Tuition Amount on I-20 is much lower than actual tuition amount

Student Lounge International Students
1

Hi there,

The tuition amount listed on my 1-20 is about $15,000/year lower than the cost of the actual tuition. The school is less than willing to work with me to grant that tuition amount. Do I have any legal standing to be charged the amount on my I-20 rather than what I am currently being charged for tuition? I am in a position where I can no longer afford to stay in the school.

Thanks in advance for the feedback!

2

I’m not surprised that the school doesn’t want to lower its tuition because of what appears to be a paperwork error: tuition costs are well known, listed on schools’ website and in its catalogs. It’s the student’s responsibility to know what the costs are and to decide whether or not they can afford it. Presumably, you didn’t decide on the school based on the costs listed on the I-20, but on other materials the school sent you at time of admissions - and before the I-20 was issued. (Or was that amount incorrect, too? If so, you maybe have a case)

At least, that’s how I interpret the situation based on the little information you gave us.

3

Thank you! The amount on the website was incorrect as well. So, when I got into the program my I-20 matched the fees listed on the program’s website. The program has since updated their website, so they no longer match.

4

If the website was incorrect, you have a case (doesn’t mean the school will agree, however.) My first thought would be to talk to other international students to see if they were misled as well. (There can be strength in numbers - plus it would go a long way to prove that the website was incorrect.)

But even if you’re the only person affected, I would make an effort to see someone high up in the administration- the dean of students, for example. Be calm and factual and humble. Explain the error, show your I20, make it clear that through the university’s error you cannot continue to stay at the school, and that the amount of money you’ve already paid may be wasted. Try to appeal to the dean’s logic - and humanity.

Finally, see if the school has an “ombudsman” - a neutral official at the school who’s not necessarily acting on behalf the school, but in an advisory position.