Why an international student has to pay $300 for one unit but the American student only pay $20/unit?

Question

Why an international student has to pay $300 for one unit but the American student only pay $20/unit?

Answer 1

The reason is because U.S. citizens who are a resident of that State get subsidized tuition and so they should.

U.S. citizens and permanent residens of the United States pay taxes to the government/state which a portion of that goes towards education in that state. You and every other international student has paid nothing towards this education, so why should you benefit from lower tutition.

If you want cheaper tuition then study in your home country, where it is subsidized for you. Would you want everyone who hasn't paid taxes in your country to move and take advantage of that lower tuition.

And by the way $300 for out-of-state tuition is about the average cost in the majority of states in the U.S.

Answer 2

If it's a public or land grant university, the student who is a resident of that state gets to take the classes at state resident costs. Anyone from outside of that state has to pay full price.