Education for All: Chicago’s Undocumented Immigrants and Their Access to Higher Education

March 2003

Chirag Mehta, UIC Center for Urban Economic Development

Asma Ali, UIC Center for Urban Economic Development

PDF paper (571KB)

Executive Summary

The Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) recently estimated that approximately 432,000 undocumented immigrants currently reside in Illinois. Many of these immigrants arrive in Illinois as young children and received their schooling in the State. Currently, many students without legal immigration status do not fulfill their educational goal of attending college.

Illinois House Bill 60 (H.B. 60) may increase undocumented students’ access to higher education by directing Illinois public universities to charge in-state tuition rates to immigrant students who meet specific residency criteria. This study, conducted by UIC Center for Urban Economic Development and a network of immigrant rights organizations, assesses the scope of impact of H.B. 60 as well as its fiscal impact. Major findings from the study include:

· An estimated 3,500 undocumented students will graduate from Chicago high schools this year. Of these students, H.B. 60 would apply to an estimated 2,226 students.

· Assuming every eligible undocumented student goes on to attend an Illinois public university, the annual cost to the State of Illinois of H.B. 60 is between $3.3 million and $11.6 million for each graduating class. If one assumes that relatively few undocumented students would have attended an Illinois public university if the state did not enact H.B. 60 and they were still charged out-of-state tuition rates, then the annual cost to the State of Illinois for each graduating class is closer to $3.3 million.

• Taxes collected from undocumented immigrant families help offset the cost to the state of charging in-state tuition to undocumented students. In 2002, the State of Illinois collected over $69.2 million in income taxes from undocumented workers. The present value of future benefits generated by undocumented students who graduate from college also partially offsets the costs associated with H.B. 60.

• Charging undocumented students out-of-state tuition rates prohibits many qualified students from attending public universities. Over 64% of undocumented students would be qualified to enter college.

• Charging undocumented students in-state tuition rates would not only benefit Mexican students, but many Central and South American, European and Asian students as well.

• Almost all undocumented students would like to continue their education, but most report they cannot afford to attend college. College tuition for out of-state residents is two to three times that of in-state tuition rates.

· Chicago is the primary residence for most undocumented students. Over 86% of undocumented students have lived in Chicago for more than three years. Most immigrant students have lived in the country for over six years and came to the United States at a young age with their parents.