CHICAGO – Last week Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed into law a measure that provides greater educational opportunities for more immigrant students. Known as Senate Bill 461, the law will expand eligibility for in-state tuition at Illinois public universities starting in the 2026-2027 academic year to include immigrant students who attend community college or who attend only two years of high school in Illinois before graduating.
Under the law, students will be eligible if they attended an Illinois high school for at least two years while in Illinois and acquired a high school diploma or equivalent degree. Students may also be eligible if they attended some high school or community college for three years and acquired a high school diploma or equivalent degree and an associate degree or equivalent in credits. The law does not guarantee admission to the universities. Previously, only immigrant students who attended high school for at least three years in Illinois could be eligible.
MALDEF (Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund) supported the bill to ensure its passage.
Please attribute the following quote to MALDEF Legislative Staff Attorney Martin Klein:
“With this law, Illinois has made clear that cost should not be a barrier to a four-year degree for any student that chooses Illinois for their education and their home – regardless of their immigration status, or if they are high school graduates or adult learners. When educational opportunities are available and accessible to Illinois’ immigrant communities they take them, and that is why they have long been and will continue to be an engine of growth for Illinois.”