By Trish Tran
At the register section, Thao Tran, a fulltime student in SCCC commented while waiting in line to pay her tuition fee “My tuition for this fall quarter is cheaper than last quarter because I did not have any English as Second Language (ESL) classes”, she said. One of her friends, Nancy, who is American, was surprised about Tran’s comment. Looking at Tran’s amount, Nancy thought Tran was taking about 30 credits for that quarter because Tran was paying $3,000. She asked Tran why she is taking so many credits this quarter and how she will be able to complete all homework. “They are just 3 classes which are 15 credits”, Tran said. Nancy was astonished and asked Tran “Why is your tuition so expensive? Tran replied “I am an International student so I have to pay more than American students.”
Being an International student means students have to be prepared to pay the higher tuition fee that is often three times than the local students.
Tuan Nguyen – another International student, is saying that he is so busy and being stress with homework. “I have to take at least 12 credits every quarter. However, tuition fee for 12 and 15 credits is not much different so I decide to take 15 credits to save money and time”, he said. One of his host family member asked “Why do International students come to America to study when it is more expensive than their own countries?” Tuan replied that” American education is more valuable in my country to our employers, so when I go back, I will have higher chance of getting the career of my dream.”
According to the Institute of International Education (IIE) – Office of the Spokesman in Washington, DC, the number of International students at colleges and universities in the United States has increased by 8% to an all-time high of 671,616. In 2008/09 the number has increased by 16%. This represents the largest percentage increase in International student enrollments since 1980/81. Those finding were released at the Open Doors conference in 2009, and the annual survey report published by (IIE) with funding from the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.
International students pay higher tuition as if they were non-residential students. Furthermore, they haven’t previously paid the state taxes. In general, the taxes people pay still contributes to their kid education. More than that, they are required to pay for insurance which is included in the tuition only if they are not already covered in their countries.
Another reason, the international students generally receive their educated, and return home. They are not part of American’s community, and will not contribute to the community wellbeing when they leave. Most students who are from other countries and enrolling in SCCC said they would like to return home to work later.
Sibel- a Turkish student is going to graduate the AA degree in next two quarters, said that she will go back home after she graduates. She said “I will use all knowledge that I have learned to work for my family business. The majority of International student have the same response that American education is worth any price. In theory, again, native students are from American’s community, to whom people wish to give the advantages of education, and once educated they will remain part of the community and enrich it, both by their skills and by the higher taxes they will pay. Therefore, the community gains more from educating native students than overseas ones, and is willing to subsidies them.
Also because the number of oversea students is just increasing really fast, so charging higher fee for overseas students is a way to protect local students. Otherwise, seats at internationally reputed colleges will be flooded by rich students from other countries. The tuition fee is a way to limit the quota for applicants.
In addition, their economic impact—tuition and fees, living expenses for themselves and their dependents, and U.S. support mainly from the schools they attend. As it has been year after year, more than 60 percent International students receive the majority of their funds from personal and family financial assets. The next largest funding source is the college or university they are attending, according to the Institute of International Education (IIE).
