Legislation Could Give Undocumented Students In-State Tuition

Whether or not a student is a legal citizen of the United States, some lawmakers want any student who lives in Connecticut, graduates from a Connecticut high school and enrolls at a state college or university to pay in-state tuition.

New Haven Mayor John DeStefano and state legislators are throwing their support behind a bill that would allow undocumented students in the state to pay in-state tuition. At a news conference Thursday, they announced a combined effort to support the new legislation.

The announcement comes a week after the New Haven Promise Program was unveiled. The Yale-funded program offers tuition to state schools for New Haven students who maintain a B average.

Eligible students who graduate from a New Haven public high school will receive full tuition (for up to four years) to attend a public college or university in Connecticut or up to $2,500 annually to attend a private nonprofit college or university in the state.

The state Legislature passed an act on in-state tuition for all Connecticut high school graduates in 2007, but Gov. M. Jodi Rell vetoed it.

Approximately 10 other states, including Texas and California, have already passed bills allowing for in-state tuition for all of their residents.

New Haven is the first U.S. city to offer municipal identification cards for all city residents, regardless of their citizenship.  

Follow us on Twitter @NBCConnecticut,  on Facebook, and sign up for breaking news SMS alerts on your phone by texting “CTBREAKING” to 622669.

Contact Us