Document Type
Research Report
Publication Date
5-2025
Abstract
As a result of the Tuition Equity Law enacted in September 2023, Massachusetts is one of 25 states1 that have encouraged access to higher education for non-citizens, including undocumented students2 (Broder and Kmec, 2024). Under the Tuition Equity Law, undocumented students, who: attended a high school (9th-12th grade)3 in Massachusetts with any combination of three years, graduated from a Massachusetts high school or have a Massachusetts high school diploma equivalent (GED/HiSet), and are admitted to a public institution of higher education in Massachusetts, can attend at in-state tuition rates (Massachusetts Department of Higher Education, 2023). They are also eligible to be considered for state financial aid through the Massachusetts Application for State Financial Aid, or MASFA(Commonwealth of Massachusetts, 2024). This policy brief outlines the significance of the Tuition Equity Law as a strategy to enhance educational access, experiences, and outcomes for Latine students in the Commonwealth. We begin by summarizing the law’s background and history and then discuss its benefits and limitations. We conclude with a series of recommendations to enhance the impact of this policy.
Recommended Citation
Zúñiga, Belén and Colón, Melissa, "Empowering Dreams: The Massachusetts Tuition Equity Law and Its Impact on Undocumented Latine Students" (2025). Gastón Institute Publications. 331.
https://scholarworks.umb.edu/gaston_pubs/331