Possible change in tuition policy considered in Senate

Tuition costs could be reduced for out-of-state students

Students who have lived in Colorado for 12 consecutive months could soon become eligible for in-state tuition regardless of their parents’ residency status if a proposed Senate bill passes.

The bill presented by State Sen. Paula Sandoval (D-Denver) would change current tuition residency policies in which the domicile of a student is presumed to be that of his or her parents.

Sandoval introduced the bill in the Senate on Jan. 16.

Any U.S. citizen, including U.S. born children of undocumented parents, homeless and foster children, would be eligible for in-state tuition.

“Some students obviously have difficulty proving their residency through their parents,” Sandoval said.

Domicile is defined as a person’s true, fixed and permanent home. Current regulations require domicile in Colorado for the entire year immediately preceding the first day of class.

Students whose parents are not Colorado residents must be at least 22 years old, married, or emancipated to begin the one-year domiciliary period.

The bill is yet to be passed and is facing some opposition.

“The opposition that I have encountered has been from individuals who have a misunderstanding of the bill,” Sandoval said. “Some believe that the bill will give in-state tuition to undocumented students. That is not the case. The bill only addresses U.S. citizens.”

The cost of college could be dramatically reduced for out-of-state students if the bill is passed and signed by the governor.

“Yeah, it would make a really big difference for me if I could just live here for 12 months without my parents having to, and get in-state tuition,” said Chelsea Kiyabu, a freshman finance major from Hawaii.

Visit State Bill Colorado to view the text of the bill.

Contact Campus Press Staff Writer Sarah Ruybalid at [email protected]