“CHIROPRACTORS ARE BUSINESSPEOPLE who appreciate the rewards — and the challenges — of starting, running and selling practices,” says Kevin Cunningham, D.C., Ph.D. (Main, ’88), Palmer’s vice chancellor for student affairs. “That’s why we teach our students the business of chiropractic — so they can make wise, strategic decisions for themselves and their patients.” Indeed, Palmer students learn that an unsustainable business environment takes a toll not only on the doctor of chiropractic who runs the practice but also on the patients who come there seeking care. The same is true of the financial management of a college campus: when the numbers no longer add up, the college cannot fully pursue its mission and vision, and the student experience suffers. “As leaders of a nonprofit institution, Palmer’s board of
trustees and executive team have a fiduciary responsibility to the College, its communities and the profession to be forward-thinking in its business approach,” says Trevor Ireland, D.C. (Main, ’70), chairperson of the board. Cost of living is one crucial factor the board considered. In San Jose, the cost of living is more than double the
San Jose 215% THE COST OF LIVING
The average cost of living in San Jose, California is over 200 percent of the national average, whereas the cost of living in Port Orange, Floria and Davenport, Iowa is just below the national average at 97 and 82 percent respectively.
Reference:
Bestplaces.net/cost-of-living
national average, which itself sits 20 percent above the cost of living in Davenport. Housing costs are particularly high in San Jose — four times the national average and eight times the cost of housing in Davenport. “All told, we’ve calculated that Palmer students can save nearly $40,000 by studying in Davenport over San Jose,” says Dr. Cunningham. Yet for him, relieving the financial burden on students
isn’t just about putting them in a better position when they graduate — it’s also about making sure they’re able to engage with all the opportunities afforded by a Palmer College education while they’re here. “When the costs of studying in San Jose start making
burdensome demands on students’ time and energy or they can’t afford to live near enough to campus to really be present there, it becomes harder for them to get the same well-rounded academic experience as their peers on our other campuses,” he says. “These are burdens we will no longer be asking students to bear as we find ways to keep offering a chiropractic education that is accessible and affordable.”
The cost of attending Palmer Main is $40,000 less than the cost of attenting Palmer West*
*The student cost difference between Palmer West and Palmer Main campus assumes a student transfers in their first term.
The College’s own fixed costs to deliver our educational Port Orange Davenport 82% 97%
program are another key consideration. Palmer pays a premium to simply exist in such a high-cost market for goods and services. The College searched for more affordable alternatives in the region without success. “Part of Palmer’s strength as an educational institution has always been its ability to respond and adapt to evolving scientific understanding, pedagogical philosophies, technological advancements, and student-learning needs,” says Dr. Marchiori. “In San Jose, though, that flexibility is constrained at, quite literally, a foundational level based on the region.”
The decision is not simply reactive, however — it is ultimately proactive, strategic and forward-looking. By phasing out the West campus and leaning into the growth and value offered by its Main and Florida campuses, Palmer is better positioned to meet its mission and vision
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