EMU Today

YPSILANTI – Eastern Michigan University has introduced the TRUEMU Global Rate tuition plan, providing in-state tuition pricing to all new incoming international undergraduate students, beginning this fall. The move expands the University’s action in June 2016 to offer in-state tuition to incoming undergraduate students from anywhere in the United States. This provides a simplified single-rate pricing for all incoming undergraduate students, whether from Michigan, another state or from outside the U.S.

The new single-rate tuition plan reflects of the University’s emphasis on serving students amid the changing enrollment patterns and student needs at American universities. 

The Eastern Michigan University Board of Regents approved the new tuition rates at its regular board meeting on Friday, June 22. 

As all other students, international undergraduates will pay $413.60 per credit hour in the coming academic year. That represents a reduction of 60 percent from the tuition rate for an international student last year. 

“As enrollment of international students at universities across the U.S. continues to decline, it is more important than ever for higher education institutions to identify new methods to recruit international students who desire an American college education,” said Eastern Michigan University President James Smith. 

“We operate in a global environment,” said Smith. “Students from all over the world are figuratively next door in terms of their accessibility and their interest in attending college in the U.S. That is particularly true here at Eastern with our strong faculty and staff support of international students, and our proximity to a world-class airport with daily direct flights to many overseas cities.”

More information about international admissions at Eastern can be found on our website.  

The new initiative in no way reduces or impacts the recruitment efforts and enrollment of Michigan students to attend Eastern. 

The TRUEMU Global Rate tuition plan builds upon Eastern’s extensive efforts over the past two years to recruit and welcome international students to campus – one of President Smith’s priorities since he took office in the summer of 2016. 

The nationally-recognized #YouAreWelcomeHere campaign, designed to make international students aware of how they can flourish academically and socially at Eastern, includes a variety of initiatives, including social gatherings, efforts to grow campus awareness and special scholarships. 

For example, the campaign features a highly visible banner initiative featuring 120 individual international students. The banners were placed on light-posts around the campus and on major roadways in Ypsilanti. The University also placed a large banner featuring international students on its parking structure, with other banners located around campus highlighting students and their many home countries.

In addition, a #YouAreWelcomeHere video features international students, faculty and staff, and the University also has developed the #YouAreWelcomeHere website to provide a comprehensive resource to international students and scholars, with links to important offices that support Eastern’s international community on campus.

Eastern also teamed up with the Washtenaw County Convention and Visitors Bureau to offer a further local touch, producing a video, narrated by Ypsilanti mayor Amanda Edmonds that spotlights the distinct, diverse and welcoming character of Ypsilanti and the University. 

Earlier this spring, Eastern Michigan University, together with Temple University and seven other U.S. university partners, announced they are launching a national scholarship program for incoming international students for fall 2019.

Eastern currently hosts nearly 700 international students.

About Eastern Michigan University

Founded in 1849, Eastern is the second oldest university in Michigan. It currently serves 20,000 students pursuing undergraduate, graduate, specialist, doctoral and certificate degrees in the arts, sciences and professions. In all, more than 300 majors, minors and concentrations are delivered through the University's Colleges of Arts and Sciences; Business; Education; Health and Human Services; Technology, and its graduate school. EMU is regularly recognized by national publications for its excellence, diversity, and commitment to applied education. For more information about Eastern Michigan University, visit the University's website.