This bar graph shows the percentage of international students’ sources of funding for their education. More than 60% of students individually pay for their education, while only 26% are offered scholarships from universities.
Sources: Institute of International Education, 2007; U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, 2006
According to 2006 statistics from the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, there are 583,959 international students in the United States with the majority coming from India, China and South Korea.
International students pay the non-resident tuition rate, which is usually more than three times the normal rate. American students who pay the non-resident tuition rate can apply for residency after a year of enrollment and are then entitled to pay the in-state tuition rate. International students, however, are exempt from applying for residency and are stuck with the non-resident tuition rate for their entire time of study.
The high costs of living, the federal requirement to have health insurance at all times and the employment law that limits foreign students to work on-campus for no more than 20 hours a week all add to the financial struggles.