Get our top-rated Mini-MBA Certificate for $199 $65 (till 23rd Mar!)

Why international students pay more tuition

Why international students pay more tuitionAmerican universities roll out the red carpet for students from all over the world. But this is not entirely in pursuance of a mission to spread the bright light of quality education.

In these hard times of grant cuts and rising costs, there is a stronger, more basic, motivation: survival. To stay afloat, American universities simply need to sell their quality product — top-class education — to international students, mainly to those who can afford it. As a US Commerce Department official said, the US has “no better export” than higher education.

Quality US education comes at a high price for students from countries with currencies that can fill a small sack when changed for the US dollar. International students are not eligible for federal government scholarships that are granted only to US citizens.

A few foreign students receive university scholarships in the first semester or year, and some manage to receive aid only for subsequent semesters or years based on their academic performance. Other scholarships are available, but are highly competitive.

Only five universities are “need-blind,” which means they don’t let students’ lack of funds hamper their chances of admission. But the candidate needs a shining academic record to qualify.

Most international students, therefore, depend on their personal/family savings to fund their tuition and living expenses. Many students take huge bank loans, many of them mortgaging their parents’ homes. Many hire the best admission consultants to help them gain not only admits, but also scholarships to make the journey a little smoother.

The Open Doors report says that 72 percent of all international undergraduate students and 55 percent of foreign graduate students source their funds outside the US.
 

Large contribution

By enrolling in US universities, foreign students contribute not only to the universities’ coffers—bolstering their finances and helping them to educate local students at lower fees—but also to the US economy. [Read – Why international students are good for the US economy] An Open Doors report on the impact of international students on the US economy says that these students contribute more than $30 billion to that country annually.

Apart from money, international students diversify campuses and help prepare themselves and their American classmates for global careers. Their presence provides international perspectives to campuses, and their money helps give a fillip to scientific research at their institutions.

Arriving in the US following their dreams, most international students find what they came for: excellent faculty and campus facilities and exposure to the world’s best academic approaches. However, their fees are much higher than those of their American peers.

Most public universities in the US have two separate fee structures—one for students living in the same state where the universities are located, and another for students from outside the state, or “out-of-staters.” Some public universities have introduced a third, higher structure for international students.

A few universities have recently increased the tuition fee for out-of-staters, including international students. The University of Wisconsin, for example, is collecting a $1,000 surcharge from international undergraduate students, taking the total fee increase for these students from $1,200 to $4,000.

Other Big Ten universities, including Ohio State, Purdue, Illinois, Michigan State, and Pennsylvania State universities, are charging higher special rates for international students.

Universities have for long collected modest special fees from international students for special services and programs. However, higher, differentiated fees for international students are a new trend. What is the justification?

One reason is obviously the cuts in state budget grants to universities, which have forced them to cut down on faculty and freeze programs. Some states such as Illinois have had to reach deep down into their reserves just to meet operational costs. A ready solution is higher fees from immigrant students.

Additionally, officials say, universities offer special services for foreign students, and the increased costs have to be met through higher fees. Moreover, universities have to meet tighter monitoring and reporting requirements in the case of international students since 9/11, which imposes an additional financial burden.

A percentage of the higher fees from foreign students is also used to fund scholarships for state residents—in Illinois, for example. Universities, which compete for international students who can pay the full fee, also have to spend on recruitment roadshows abroad.

A Purdue University official justified the higher fees for international students saying that in-state students and out-of-staters paid state or federal taxes or both, while international students or their families paid neither. However, this line of thinking has met with opposition, as the students contribute to the local economies of the state and indirectly pay taxes.
 

Protests

The rise in tuition fee has led to protests from immigrant students, who have raised banners that read, “We are not cash cows” and “Increase our voice, not our fees.” On the other hand, the growth in the number of international students at US universities has caused concern about a perceived lack of integration of immigrants with local students and communities, and about foreign students securing admission at the cost of local students.

Among other popular destinations for higher education, nowhere do tuition fees for domestic/EU and international students vary so widely as in the UK. Undergraduate immigrant students opting for some courses pay four times the fees paid by domestic/EU students.

For example, at Cambridge and Oxford, the annual tuition fee for international undergraduate students of management and computer science is $33,000-$35,000 compared with only $12,750 for UK/EU students. Adding to the immigrant students’ worries is the fact that their fees may be hiked midcourse, which would threaten the continuance of their studies.

A spokesperson for Universities UK justified the higher fee for international students, saying it was the reputation of the institutions that attracted students to the country and international students were happy with the experience and facilities. “It is like any other business,” some others seem to say.

Another argument in favour of higher fees for immigrants is that most students return to their own countries after studies, and they use what they learned in the UK to improve their companies and the economy of their countries.

The fee situation is similar in Canada, where the tuition fee for an undergraduate arts or humanities program for international students, for example, is three or four times the fee for Canadian students.

For example, at the University of British Columbia, the tuition and living expenses for a Canadian student enrolled in an undergraduate arts course is around $3,800 (figures in US dollars), while the fee for an international student is over $20,000. The tuition for the MBA course at the University of Calgary’s Haskayne School of Business is $25,000 for Canadian students and $44,000 for international students.

