An estimated 13,000 young adults in Georgia could immediately benefit from tuition equity

Thousands of immigrants who came to the U.S. as children but without permanent residency call Georgia home and have lived the majority of their lives in the state. They should be eligible for the same in-state tuition rates as other individuals who have established residency.

FWD.us estimates that some 13,000 young adults between 18 and 29 years old who are legally allowed to work in Georgia and have lived in the state for most of their lives could immediately benefit from expanded eligibility for in-state tuition. Up to 1,000 students with access to work authorizations would benefit each year over the next decade when they graduate from high school. ¹

At least 25 states have extended some kind of tuition relief to undocumented students who meet certain residency requirements such as Utah, Kansas, Florida, Kentucky, Nebraska, and Oklahoma, but Georgia is lagging behind. The high cost of out-of-state tuition is a major factor discouraging Georgia Dreamers from attending college, hurting the state’s economic competitiveness.

Without offering in-state tuition for immigrants legally to work in Georgia, many may leave the state, establish residency in another state where in-state tuition might be available to them, and join the workforce in that state, representing a long-term loss to Georgia’s economy and communities. Lawful immigrants with access to work authorization who are in school or have finished high school currently contribute $211 million in spending power to Georgia’s economy each year, and nearly $25 million in state and local taxes.

A bill offering limited in-state tuition has been introduced in Georgia’s Legislative Assembly, which would offer in-state tuition to immigrants who can legally work and have been vetted during previous administrations, including Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients), Temporary Protected Status (TPS) holders, people seeking asylum, paroled individuals, and others seeking immigration relief for young adults under 30 years old, living in Georgia since 2020, and who have graduated from a Georgia high school or with a Georgia GED.

Tuition equity is truly an investment for all Georgians: it helps more young people invest in their careers and futures, and makes Georgia a stronger state with their education and training, paid back to the state when graduates stay, work, and pay taxes.