As a PhD student, my tuition is 100% covered by my advisor. Although I like research, I will probably not pursue a PhD degree without the financial support. The tuition of an American university is simply too high for a Chinese family, and I think sometimes it is also too high for an American family. What’s worse, it is becoming more and more expensive. As reported by a U.S. News article, in the past 20 years,
“The average tuition and fees at private National Universities have jumped 157 percent. Out-of-state tuition and fees at public National Universities have risen 194 percent. In-state tuition and fees at public National Universities have grown the most, increasing 237 percent.”
It can be seen from the figure in this article that the average tuition and fees of private universities is more than $40,000, and the average out-of-state tuition and fees of public universities is around $ 26,000.
By comparison, the tuition is $0 in Germany, and slightly lower than $1,000 for most of the top universities in China. State governments in those countries have made tremendous efforts to subsidize higher education, not only tuition, but also transportation, housing, dining and many other aspects. For example, for a university located in the center of Shanghai, China, the cost of the on-campus dorm is less than $400 per year, whereas the rental of the nearby apartment is $400 per month. This difference is covered by the state government.
Although the amount of international students is increasing, I think the high tuition and fees need to be lowered, if American universities want to be competitive in future. This is particularly true when Chinese universities are gaining more international reputation. A friend of mine went to Germany to pursue a Master’s degree because of the tuition. Another good example is that, an undergraduate student in our department has decided to go to one of the elite universities in China for a Master’s degree. With less top students coming to study here, it is possible that America will lose its competition in international market.
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