Wayne State and the University of Windsor are hunting for students who live in each other's region, and the result is "a cross-border tuition war . . . as both institutions try to find ways to lure international students," Dave Hull writes in The Windsor Star,
They're not poaching, mind you -- just dangling bargains as bait, particularly to lure athletes.
It all kicked off in the spring, when Windsor officials announced plans to cut tuition for U.S. students almost in half -- a move which was quickly followed by Detroit-based Wayne State, which is now charging Canadian students the same tuition as students from neighbouring states.
Mike Havey, acting athletic director at Windsor, said that it’s an initiative which former athletic director Gord Grace had been pressing university administration to consider for a number of years.
“It will certainly work in our favour in our attempts to recruit cross-border athletes,” said Havey. “We’re delighted in the decision which administration has taken and we’re anxious to see what impact it will have in our next recruitment cycle. Our coaches are certainly well-aware of it."
The Star describes the incentives:
U.S. students attending Windsor now pay US$10,000 for two semesters, a savings of about $8,000 from previous years. . . .
At WSU, meanwhile, Canadian students can save up to $12,000 based on 15-credit hours per semester, compared to the previous international student tuition fees.
