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Hi muawiyah, I don’t know how the funding works exactly, but I did go to your link and read that Rhode Island was looking at tuition hikes next year because of lesser funding coming from the state. I immediately felt as if that was probably the reason Rhode Island is now looking at doing the in-state tuition for the children of undocumented workers.

As that study (and the 9 others done across the country) indicated, ‘in-state tuition for children of undocumented workers’ programs increase the number of students paying at least the in-state tuition and fees (as opposed to not going at all and receiving $0.00 from them), raising funds for the colleges and universities. I would bet Rhode Island’s lack of funding is WHY they are considering offering in-state tuition to those folk - it’s a funds raising proposal for the schools, especially needed since they are losing so much state funding these days there.

I have been back and forth myself on how I feel about the in-state tuition thing. I don’t really like it a whole lot but see why all the states doing it are. However, as I have researched it, I see more and more that it is the colleges and universities who are the REAL winners with it - lots more $$$$ for them all around.

Maybe that is not such a bad thing, especially seeing from your article that Rhode Island colleges and universities (probably the same with other states) are hurting so much right now. Some extra funds at least help them stay afloat for everyone, and maybe it would help keep tuition rates from going up even more with those extra funds going their way.

Still, it’s a political hot potato for them all, and it’s just one of those things that makes one squirm wondering what could happen because of it.

Thanks for sharing that link!