News Summary
An undocumented student at the University of Massachusetts Boston experiences challenges under the state’s new tuition equity law. Despite her hard work, the law’s three-year residency requirement limits her access to in-state tuition and financial aid, leaving her to navigate financial hardships while pursuing her education. Advocacy for legislative reform continues as the situation highlights disparities faced by undocumented students in higher education.
Boston, Massachusetts – A rising senior at the University of Massachusetts Boston, who remains unnamed due to her undocumented status, faces significant inequities as a result of the state’s new tuition equity law, which aims to provide access to in-state tuition and financial aid for eligible students. Despite this law, which was enacted in 2023, the student struggles under the weight of its stipulations, particularly the requirement to have completed three years of high school in Massachusetts to benefit from in-state tuition rates.
The student has worked over 30 hours each week for the past three years in a restaurant, among other jobs, to finance her education, which costs approximately $8,000 per semester. She moved to Massachusetts from Venezuela four years ago in pursuit of a better future and completed high school in Venezuela before spending an additional year in a Massachusetts high school to sharpen her English skills and learn about college applications. Currently, she is applying for legal permanent residency and possesses authorization to work within the state.
However, many undocumented students like her encounter barriers due to the strict three-year requirement associated with the tuition equity law. This policy has left many students struggling to afford college tuition, as it excludes those who arrived in Massachusetts during high school and completed their education abroad. Despite her extensive work hours, the student acknowledges that the absence of financial aid options severely limits her educational opportunities.
Undocumented students in Massachusetts can miss out on significant tuition reductions—potentially up to 50%—when compared to their peers who qualify for in-state tuition. The contrast is stark for the student when she considers her younger siblings, who fulfill the three-year requirement and will experience a different journey through college. This reality has led to feelings of unfairness, as she grapples with the limitations imposed by her status while feeling happy for her siblings.
Moreover, as an undocumented individual, she does not qualify for federal financial aid through the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), further complicating her financial situation. Working long hours while juggling studies has taken a toll on her well-being, leaving little time for self-care and contributing to heightened stress levels.
The challenges facing undocumented students are echoed in a recent assessment of former high school seniors by a counselor in Boston. Out of 24 students she assisted, only four qualified for in-state tuition and aid through the Massachusetts Application for State Financial Aid (MASFA). This statistic highlights a broader problem, as approximately 3,000 undocumented students graduate from high schools in Massachusetts each year, with many aspiring to attend four-year colleges.
Education advocates have criticized the three-year residency requirement as inequitable, suggesting that it is a temporary fix rather than a comprehensive solution for supporting undocumented students in higher education. Lawmakers have not indicated clear intentions to alter this requirement amidst a series of federal lawsuits challenging similar policies in states such as Minnesota, Texas, Kentucky, and Oklahoma. The current federal administration has been actively working to restrict benefits for undocumented individuals, framing such policies within a context of heightened deportation efforts that have significantly impacted immigrant families.
In 2022, Massachusetts immigrants without legal status contributed nearly $650 million in taxes, and this figure is expected to rise if more immigrants obtain work authorization. The Massachusetts Attorney General’s office maintains that the state’s tuition equity law aligns with federal law, as it does not differentiate individuals based on immigration status.
With ongoing discussions about how to better serve undocumented students, many educators and advocates are calling for the removal of the three-year residency requirement. The overarching goal is to ensure that all students, regardless of their immigration status, have equal access to higher education and the opportunities associated with it, thereby highlighting the need for continued legislative reform in this area.
Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic
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Boston Initiates $2.1 Million Immigrant Support Grant Program
Harvard’s Office of Technology Development Boosts Innovation
Boston’s Education Budget Suffers as $106 Million in Grants Cut
Additional Resources
- The Boston Globe: Massachusetts Tuition for Undocumented Students
- Wikipedia: Undocumented Immigrants in the United States
- MassLive: College Law Impact on Students
- Google Search: Tuition Equity for Undocumented Students
- Karen Spilka: In-State Tuition for Undocumented High Schoolers
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Immigration
- CBS News: Governor Healey on Undocumented Students
- Google News: Education for Undocumented Students in Massachusetts
Author: STAFF HERE BOSTON WRITER
BOSTON STAFF WRITER The BOSTON STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HEREBoston.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Boston, Suffolk County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as Boston Marathon, Head of the Charles Regatta, and Boston Harborfest. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce and Associated Industries of Massachusetts, plus leading businesses in finance, biotech, and insurance that power the local economy such as Fidelity Investments, Biogen, and Liberty Mutual Insurance. As part of the broader HERE network, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Massachusetts's dynamic landscape.
