In-State Tuition for Illegal Immigrants: What’s it Cost?
Friday, September 30, 2011
Earlier this week, the Rhode Island Board of Governors for Higher Education unanimously voted in favor of allowing undocumented students the opportunity to qualify for in-state tuition at state colleges and universities. The measure, which stems from the Federal DREAM (Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors) Act, will take effect in 2012.
Rhode Island becomes the fourteenth state in the country to approve such action, but the first to do so without approval of its state legislature. Making in-state tuition available to undocumented students has been a controversial topic in the Ocean State; one with many questions about fairness and financial implications. GoLocalProv takes a look at the potential costs for Rhode Island and how the measure has impacted other states.
Pioneers for Undocumented Students
The DREAM Act was first introduced in the United States Senate in 2001. Shortly after, Texas became the first state to pass its legislation, followed by California, Utah, and New York in 2002. Washington, Oklahoma, and Illinois adopted the measure in 2003; with Kansas, New Mexico, Nebraska, and Wisconsin right behind.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTIn 2011, Maryland and Connecticut became two more states to offer the benefit, with Rhode Island now following suit. On the other side of the coin, five states have passed legislation barring unauthorized immigrant students from in-state tuition benefits. These states are Arizona, Colorado, Georgia, South Carolina and Indiana.
An Issue of Fairness
Among the wide range of arguments for the Act’s opposition, the most overwhelming center on fairness and the belief that it financially rewards people for illegal activity.
“I think that every political issue boils down to dollars,” said House Minority Leader Brian Newberry. “At the same time, people focusing on this issue in those specific terms are missing the bigger picture. This is a question about fairness. There are a limited number of slots available at the University of Rhode Island, and by increasing enrollment rates, we’ll freeze out citizen students. As elected officials, who do we represent: The citizens that vote for us, or those that violate law and are here illegally?”
Kimberly Mehlman-Orozco, Ph.D., Director of the Latino Policy Institute at Roger Williams University sees this argument as flawed. The Institute has produced one of the most in-depth systematic reviews of evidence on the effect of instate tuition for non-citizens.
“These are students who are succeeding in our secondary schools, and are here to no fault of their own,” stated Mehlman-Orozco. “Not only will this better educate our future work force, but it will strengthen our secondary schools. Research studies show that instate tuition correlates with a 14% decrease in dropout rates among non-citizen students. Lowering dropout rates actually saves money for municipalities and taxpayers.”
Since Rhode Island’s Education Board is responsible for passing the policy, and not lawmakers on Smith Hill, questions have been raised as to their right to do so.
“A lot of criticism has been directed at the Board of Governors, questioning their authority, when in fact, the statute that created the Board gave it the responsibility to set tuition rates and guidelines,” said Michael Trainor, Board of Governors spokesperson. “Over the past 20 years, the Board has acted to amend tuition-related policy on seven occasions, and on none of those occasions was the Board’s authority questioned. We see this instance as being no different.”
Trillo: Time To Close The Candy Shop
As one of the most highly debated subjects in recent memory, there is much concern over the financial implications that allowing in-state tuition to undocumented students will create. Some feel that it will become a burden shouldered by taxpayers, and force colleges and universities to further increase their tuition rates. Others see it as a way to generate revenue by allowing students who otherwise could not afford out-of-state tuition the opportunity to enroll at the more pocket-friendly in-state rate.
The Center for Immigration Studies conservatively estimates that 1 million undocumented immigrants will come forward to enroll in public institutions of higher education, with each receiving a tuition subsidy of approximately $6,000 per year that they attend.
“The quick math of some organizations looking at this issue couldn’t be more incorrect,” commented Mehlman-Orozco. “They’re assuming that the actual cost of instructing a student is at the out-of-state tuition rate. It’s not. The fact that people are assuming that the difference between the cost of in-state and out-of-state tuition is what will be subsidized by taxpayers is incorrect. That is not how calculations are made to determine cost and subsidy.”
Not everyone agrees.
“We’re already educating 3,000 illegal children in our elementary schools, and make no mistake, taxpayers are paying for this,” commented Republican Representative Joseph Trillo, who is strictly opposed to the Act. “We already giveaway health care, housing subsidies, disability and daycare benefits. We’ve become the giveaway state, and it’s putting us in a black hole that we can’t get out of. It’s time to close the candy shop; the shelves are bare. And, in order to restock them, we’re turning to working people and increasing taxes. It has to stop.”
Eligible for Financial Aid?
While there is a lot of concern over whether Rhode Island’s new Act will displace legal students and place a financial burden upon taxpayers, one thing appears clear – financial aid will be out of reach for undocumented students.
“The decision made to grant in-state tuition will have no impact on whether or not these students would be eligible for state or federal aid programs,” stated Michael Joyce, Director of Program Administration for the Rhode Island Higher Education Assistance Authority. “They would not be eligible. The application for both programs requires students to have a social security number and meet certain requirements in regard to residency status.”
Research Studies
Examining the study conducted at Roger Williams University, there are currently 74 non-citizen students attending CCRI, RIC and URI that would benefit from being eligible for instate tuition – a number expected to increase by just 24 additional students thanks to the Act’s approval.
“The actual number of students enrolled at institutions has very little impact on the amount of funds schools receive from the state,” added Mehlman-Orozco. “When you look at the numbers of students who may take advantage of this Act, if anything, it will generate a modest positive impact for the tuition revenue of the school, not create a burden on taxpayers in subsidizing students’ enrollment. “
The study, which reveals the enrollment of non-citizen students as resulting in roughly $162,000 in new revenue to public institutes of higher education per year, was produced from research performed among the states that have enacted similar policies.
“One of the biggest unknowns, since we only have estimates, is what exactly the financial implications will be,” said Republican Representative Daniel Reilly. “During these budget times, passing legislation like this, when you don’t have all of the numbers, is the wrong decision. These benefits should be reserved for people who have gone through the system and the proper channels. This is a belief also shared by some Democrats. It was not the actions of the ten of us in stopping this.”
What’s Happening in Other States?
In Kansas, which approved legislation in 2004 and has been tracking data since 2005, the benefits, more often than not, have been well-received. Last year, the number of students enrolled under the provisions of the law reached 413; more than double the number when it began. In total, Kansas has more than 190,000 students throughout their system of public colleges and universities.
“Funding isn’t enrollment driven for our state colleges and universities,” commented Diane Duffy, Vice President of Finance and Administration for the Kansas Board of Regents. “Schools receive block grants, so enrollment numbers do not impact the state funding they receive. We’ve maintained that these students would have had trouble paying out-of-state tuition, and not enrolled, so by that measure, it has generated new funds for schools.”
Will it Work in Rhode Island?
One of the most critical aspects of the Kansas law is that students must sign affidavits to pursue legal citizenship. In Rhode Island, this will also hold true.
While the heated debate is expected to continue, one thing is clear: Rhode Island needs to strengthen its workforce if we are to have a chance of emerging from the sluggish economy. While only the future will tell whether granting in-state tuition to undocumented students is a move that will help, many see it as a move in the right direction.
According to the College Board, the average college graduate earns 60% more over the course of their working life than a high school graduate. The key will be making sure the state follows through on making sure undocumented students move forward with becoming registered citizens. So far, Duffy said, it has worked in her state.
“In Kansas, we’ve found that these are young people who want to work in our state, so it was a logical progression to further their education and enter the workforce with a higher level of skills. They are going to be an important part of our future workforce. There have been attempts to repeal the law each year since it was enacted, but they’ve all been unsuccessful, and I think that says a lot,” she said.