EDsmart has released a comprehensive report detailing a $245 million annual taxpayer-funded subsidy for in-state tuition for undocumented students in 18 states. This financial burden averages $1.21 per taxpayer and corresponds to the tuition for approximately 15,003 legal students.
The analysis relies on data from the U.S. Department of Education 2023-24 College Scorecard, statistics on USCIS DACA recipients, and population estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau, along with records from the National Immigration Law Center. The findings highlight hidden enrollment barriers and opportunity costs, which may influence ongoing discussions about tuition equity and institutional funding.
Among the states analyzed, Connecticut emerges with the highest per-taxpayer burden at $6.52, nearly five times the national average. Other states show significant variation: New York averages $1.34, Utah at $1.13, Washington at $0.96, Colorado at $1.12, and Massachusetts at $1.04. This timely report arrives as states like Texas and Florida implement fiscal relief measures following tuition subsidy repeals, saving $62.3 million and $5.1 million respectively.
“Higher education leaders will find our state-specific breakdowns and 15% enrollment modeling, supported by research from UC Davis, indispensable for understanding these hidden subsidies,” stated Tyson Stevens, lead researcher and analyst at EDsmart. “Our methodology, which includes 85% external verification from esteemed sources such as Brookings Institution and Migration Policy Institute, illustrates how these costs are embedded within state budgets, ranging from California”s $142.2 million (58% of the total) to Vermont, which shows negligible tuition gaps.”
Key insights from the report include:
- State-Specific Burdens: Detailed data revealing the total impacts, including:
- New York: $27.2 million total, affecting 6,750 students
- Utah: $3.7 million, impacting 450 students
- Washington: $7.4 million, with 2,700 students affected
- Colorado: $6.4 million, involving 900 students
- Massachusetts: $7.2 million, affecting 1,800 students
- Policy Flashpoints: Timelines of the 2025 repeals in Texas and Florida, corroborated by state legislative records and Governing.com. The report identifies “high-risk” states such as Oregon ($8.0 million) and Nevada ($5.1 million) that may face scrutiny regarding potential DACA enrollment drops.
- Economic Trade-Offs: Comparative arguments regarding workforce gains versus fairness concerns, with visuals illustrating cumulative costs reaching $4.9 billion over 20 years, sourced from Brookings and Migration Policy Institute.
- Actionable Data Hooks: Information on median tuition gaps per institution, estimates of student impacts (e.g., 27,000 in California), and alternative funding options like hiring 4,083 new faculty positions at salaries of $60,000.
For a comprehensive review, access the full report at EDsmart.org. This analysis addresses a crucial gap in investigative reporting on higher education, providing verified claims ready to fuel discussions on issues of equity, budget concerns, and the implications of immigration policies on campuses.
About EDsmart: EDsmart is dedicated to reviewing publicly available data to produce independent assessments and rankings of various educational programs. The platform is consistently updated by a dedicated team of writers and researchers aiming to assist prospective and current college students in navigating their educational journeys.
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Contact Person: Tyson Stevens
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