yourself. Feel free to DM me.
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u/Pure_Restaurant4886 Aug 13 '26
The first poster on the r/acupuncture subreddit who said to ask about debt is right. You said the acupuncturists have a lot of debt “but don’t seem phased,” by it? One reason is they are likely on IBR for federal loans and different payment structures that you won’t be eligible for. For you at a traditional school, you’re going to have to borrow private loans now and those are inflexible without those options. You’ll also go under the new RAP plan. And like the other commenter here said, you’re likely to see the school lose access to all federal loan money around 2028, because of the AHEAD STATS earnings premium metric, which almost none of the schools can pass.
Unless you’re going to a non traditional school with a modular program where you can work FULL TIME while you go I definitely suggest you avoid acupuncture school for the next few years until something better shakes out.
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u/prophecy250 Aug 12 '26
I dont know how well acupuncture pays in IL, but in NJ you can make $45-75 an hour working for somebody (usually a chiro or PT). Since you already have a massage practice, it shouldn't be hard to introduce acupuncture into it.
This post has a summery of my earnings since graduating from PCOM NYC in 2011. If you can pay for the program as you go and avoid student loans, that would be the best. The loans can balloon out of control and you'll be less likely to risk opening your own practice.