Thread: In-state tuition at issue in Kansas

"In-state tuition at issue in Topeka Ks"
Thursday, 24 February 2011 15:10
By EARL WATT

SCCC has second highest alien student count in Kansas

This week, the Kansas Legislature is debating whether or not to rescind a law that allows illegal aliens to receive in-state tuition at Kansas colleges. On Tuesday, the Kansas House voted to end the current program in Kansas. (See AP report in inset.)

During a recent hearing, both sides shared why or why not they believed the law should be kept or rescinded.

According to data provided by the Kansas Board of Regents, there are 413 students enrolled under the provision for 2010.

Seward County Community College/Area Technical School provided the second highest student total in Kansas.

Johnson County near Kansas City led all schools with 84 students enrolled under the provision. Seward County provided in-state tuition to 68 students under the provision.

In comparison, Dodge City had 17 students and Garden City had 15 who received in-state tuition under the provision.

If the 68 students at Seward County took 16 hours per semester, they received a discount of $60,928 when compared to the out-of-state rate.
That would have been revenue that the college would not have had to raise through other means, including property taxes.

Secretary of State Kris Kobach supported the bill, and at a recent stop in Liberal, explained some of the issues dealing with providing illegal alien students in-state tuition.

“When a person is brought here as a minor, they have no choice,â€

Do these illegals get student loans? That is aid for school. Are the personal finances of every student checked to make sure they aren't collecting welfare, on medicaid, housing assistance, or any other form of public assistance? If they are its a backdoor education aid, instead of having to pay for ones own food thats paid for by the state meaning more money left over to pay "legit" school costs.

Personally I think we need 3 tiers of education cost. In-state, out-of-state, and foreign cost. Foreign cost would apply to anyone without legal residency to remain in the US indefinately. So on a student visa, work visa, illegal alien, and so forth pays the foreign cost. If you came on a green card however its out of state until residency terms are met for in-state.