2023-08-11 02:00:00
On Wednesday, Governor Maura Healey signed into law a provision that would allow Massachusetts high school graduates, regardless of their immigration status, to qualify for in-state tuition rates at public colleges and universities.
The measure, also known as tuition equity, also unlocks state financial aid for undocumented students. To qualify, a person must have attended a Massachusetts high school for at least three years and have graduated or earned their GED in the Commonwealth.
“This is good policy, it is smart policy, and it is the right thing to do to finally give undocumented students in Massachusetts the same access to higher education as their peers,” said Senate Speaker Karen E. Spilka (D-Ashland ). “Not only does it open the door to world-class public education options in Massachusetts for students who might not otherwise have attended, but it also makes possible a financially stable future for people who have long called Massachusetts home. and who want to build a future here.”
Under the old law, undocumented students, many of whom have lived in Massachusetts most of their lives, who were enrolled in a Massachusetts public college or university were required to pay out-of-state tuition, which can be more than double the in-state tuition rate. As a result, students had to put aside their dreams of going to college or put other priorities of their families aside to pay the cost out of state without financial aid.
With the Governor’s signature, Massachusetts joins 23 other states and the District of Columbia in allowing undocumented students access to in-state tuition at all public institutions of higher learning. Of those states, Massachusetts joins 17 and the District of Columbia in also offering access to state financial aid for these students.
States that grant undocumented students access to in-state tuition include states from across the political spectrum, including Arizona, Florida, and Kentucky. Similarly, states that also provide financial aid to these students include Texas, Utah, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New York, and New Jersey.
In Massachusetts, undocumented immigrants contribute about $184 million per year in state and local taxes. Boosting access to higher education can improve a person’s earning potential, which would increase tax contributions.
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