International students at Illinois Valley Community College pay significantly more in tuition than domestic students, reflecting a disparity that exists across higher education.
Here at IVCC, international student tuition, according to 2025 credit hour costs, is $14,688.60 compared to domestic students of $5,295.74. The numbers used help represent tuition and fees
only and do not include additional costs such as housing, food, books, transportation, etc.

While IVCC does show a larger percentage gap, the cost overall at a four-year university remains much
higher per year. Even before additional living costs or other expenses, international students at the University of Illinois pay nearly $50,000 per year, compared to about $14,700 here at IVCC.

Despite these high costs, international students still continue to come to the United States, and to IVCC, with a sense of determination and purpose. Some even get the opportunity to receive sports scholarships to help with these costs.

For both David Escobedo Irureta from Spain and Jabulile Mooketsi from
South Africa, the opportunity to come and combine athletics with education was worth the financial challenge.

“I wanted to play my sport and get a degree at the same time, and here they offered paying for my studies by playing my sport,” Escobedo Irureta said.

Mooketsi also shared a similar motivation.

“The main reason that I wanted to study in the United States was because I wanted to be able to play
football [soccer] as well as get an education,” he stated.

Even knowing the cost, both students stated that their goals pushed them to take the risk. 

“I have been lucky and blessed for getting a good scholarship, so the costs were reduced a lot,” Escobedo Irureta said. “Also, the experience of living alone, learning a new language, and culture are worth it.” 

For Mooketsi, his decision was about more than just the money. 

For him, he wanted to “be able to meet new people and live a different life compared to the one I was used to,” he said.  

When it came to costs other than schooling in the U.S., neither student said the overall expense was unexpected, although certain aspects stood out to them.  

Escobedo Irureta stated that he did not see a major difference in everyday prices compared to his home country of Spain but did note one exception. 

“The only thing that actually surprised me are the medical costs,” he said.  

Mooketsi also expressed that he was not completely surprised by costs, but noted a difference in how prices are presented. 

“The only thing that I did not expect is that price tags in America are tax-excluded instead of tax-included,” he said.  

Their personal experiences reflect a broader reality: while the financial burden is there, many international students come with a clear dream—one that makes the cost feel smaller than what they can accomplish while here.  

Adjusting to life in the U.S., however, has not come without challenges and cultural differences, specifically when it comes to lifestyle choices and social interactions.  

“People in America eat fast and bad, like they don’t want to lose time eating… and people here barely talk and look like they are in their own world,” stated Escobedo Irureta.  

Mooketsi shared similar differences. 

“Most people seem to concentrate only on themselves and their personal plans, and socializing with others appears not as frequent as it was in my homeland,” he said.  

While both students have also faced environmental adjustments, their determination to succeed has remained steady.  

So far, both students say their experiences at IVCC have been positive. Escobedo Irureta touched on the support he has received from others, while Mooketsi highlighted that meeting people from diverse backgrounds made it easier for him to adapt here.  

“Meeting new individuals from diverse nationalities and backgrounds proved to be helpful in my adaptation process,” Mooketsi expressed.  

He also spoke on the level of structure IVCC has.  

“A pleasant surprise is that there is a lot of structure everywhere, especially in education and sports,” Mooketsi said. 

As they both look ahead, they emphasized the importance of resilience for others considering studying abroad.  

“They should be prepared for any surprises, which entails being flexible to change. They should focus on their goals and make the best use of available opportunities,” Mooketsi stated. 

Escobedo Irureta encouraged future students to talk and make connections. 

“They should talk and make connections because here in IVCC, there are a lot of people with a great heart that will help,” he said.  

As tuition costs continue to rise, their stories help highlight a key reality: for many international students, deciding to study abroad is not just based on finances. It is driven by ambition, opportunities, and their determination to pursue a dream, no matter the cost.