WMOT 89.5 | LISTENER-POWERED RADIO INDEPENDENT AMERICAN ROOTS
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Should undocumented students pay in-state tuition at Tenn. universities?

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. (HENDRICKS)  --  Undocumented students living in Tennessee currently pay out-of-state tuition at the state's colleges and universities, but one legislator hopes to change that.

The Education subcommittee in the Tennessee House is scheduled this week to consider a bill sponsored by Memphis Republican Mark White. The measure would permit undocumented students to pay instate tuition rates.

White says the difference in cost is significant and can push an education out of reach for many undocumented families.

“At MTSU, out of state tuition is $25,000 a year. In-state tuition is $8,000 a year. So a big difference."

White says to qualify for instate tuition undocumented students must have attended a Tennessee high school for at least three years and reached graduation. He believes helping more undocumented students get degrees is in everyone’s best interest.

“Regardless what you believe about federal immigration policy reform, that every individual should be able to attain higher education. We all do better if we have students that are educated as opposed to those who are capped.”

Rep. White believes getting more students in school would benefit the state’s cash strapped public universities. White’s bill will be considered Tuesday in the House Education subcommittee.