This past June, Connecticut Governor Dan Malloy signed a law mandating that children of undocumented immigrants count as residents of the state and therefore receive in-state tuition at public community colleges and universities. This laudable act, a version of the national DREAM Act that has yet to pass in U.S. Congress, makes it possible for students who have lived in Connecticut to receive equal access to education.

Students who are residents of the state in which the university is located are charged a smaller tuition bill than out-of-state students; in-state tuition bills can be as little as half the cost of out-of-state bills. According to the College Board, public four-year institutions charge an average of $7,605 per year in tuition and fees for in-state students, while the average for full-time out-of-state students at these institutions is $11,990. Opponents of Connecticut’s legislation have argued that providing a discounted rate to undocumented students will take away admissions slots from U.S. citizens, and complicate matters for universities that evaluate budgets based on in-state or out-of-state revenue. However, the admissions process only takes residency into account after a student is admitted and tuition must be assessed. This is not a form of affirmative action; students go through the same rigorous process of admission regardless of citizenship. Colleges and universities always admit more applicants than the class size because not all admitted students choose to attend. This legislation simply levels the playing field for qualified students who could not otherwise afford to attend college.

Students who lack citizenship or legal residency have no access to federal grants or loans, and no access to scholarships with applications that require proof of citizenship or legal residency. Private loans have higher interest rates that can accumulate while a student is still at college, so undocumented students who only have access to private loans will have thousands of dollars in debt that will take years to repay. Yet statistically, these students often have the gravest financial need. All education reform efforts in the United States aim to provide quality education to all students in order to create an educated, productive workforce. Constitutional amendments, national legislation, and Supreme Court cases have attempted to level the educational playing field for all sorts of minority groups—with the exception of those students who live in this country and whose parents pay taxes yet have no legal status. It is painfully ironic that a qualified student in this country can be denied access to higher education because of the legal status of her parents.

Like all forms of tuition assistance, this bill does not simply provide automatic qualification for the standard tuition discount. As an editorial in the News Times explains, “The students must have spent at least four years in public schools in the state and hold a high school degree or the equivalent, and they must pursue a path to citizenship.” This fact refutes claims by some members of the Connecticut House that student beneficiaries of this Act would have an easier path to a college degree than other immigrants. The Act merely opens the path to citizenship, with the expectation that those who pursue higher education will in turn contribute positively to society and the economy.

Wesleyan University is a private institution, so student tuition costs are not affected. However, the law might affect the potential transfer student population. Until the federal law is amended, students who qualify as official residents in Connecticut will not qualify for federal aid. However, this act does open the door for national legislation that provides equal access to a higher education.