Conjoined Twins Paid Double Tuition at College But Receive Only One Salary as Teachers
They Paid Twice to Graduate—Now They Earn Just Once
Abby and Brittany Hensel have been extraordinary from the moment they were born. As conjoined twins—two individuals sharing a single body—they’ve long defied medical odds and societal expectations. But their remarkable journey through life has come with challenges that raise uncomfortable questions about fairness, equality, and the institutions we trust.
Born in 1990 in Minnesota, Abby and Brittany quickly became known worldwide for their resilience, intelligence, and unwavering teamwork. Despite having separate brains, hearts, and personalities, they navigate life in perfect synchrony—sharing limbs, coordinating speech, and seamlessly dividing up physical tasks. They are two people—without question—but within one body.
So when the Hensel twins enrolled in Bethel University to study education, they were met with a surprising and arguably unjust policy: the school charged them two full tuition fees, as if they were entirely separate students.
Yet from a strictly administrative perspective, maybe that makes sense. After all, they attended separate classes, completed individual exams, and earned distinct GPAs. They worked twice as hard as many of their peers, each cultivating her own intellectual growth and academic achievements.
But here’s where the contradiction becomes stark: After graduating, the twins entered the workforce as teachers. They applied for jobs as a unit, got hired as a unit, and today they share one teaching position—splitting the responsibilities of classroom management, lesson planning, and student support.
And they earn just one salary.
Two tuitions, but one paycheck. How does that add up?
When the System Doesn’t Know Where to Place You
The case of Abby and Brittany reveals a serious blind spot in how systems—academic, financial, and employment—are designed to deal with unique individuals. Despite being two separate people, their shared body complicates everything from job applications to legal documents, and apparently, even paychecks.
Their salary arrangement has drawn both admiration and criticism. On one hand, they’ve expressed deep gratitude for simply being able to pursue their passion for teaching. On the other, some argue they deserve two salaries—not just as a symbol of recognition for their effort, but because they are doing the work of two certified educators.
By all metrics, they meet the requirements. Two degrees. Two sets of credentials. Two educators. But in the eyes of payroll systems, they’re considered one full-time equivalent.
So why then, did their college education cost them double?
A Case That Sparks Bigger Questions
This isn’t just a story about two women with an exceptional condition—it’s about how outdated or inflexible systems treat people who don’t fit the mold.
Why should they pay more for college than any other student, only to be told their labor is worth half of what their degrees suggest? This contradiction reveals something deeper: a lack of institutional compassion, creativity, and adaptation for cases that don’t conform to standard rules.
Some have likened their situation to discrimination—though unintentional, it’s a consequence of systems built around assumptions of what’s “normal.” And in doing so, we risk penalizing those who challenge the definition.
Still, They Rise
Despite this, Abby and Brittany move forward with remarkable grace. They teach in a Minnesota elementary school, navigating the day just like any other educator. They lead lessons, manage classrooms, attend faculty meetings, and inspire students—not just with knowledge, but with their very presence.
Their story isn’t just inspiring—it’s a reminder that our structures, policies, and norms often fail to accommodate real human complexity. As we move into a more inclusive and equitable era, perhaps it’s time we reevaluate what fairness really means—especially when it comes to how we educate, employ, and value people who live beyond the conventional frame.