Arizona Resources: Access to In-State Tuition

Arizona Resources: Access to In-State Tuition

Introduction

Arizona prohibits Dreamers who grew up and went to school in Arizona from accessing in-state tuition. Currently, both Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients and other undocumented students without DACA can access a non-resident tuition rate at 150% the in-state tuition rate if they have attended high school in Arizona for three or more years and have graduated or obtained an equivalent degree. The Arizona State Legislature passed a bill on a bipartisan basis in May 2021 to have a referendum in fall 2022 on whether Dreamers who attend and graduate from an Arizona high school will have the opportunity to attend colleges at the in-state tuition rate, regardless of their immigration status.

The following resources, including state talking points, infographic, and local partners are meant to provide context and information related to this critical policy.

In-State Tuition Talking Points

• Extending Access to In-State Tuition to Dreamers in Arizona: Issue Brief: This resource includes data and arguments in support of providing undocumented students who grew up in and graduated from an Arizona high school with access to in-state tuition, including the policy’s economic benefits and ties to educational equity.

Infographic: Current Arizona Policies

• State Access Guide for Undocumented Students: Arizona: The infographic provides students with a summary of Arizona’s current state policies related to access to in-state tuition, state financial aid, professional and occupational licensure, and driver licenses.

Local Partners & Organizations

The following partners in Arizona are identified as working in Arizona on issues related to higher education and/or immigration.

• Aliento AZ. A community organization that is DACA, undocumented, and youth-led, invested in the well being, emotional healing, and leadership development of those impacted by the inequalities of lacking an immigration status.
• Arizona Coalition for Migrants Rights. Works to change the social and political climate of immigration in Arizona.
• Arizona DREAM Act Coalition (ADAC). An immigrant youth-led organization focusing on the fight for higher education and immigrant rights
• Coalición de Derechos Humanos. A grassroots organization that promotes the human and civil rights of all migrants.
• Scholarships A-Z. Works with students and educators to transform the lives of undocumented youth and the Arizona educational landscape.
• The Florence Immigrant and Refugee Rights Project. Provides free legal resources to immigrants in Arizona, include those detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

Resources

Resources from Higher Ed Immigration Portal partners, contributors, and other organizations related to immigration and immigrants.

• Arizona State Page. (Higher Ed Immigration Portal).
• Fact Sheet: Proposition 308 and Media Toolkit (Yes on 308).
• Fact Sheet: Immigrants in Arizona. (American Immigration Council).
• Arizona State Profile. (American Immigration Council/New American Economy).
• Arizona Immigration Data Profile. (Migration Policy Institute).
• Arizona Unauthorized Immigrant Population Profile. (Migration Policy Institute).

Scholarships

These resources list higher education scholarships available to undocumented students and/or DACA recipients in Arizona.

• Scholarships. (Isac Amaya Foundation).
• Scholarships. (Scholarships A-Z).
• Scholarships for Undocumented Students. (Aliento AZ).