The reason why students in European states get away with such low tuition is because they and their families have been paying low taxes all their lives. I attended university in Ireland briefly, and tuition for non-EU citizens was about 8000 euro per semester. Considering the falling value of the dollar, increased costs to travel back and forth, and the fact that most student visas do not allow you to get a part-time job, studying at home is usually cheaper.
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The reason why students in European states get away with such low tuition is because they and their families have been paying low taxes all their lives. I attended university in Ireland briefly, and tuition for non-EU citizens was about 8000 euro per semester. Considering the falling value of the dollar, increased costs to travel back and forth, and the fact that most student visas do not allow you to get a part-time job, studying at home is usually cheaper.