16 Mar Some states don’t allow undocumented students to attend public school
Undocumented students face more challenges with college than other students with official citizenship. Here's what those look like and some possible solutions.
There's an increasing number of students attending college without legal permission to reside in the United States. According to a 2020 study by the New American Economy and the Presidents' Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration, about 2% of students enrolled in post-secondary institutions-more than 450,000 people-have undocumented status in the US. The majority of these so-called undocumented college students came to the US as children or teens and grew up and attended primary and secondary school in this country.
Obtaining a college degree can improve your career prospects and help you achieve your financial goals. However, if you're an undocumented student in the US without proper authorization or you entered the country with a visa that has expired, you'll likely deal with substantial challenges that other students don't have to worry about. Below are some common issues affecting undocumented students and some potential solutions to earn your college degree more easily.
As you think about where you want to go to school, opting for a public university is an excellent way to reduce your education expenses. According to the College Board, public schools cost on average about 72% less than private universities. However, some states don't offer in-state tuition rates to undocumented students, even if they've lived in that state most of their lives.