Higher education institutions have enrolled an estimated 408,000 illegal immigrants, many of whom receive state-funded tuition breaks and financial aid while American students pay full price. This widespread practice persists despite federal law barring such benefits unless they are extended to all US citizens.
At least 25 states offer in-state tuition rates to illegal immigrants, with 20 also providing additional financial assistance. These benefits, often denied to US citizens from out of state, have created a system where taxpayers foot the bill for students who are in the country illegally.
The majority of illegal immigrant students are concentrated in a handful of states, with California, Texas, Florida, and New York enrolling the highest numbers. Some states have resisted the trend, with Alabama, Georgia, and South Carolina banning illegal immigrants from attending public colleges. Seven other states limit access to tuition discounts and state financial aid.
The Supreme Court’s 1982 Plyler v. Doe decision, which mandated free public education for illegal immigrant children through high school, has shaped state policies on higher education. Though the ruling did not require colleges to provide tuition breaks, it set a precedent that institutions have used to justify enrolling illegal immigrants at discounted rates.
Despite the legal challenges surrounding tuition benefits for illegal immigrants, efforts to block them have largely failed. Courts have ruled that parents of affected students cannot challenge these policies, allowing universities to continue profiting from their enrollment.
As colleges collect taxpayer funds to subsidize education for illegal immigrants, many American families struggle to afford tuition for their own children, further fueling the debate over higher education funding.