Australia is not far behind at all in collecting much higher fees from foreign students. According to online sources, a basic science degree at Melbourne, Sydney, or Queensland University comes at about $8,500 per annum for an Australian student compared with $35,500 for a foreign student.

Again, the justification seems to be that immigrant students don’t pay taxes, part of which goes to the universities as grants. The counterargument is again that students pay taxes upon entry into the country and when they earn an income, and also on every purchase they make.

Interestingly, a study conducted by the HSBC not long ago found that Australia is the most expensive country for an international student, with an average annual expenditure of $42,000 ($24,000 university fees and $18,000 living expenses).

And the cheapest country? India, at just $5,600: $5,000 living expenses and just $600 university fees.

An Australian blogger points out that the UN Human Rights Charter lists education as a basic human right. Large gaps between fees for local and international students from countries with low per capita incomes make higher education an unequal world that lacks higher ideals. But then, big education is big business; no one said it was large-hearted.

Also read:
How much does an MBA Cost in India, USA, Europe: A basic comparison
Average cost of studying abroad: Masters in Europe vs America
How these international students got scholarships from top universities
How to reduce the cost of living as an international student in USA
How to reduce the MBA Networking costs
American B-school’s love-hate relationship with international students
MBA Programs with the most international students
 
Resources: 1, 2, 3, 16, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 | Image credit: Kunal Shah (Marxist.com)


Mini-MBA | Start here | Success stories | Reality check | Knowledgebase | Scholarships | Services

Serious about higher ed? Follow us:

               

7 thoughts on “Why international students pay more tuition”

  1. Hi Sameer,
    I am Apoorva , a B.Tech graduate(2017) from Delhi Technological University.
    Educational Qualifications:
    Graduation : 76%
    XII – 94.4%
    X – 10 CGPA(95%)
    Currently working as a Business Intelligence Consultant in one of the IT Solution providers. I have decided to work for a couple of years before applying for Masters. However, I am facing a dilemma between CAT and GMAT.I have read thoroughly about both of them and I want to go for both of them. Also, I have gone through ISB Early Entry (Deferred admissions). The second round of applications open in January’18.I am looking forward to take GMAT exam in December 2017( for applications in 2019 Fall )along with CAT 2018.I feel that I am short of knowledge for targeting B Schools.
    1).Please guide me on the feasibility of this roadmap .
    2). How should I target BSchools based on my profile?
    3). Do top B Schools have graduation percentage as shortlist criteria ?

    Reply
  2. hey i am a bcom hons final year student from I.P university new delhi and i want to pursue my mba from abroad . Can you give me few tips as how to get into prestigious international business schools and i have completed my french certificate course from delhi university as well this year and would this certificate help me anyhow ?

    Reply
  3. Hello everyone,
    I am Bivash Talukdar, relatively much younger to all, who have expressed their views and helped one another through their suggestions in the comments.
    I am in a dire need of suggestions/guidance from experienced people. I have done my engineering (Bachelors) from India and have only 1 year of work experience. I want to pursue my MBA fall 2018.
    I have scored 710 on my GMAT and want to switch my career path to finance, (something like investment banking)
    Please suggest me if this is the right age/experience for me to do my MBA?
    Thank You
    Bivash

    Reply
  4. HI,

    Thanks for your website,

    i am sandeep Pharma Graduate having 6.5 yrs of experience and working in Indian MNC BPS sector , imy work ex is from banking background.
    i want to jump from mid level to higher levels with one of the MBA programmes , pls suggest me shall i take online MBA ( it will add any value for my career progression ) or full time 1 yr MBA

    If full time 1 yr MBA pls guide me the institutes , i am not maths expert ..i expect My GMAT score would @ 650-680 on tough preparion
    waiting for your response

    Reply
  5. Hi i am applying to MBA in 2017 and am really confused about the countries. The stricter visa laws in US and UK have forced many Indians to go back to India post MBA. As everyone knows, its very difficult to pay the huge loans of MBA by an Indian salary. Many people who stay back for work in US or UK also get into small companies. Only a few make it to big firms. This has made me question the value of a foreign MBA at current time. Any comments?

    Reply
  6. @Apoorva: You can go only for CAT for now. If things don’t work out you can consider GMAT later. Yes, bschools do consider graduation percentage among the evaluation criteria.

    @Arun: We’ve described the entire application process in detail here: https://www.mbacrystalball.com/get-into-the-top-mba-programs

    @Bivash: It’s a little early for you. Wait for 2-3 years more and then apply.

    @Sandeep: Full-time MBA is always better than a part-time / online MBA.

    @Apoorv: You are right. The risks are there. Which is why it’s important to be clear about your expectations from the degree and have a backup plan in place.

    Reply
  7. You should see the MBA program fee in Canada at a University in Northern BC. For DOMESTIC students is is over $45,000. Semester tuition is almost $8000 (PER SEMESTER) and all of their other programs are $1200-2500 per semester. Where is the external oversight on these universities who are only a blatant money grab.

    Reply

Leave a Comment