In 2002, New York became the fourth state to offer in-state tuition rates to certain undocumented immigrants enrolling in its public postsecondary institutions. Although enacted over seven years ago, a thorough analysis of the implementation of this policy has not been conducted.
Undocumented immigrants in the U.S., most of them Latino, encounter economic and social barriers that discourage their college access: in particular, low incomes, inadequate secondary school academic preparation, lack of information about postsecondary opportunities, and fear of deportation. In the context of these barriers, in-state tuition eligibility for undocumented immigrants is an important means to ensure greater college access. Further, this policy may make a notable contribution, given the low incomes of many undocumented students and their sensitivity to tuition differences.
This qualitative case study explored how New York’s in-state tuition policy is being implemented for undocumented immigrants at two community colleges within the City University of New York (CUNY) system.
This investigation discovered that CUNY has devoted its own resources in the development of workshops, training sessions, manuals, and centers to assist in the implementation of this measure. Also, this study found that—while these colleges and CUNY overall have made a commitment towards the successful implementation of this policy—undocumented immigrants still face barriers in obtaining in-state tuition rates. Specifically, undocumented immigrants encounter the following hurdles in their pursuit of instate tuition:
(1) College-level staff’s lack of knowledge about in-state tuition policy and sometimes insensitivity toward undocumented immigrants;
(2) Limited information on the part of undocumented students regarding in-state eligibility;
(3) Fear of applying for in-state tuition because of their immigration status.
Nienhusser, H. K., & Dougherty, K. (2010). Implementation of college in-state tuition for undocumented immigrants in New York. New York: New York Latino Research and Resources Network (NYLARNet).