There is one item in Governor Tony Evers’s proposed budget that hasn’t received the attention it deserves, and that’s making undocumented students eligible for in-state tuition.
There are tens of thousands of undocumented people who live in Wisconsin and who keep our economy running. It’s only fair that the children of these hard-working individuals receive in-state tuition.
Although the Evers proposal comes with some preconditions, they seem to be pretty straightforward. Students must have lived in Wisconsin for a minimum of three years, graduated from a high school in Wisconsin, or have received the equivalent of a state-issued GED certificate. They also must prove that they plan to file, or have filed an application for a permanent visa, when eligible.
We’re not talking about a lot of people here. According to the Higher Ed Immigration Portal, the number of qualifying students in Wisconsin is around 10,000. But that number is likely to be an undercount due to so many undocumented youth living in the shadows.
As someone who fought for in-state tuition after Scott Walker removed it, I know just how transformative it would be for these young people to get access to higher education. So do high school guidance counselors. Many of them realize that some of their students are undocumented and don’t qualify for federal aid. The counselors know that the only way these students can afford a college education is with in-state tuition.
Contrary to Republican lawmakers’ talking points, in-state tuition would not give undocumented students a “free ride.” These students would still not qualify for federal aid, private bank loans, or a majority of scholarships. But at least they would have a chance.They would simply be expected to pay the same rate as any high school graduate from Wisconsin.
By passing this item in the budget, the legislature would increase Wisconsin’s educated population and boost the revenues of local universities.
Without in-state tuition, these Wisconsin high school graduates would not have any reason to stay in the state, so they would likely take their education and their careers elsewhere. This wouldn’t benefit a state that has already invested in a student’s education up through high school. And it would just add to the brain drain.
Gov. Evers’s proposal is the fair thing to do for our undocumented students, and the wise thing to do for our universities and our economy. It’s not the be all and end all, but it’s a start.