Fees much higher for int'l students

Students from other countries pay four times more

By Valerie Westen
The Collegian

International students make up less than 3 percent of the Fresno State population but pay about four times what a California resident student pays for fees and tuitions.

Students from 65 countries throughout the world choose to come to Fresno State to study and obtain degrees in a variety of majors, the most popular being business and computer science.

The 566 international students attending Fresno State this semester encounter the same responsibilities and difficulties than any other student from Fresno or the Valley, but with a few more obstacles such as the language barrier, the foreign environment and doing everything on their own.

The average cost for one academic year for a foreign student is about $12,000. This includes fees and tuition for 12 units, health insurance and books. This does not include the $14,000 estimated annual cost of living.

Annie Tremp, office manager of the International Student Services and Programs office, said she receives the most problems and questions from international students about housing.

“It is a big issue, when students come to Fresno, they don’t always know where they’ll live yet,” Tremp said. “We have a link on Blackboard to help them find housing, but often have to place them in families for a few days at their arrival until they find where they’ll be living.”

Many international students live in the dorms and in apartments they share with other international students. But the costs of living and tuitions is another matter.

An estimated $27,000 is needed for each academic year, and the students are usually not allowed to work their first semester in the United States.

Lucia Hammar, director of the ISSP office, said students find quite a few ways to pay for their schooling and living expenses.

“Students have to prove with a bank statement that they have the money required to attend Fresno State. Only then are they approved to receive a visa to enter the country. Some are sponsored by their parents, their government, scholarships or even have saved up enough to come study here,” Hammar said.

Many students and faculty ask why it is so expensive to be an international student in California. The answer is that up until their arrival, students and their parents have never paid any taxes in the state.

“The costs are the same whether you come from out of state or out of the country. The California State University system was originally created for California kids,” Hammar said.

The decision on how much foreign students should pay for school is made by the state legislature.

Many students find it difficult to afford living in Fresno and keep up with all the expenses. Many seek jobs on campus after their first semester, but they are not allowed to work off-campus.

“It is easier to track the students that way and it is in their best interest. Having a job may interfere with their studies,” Tremp said.

Students who sometimes prefer not to be a burden and want to help contribute even slightly to their expenses often find paid internships or jobs on campus. But even then they are not allowed to work more than 20 hours a week.

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