A new bill has been proposed by legislators in Washington state, USA, to add a 20% surcharge to tuition fees for international students starting in the 2013-2014 academic year. Supporters of the bill say it could raise US$60 million over the next two years. However educators fear it will deter foreign students, more than 20,000 of whom studied in the state last year. A new bill has been proposed by legislators in Washington state, USA, to add a 20% surcharge to tuition fees for international students starting in the 2013-2014 academic year. Supporters of the
bill say it could raise US$60 million over the next two years, however educators fear it will deter foreign students from studying in the state.
"Foreign students already pay double the average cost of instruction, thereby substantially subsidising education for Washington students," said Bruce Shepard, president of
Western Washington University. "A further 20% tax will drive away numbers of current foreign students, creating a hole in budget revenues that will actually be larger than the unrealisable $60 million."
"If students feel too heavy a burden they will leave or will not go to Washington state"
Washington ranks 11th among US states in terms of international student numbers. In 2012, it welcomed 20,198 foreign students, a 13% increase on the previous year, who contributed US$533 million to the state economy.
Foreign and out-of-state students pay nearly three times as much as in-state students at most institutions, but the levy would raise this significantly. At the University of Washington, the institute with the largest foreign student population in the state, international students would pay an extra $6,000, pushing fees up to US$35,000 a year.
Sungho Han, president of the
Korean Overseas Study Association, told
The PIE News the levy could have serious knock-on effects. "International students in Washington state pay the high tuition and also spend money on things like accommodation and entertainment," he said.
"If students feel too heavy a burden they will leave or will not go to Washington state. As a result the government will lose more money and the industries related to student spending will collapse."
Lawmakers say the surcharge will justly help subsidise in-state tuition
Students looking for value for money would be advised to go elsewhere, he added. However, state lawmakers believe the surcharge will justly help subsidise in-state tuition. Senate Majority Leader Rodney Tom said: "The kid from Idaho, his parents have been paying federal taxes for years, so there should be a difference between what the kid from Idaho pays and what the kid from Taipei pays.”
The drafted bill was included in the proposed state budget from the Senate—although Representatives in the House are yet to release their proposed budget. Both will have to agree on a joint budget before it is passed to the state governor for final approval.
If passed, Washington would be the first state to administer such a surcharge, although some state universities already carry a levy for international students including the University of Illinois and Purdue University in Indiana.
Educators opposing the idea are consoled by the steps remaining before the bill becomes law. "It's still a beginning…for we have only the Senate proposal," said Shepard. "There is much work left to do: we must help our legislature to see that higher ed is the major tool they have available to build brighter futures for our state."
A new bill has been proposed by legislators in Washington state, USA, to add a 20% surcharge to tuition fees for international students starting in the 2013-2014 academic year. Supporters of the bill say it could raise US$60 million over the next two years, however educators fear it will deter foreign students from studying in the state.
“Foreign students already pay double the average cost of instruction, thereby substantially subsidising education for Washington students,” said Bruce Shepard, president of Western Washington University. “A further 20% tax will drive away numbers of current foreign students, creating a hole in budget revenues that will actually be larger than the unrealisable $60 million.”
“If students feel too heavy a burden they will leave or will not go to Washington state”
Washington ranks 11th among US states in terms of international student numbers. In 2012, it welcomed 20,198 foreign students, a 13% increase on the previous year, who contributed US$533 million to the state economy.
Foreign and out-of-state students pay nearly three times as much as in-state students at most institutions, but the levy would raise this significantly. At the University of Washington, the institute with the largest foreign student population in the state, international students would pay an extra $6,000, pushing fees up to US$35,000 a year.
Sungho Han, president of the Korean Overseas Study Association, told The PIE News the levy could have serious knock-on effects. “International students in Washington state pay the high tuition and also spend money on things like accommodation and entertainment,” he said.
“If students feel too heavy a burden they will leave or will not go to Washington state. As a result the government will lose more money and the industries related to student spending will collapse.”
Lawmakers say the surcharge will justly help subsidise in-state tuition
Students looking for value for money would be advised to go elsewhere, he added. However, state lawmakers believe the surcharge will justly help subsidise in-state tuition. Senate Majority Leader Rodney Tom said: “The kid from Idaho, his parents have been paying federal taxes for years, so there should be a difference between what the kid from Idaho pays and what the kid from Taipei pays.”
The drafted bill was included in the proposed state budget from the Senate—although Representatives in the House are yet to release their proposed budget. Both will have to agree on a joint budget before it is passed to the state governor for final approval.
If passed, Washington would be the first state to administer such a surcharge, although some state universities already carry a levy for international students including the University of Illinois and Purdue University in Indiana.
Educators opposing the idea are consoled by the steps remaining before the bill becomes law. “It’s still a beginning…for we have only the Senate proposal,” said Shepard. “There is much work left to do: we must help our legislature to see that higher ed is the major tool they have available to build brighter futures for our state.”
