An Act regarding higher education opportunities for high school graduates
in the Commonwealth
(S. 566)
Lead Sponsor: Senator Sonia Chang-Díaz
THE ISSUE
Every year, hundreds of Massachusetts high school students are unable to get a college education because they are barred from attending our public colleges and universities at the same tuition rate as their high school classmates. Currently, students without permanent residency must pay out-of-state tuition, even though they have lived here for years and graduated from high schools in our communities. This out-of-state rate is three to five times the cost, making it practically impossible for low-income students to attend college. These students have lived in our communities most of their lives and could be our future doctors, teachers and engineers.
THE SOLUTION: HIGHER EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES
H. 2109/S. 566 would allow students who have attended a Massachusetts high school for three years and have graduated or received the equivalent of a diploma to pay the same in-state tuition rates at public universities as their peers. If a student is not a legal permanent resident, they must sign an affidavit stating that they have filed an application to become a legal permanent resident, or will file an application as soon as they are eligible. It would not provide free tuition, financial aid, scholarships or loans.
• Adding to the State’s Bottom Line
This bill asks students to pay the same as everybody else, which makes sense for the state’s bottom line. In fact, the Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation estimates that, once fully phased in, the bill could generate an additional $7.4 million a year for our higher education system. The twelve other states that have implemented similar legislation saw no additional costs; in fact, the legislation brought in millions of additional dollars in tuition revenue because of increased enrollment. Simply put, this legislation makes dollars and cents for our public colleges and universities.
• A Common Sense Solution with Bipartisan Support
Education opportunity legislation cuts across partisan and ideological divides. States as politically diverse as Texas, Utah, Kansas, Connecticut, and California offer in-state tuition because they recognize its immediate and long-term benefits for their economies. We compete with these states for jobs and businesses. Every year we deny our students the opportunity to attend college we shrink our talent pool and undercut our economic advantage.
• Strengthening Our Economic Future
The educational opportunity this bill provides for high school students will allow them to contribute to their communities and strengthen the local economy. In Massachusetts, our economy is built upon our educated workforce. These students can be part of building Massachusetts’s future economic success if they can get the same affordable education available to their high school classmates.
