My student is still considering 12 of the 15 schools he applied to - it will all come down to the best school that offers the most money/value. I have researched each one of the schools and have their prices figured out as close as I can get them so we can make accurate financial choices. There is a lot of variation with meal plans and tuition. Many of the schools he’s looking at offer flat rate tuition for a full-time course load, usually full-time is 12 hours and there is a cap of 15, 18 or 21 hours per semester. Most have 18 as a cap but many have the lower cap of 15 for freshmen. There are some schools that charge by credit hour and a lot of schools that have different rates depending on the program. For meal plans, many schools have options. When I went to school, I had a 10-meal-per-week plan because it was the cheapest. It was not enough. Wherever my student goes, he’ll get the all-you-can-eat regardless of the cost. Also, most schools allow you to eat in their dining halls during visits and you can check them out for yourself. I’ve been impressed by all of the ones we’ve seen but, more importantly, so has my student.
Health insurance is probably the trickiest for international students, but it is a legal issue for the college.