Working for better opportunities for our community. SB1014/HB0863 will give these students the opportunity to go to college by allowing those who have attended our schools, graduated or obtained a GED from a Tennessee high school, and are enrolled in a Tennessee university or college to pay instate tuition.

1.
WE WANT TO LEARN!
Vote YES! On SB1014 (Gardenhire)/HB0863 (White)
Each year, undocumented students graduate in Tennessee with
hopes of continuing their education and starting a career that
benefits our state and strengthens our community.
Unfortunately, no matter their potential or how long they have
lived in Tennessee, they must pay out-of-state rate - more than
3x the in-state rate even if they meet the same residency
requirements as their peers – if they want to attend a public
college or university. Sadly, these policies have put a college
education out-of-reach for many in Tennessee – see table
below for some comparisons.
SB1014/HB0863 will give these students the opportunity to go
to college by allowing those who have attended our schools,
graduated or obtained a GED from a Tennessee high school,
and are enrolled in a Tennessee university or college to pay in-
state tuition.
School
In-­‐State
Out-­‐of-­‐State
MTSU
$6,552
$23,616
TSU
$6,198
$19,554
UT
Knoxville
$12,724
$31,144
UT
Martin
$8,478
$22,422
At least 22 other states already
have tuition opportunity policies,
and over 75% of immigrants in the
U.S. live in one of those states.
Even nearby states such as Kentucky,
Illinois, Ohio, and Florida, have these
policies.
Tuition Opportunity would drive economic growth
and align with the Drive to 55 Initiative.
Understanding that many industries in Tennessee face skilled
labor shortages, Chambers of Commerce across the state are
demonstrating support for tuition opportunity in order to
produce a more educated workforce and help us compete in a
global market. Tuition opportunity would also grow our tax base
- individuals with a bachelor’s degree make on average $1
million more in their lifetime than those without a high school
diploma. All states that adopt equitable tuition policies generate
additional revenue through increased enrollment and the higher
taxable incomes of their workforce.
About 22,000 undocumented youth have lived
here most of their lives and call Tennessee their
home. Many are authorized to live and work in Tennessee,
have attended Tennessee schools, and want to remain and
contribute to their community. Tennessee invests in
undocumented students from kindergarten through high
school, and undocumented parents invest in Tennessee,
paying more than $109 million in sales and property tax in
Tennessee in 2014 alone.
Unfair tuition policies lead to lower college
enrollment. Nationally, less than 10% of undocumented
students who graduate high school go on to college,
compared with about 75% of their documented classmates.
Studies show that in states with inclusive tuition policies, 31%
more Latino noncitizens enroll in higher education and their
high school dropout rates are reduced by an estimated 14%.
Tuition equality will help boost Tennessee's graduation rates
and keep us economically competitive.
Lisa Sherman-Nikolaus, Policy Director
646-584-5281, lisa@tnimmigrant.org