Stop Subsidizing International Students’ Tuition

Most state universities have restrictions on Federal money being used to subsidize the tuition of international students. This, however, is not true for private universities where often a full ride is given to any admitted student who demonstrates need, regardless of whether they are a US citizen or not. For example, at Harvard, any admitted student whose parents earn under $65,000.00 per year, can expect to receive a full ride, regardless of citizenship.

The percentage of international students in the undergraduate population at our prestigious private universities is significant:

Private institutions such as Harvard, Yale, Princeton, etc., enjoy tax-free status and pay no federal income tax. Furthermore, it appears that approximately 15% to 20% of the undergraduate populations of the top 20 private institutions in America are foreign students. Most of them have their tuition paid for in full. If these institutions paid taxes, the American citizens would have a smaller tax burden. Accordingly, it is essentially the American taxpayer who is paying the tuition of the international students getting grants and financial aid from the Harvards, the Yales, the Princetons.

It is ok for these institutions to give financial aid to international students if they wish, but if they do, they should lose their tax-exempt status. This is a choice that each of them can make. But the American citizen should not have to pay for tuition for international students.

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