Colorado in-state tuition

Colorado In-State Tuition
Colorado requires college students aged 22 years or younger to qualify for in-state tuition rates. If students are 22 years or younger, and have not lived in the state of Colorado for 12 consecutive months, no discounts are awarded. However, if a student has lived in Colorado for 12 consecutive months or longer, than that student is granted in-state tuition prices. Students must have a valid Colorado driver’s license and proof of Colorado state income tax from their parents. Illegal aliens, even those who entered the United States legally, are required to pay out-of -state tuition.
Problems: Colorado’s ethnic make-up is 17% Hispanic and most of the 17% are first generation. A majority of these students, who meet Colorado’s in-state qualifications, are being denied. The parents of these students are not eligible to file for Colorado state taxes, thus, eliminating their aspiring children from affordable college tuition. Students, who have emancipated from their parents and have been on their own since the age of 18, are forced to wait until they reach the age of 23 to have in-state eligibility. Waiting 5 years to go to college usually loses its interest within the first two years. High school graduates whose parents are deceased or no longer provide guardianship because of reasons that are not the student’s fault are also denied in-state tuition rates. Colorado legislators are currently proposing a change in Colorado’s in-state requirements.
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Current Legislation: As of January 2009, Senator Chris Romer (D-CO) has proposed that, regardless of immigration status and parent/guardian income taxes, students who graduate high school or receive a G.E.D. will be allowed in-state tuition. Students will have had to of received diplomas within five years of applying for college and attended public or private school for three consecutive years in Colorado. The new legislation has been put into limbo because much more important debate has come into view. In order to keep the new legislation alive, Colorado lawmakers must keep the debate going.
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Hot Debate: Many Colorado residents do not want illegal aliens, or other “non-resident” students receiving the same benefits when it comes to in-state tuition. Most argue that illegal-alien students do not have valid I.D.’s and could not legally work in the U.S. even after graduating college. However, colleges in Colorado have lost significant amounts of money because of dropouts and the declining economy. School representatives have long debated those students, who are considered ineligible, receive in-state benefits because it would create a larger income and it would allow more Colorado residents to receive higher education.
Requirements:
Colorado Sate University:CSU In-State-http://sfs.colostate.edu/residency/instatetuition.aspx.
University of Colorado Boulder: CU In-State-http://registrar.colorado.edu/students/tuition_classification.html
Front Range Community College Petition-http://www.frontrange.edu/docs/cms/PETITION_FOR_RESIDENCY-07-12-05.pdf.
 
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