International student Johnny Leiba arrived at Moorpark College two years ago from Jamaica. He was facing tuitions costs of more than $2000, had no source of income and feeling somewhat isolated in a new country.

Leiba said the transition was tough, however it was something that he knew was worth it.

“Initially I felt like an outcast,” said Leiba. “I learned to fit in. It was easy to adapt and change.”

Leiba is one of 121 international students at Moorpark College. International students pay $229 per-unit compared to the $26 per-unit that other students are paying. To add to the high cost, there is also a limited amount of time that the tuition must be paid, which is 7-days beginning at the time of registration.

Matriculation Specialist of the Office of Outreach and Admissions, Maureen Rauchfuss, explains that the stress for international students is tremendous.

“It’s hard on them,” said Rauchfuss. “The students know that their families are putting everything on the line for their education.”

In reality the tuition for everyone is $229 per unit. However, the federal government subsidizes the tuition for citizens going to college in the U.S.

While the usual registration takes only a one-step online process, for international students the processing takes several steps.

This semester the international students’ office has 121 full-time students coming from 48 different countries.

Students must be enrolled in school full-time in order to continue their education here. Without citizenship students can only work on campus when positions are available. 

Majed Kaseeh, an 18-year-old, bioengineering major at Moorpark College, explained his situation with a law that was passed recently.

“I got lucky,” said Kaseeh. “This past November a law was passed, so I just have to prove I have been living here for more than three years to pay regular tuition.”

Kaseeh and his family are Palestinian. He was born and raised in Saudi Arabia and moved here when he turned nine. Moving to the United States at an early age made it easy for him to adjust to American customs.

Living here for nine years already it was fortunate that the law was passed to lower his tuition to the ordinary amount. His family works hard to put him through school and he works hard by being a diligent student.

For Leiba, a 20-year-old engineering major, the economic struggle is still a good value.

“In my eyes I see it as a positive,” said Leiba. “I’m still saving money compared to a 4-year university.”

Leiba is originally from Jamaica, his family moved here in order to give him a better chance to make something of his life. Coming from a third-world-country allows him to view life here optimistically.

“For the time I have been here I’ve been able to give American teenagers a view of what it’s like to come from somewhere with a new culture,” said Leiba.

For more information on tuition or international students visit http://www.moorparkcollege.edu/services_for_students/international_students/index.shtml