California’s free ride means illegal migrants get money for college — while Golden State natives pay big

New York Post ^ | Sep. 5, 2026 | Ben Chapman

[nickcarraway]

California is paying tens of millions of dollars for illegal immigrants to attend college — infuriating Golden State natives struggling to pay their tuition.

California provides illegal migrant students with state-funded grants and other financial aid, while thousands can also benefit from in-state tuition rates, waivers for community college fees and subsidized loans.

Approximately 102,000 illegal migrants were attending California colleges and universities as of 2023, the largest share of any state in the US. The staggering benefits come as many middle-class California families struggle to qualify for substantial financial aid while facing college costs that can easily run above $45,000 a year.

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TOPICS: Business/Economy; News/Current Events; Political Humor/Cartoons; US: California
KEYWORDS:

[gibsonguy]

All good those are permanent rat voters after all gotta give en whatever they want.

[KingofZion]

Truth. I have paid $$$$$$ in California income, property and sales taxes for most of my life. Now my children can’t get admitted to flagship UC schools because UC engages in illegal affirmative action by using household income and parental education and zip code redlining as a proxy for race. So 14% of white and asian suburban kids with 4.0 GPA and high test scores are admitted vs. 50% of Title I (read illegals) high school kids with subpar academics. And worse the illegals pay no tuition and are subsidized with my tax $$.

[Marko413]

One of big things where I am grateful to be in the US where ome things can be a state issue and not nationwide.

That being said, my sympathies to conservative Californians

[rey]

When I was a Marine at Pendleton I had to pay out of state tuition while illegals paid in state or nothing.

[Da Coyote]

It’s not as if anyone attending any CA ‘kollege’ is getting a real education - STEM excepted.

[Liz]

California provides illegal migrant students with:
<><>state-funded grants and other financial aid,
<><>thousands benefit from in-state tuition rates,
<><>illegals get waivers for community college fees
<><>and subsidized education loans.
<><>102,000 illegals were attending Cali colleges and universities as of 2023,
<><>represents the largest share of any state in the US.

The staggering taxpayer-subsidized benefits to illegals come as many working-class California families struggle to qualify for financial aid while facing college costs that can easily run above $45,000 a year.

[stylin19a]

California provides illegal migrant students with state-funded grants and other financial aid, while thousands can also benefit from in-state tuition rates, waivers for community college fees and subsidized loans.

Then they start off with USC, which is a private school(as is Chapman) which has only 1 tuition.
Not one mention of the difference between in-state tuition and non in-state tuition in the article.

In-state (California residents)

Systemwide tuition + Student Services Fee: $15,588 Tuition: $14,202
Student Services Fee: $1,386

Out-of-state (nonresidents)

Systemwide total: $54,858
Same resident charges ($15,588)
Plus Nonresident Supplemental Tuition (NRST): $39,270

Note: Total cost of attendance is much higher once you add housing, food, books, transportation, etc. (often $45,000–$50,000+ for residents and $85,000–$90,000+ for nonresidents living on campus)

Begs a few quesions...one being:
- How can an illegal afford any tuition even with financial aid ?

[SENTINEL]

...And the many active duty military members there on orders trying to take a few night or online classes pay OUT OF STATE tuition rates.

[crusty old prospector]

It says state-funded grants. I wonder if the rest of us are paying for them through Pell grants.

[Liz]

.......”state-funded grants.” I wonder if the rest
of us are paying for them through Pell grants.

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Good point.

[Organic Panic]

I was born and raised there. Fresno state was about $3000 a year. I even had the pleasure of having VD Hansen for a history professor.

I avoid Cali as much as possible. I have family there. It is such a shame what the dems did.

[Organic Panic]

Insane. I was born and raised in there eastern Sierras and love Cali. My family all moved there from Poland and Scotland in the early 1900s. What a dump now. I grew up on the edges of Mono Lake. A harsh area for sure. I absolutely love that place. But, as I always say, the problem with California is it is in California...

[R0CK3T]

All the fcking Socialists in this State would gleefully hand out every cent of our citizen tax revenues to any illegal, so long as its not THIER own money.

They’ll ultimately cause the financial failure and collapse of our state.

[Ronald77]

You get the government that you vote for and your vote allows this, and you do it voting cycle over voting cycle. You’ve got exactly what you want.

[Gasshog]

Kick the GD DumpOkraps outta your State. problem solved.