Colleges Profit While 408,000 Illegal Immigrants Enroll In US Universities

American universities are benefiting financially from the enrollment of illegal immigrants, with 408,000 undocumented students currently attending higher education institutions across the country. Many of these students receive tuition breaks and government financial aid, while American students often pay significantly more.

A major factor in this situation is the decision by 25 states to allow illegal immigrants to pay in-state tuition, despite federal law prohibiting such benefits unless the same discounts are available to all US citizens. Meanwhile, 20 states go even further, offering financial aid to illegal immigrant students.

The number of illegal immigrant students has remained steady since 2021, with many attending universities in California, Texas, Florida, and New York. Most undocumented students arrived in the US as minors, with 71% entering the country before age 17. Due to legal restrictions on the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, the percentage of undocumented students with DACA status continues to decline.

Despite federal law, states have continued expanding tuition benefits for illegal immigrants. Minnesota Governor Tim Walz recently extended free tuition to illegal immigrants at state universities. In New York, Governor Kathy Hochul and Mayor Eric Adams repurposed public universities as shelters for newly arrived migrants, raising concerns about student displacement and campus security.

Three states — Alabama, Georgia, and South Carolina — actively block illegal immigrants from enrolling in public universities, while seven others restrict their access to in-state tuition or financial aid. Lawsuits challenging tuition policies have mostly been dismissed, with courts ruling that affected citizens lack standing to enforce federal statutes on the matter.

While universities claim to be promoting fairness and education for all, the financial benefits they gain from enrolling illegal immigrants suggest another motive. With hundreds of thousands of undocumented students enrolled, higher education institutions continue to profit from taxpayer funds while charging American students full tuition.