HB 22-1155

HB 22-1155, titled "In-state Tuition For Colorado High School Graduates," changes the requirements for students to qualify for in-state tuition rates at Colorado colleges and universities. Instead of needing to attend a Colorado high school for three years and enroll in college within one year of graduation, students now only need to have been physically present in Colorado for at least one year before graduating from a Colorado high school or completing their GED here, and must also be present in the state for 12 consecutive months prior to enrolling. This bill affects anyone applying for in-state tuition rates and simplifies the requirements for recent high school graduates or those who have completed equivalency exams. Since it has been signed into law, these new rules are now in effect.

Official Summary

The act repeals the requirement that an institution of higher education (institution) must classify a student, other than a nonimmigrant alien, as an in-state student for tuition purposes if the student has attended a Colorado high school for 3 years and been admitted to college within 12 months of graduating or completing an equivalency examination. Instead, the act requires an institution to classify a student as an in-state student for tuition purposes if the student: Either attended a public or private high school for one year immediately preceding the date the student graduated from a Colorado high school or was physically present in Colorado for at least one year immediately preceding the date the student successfully completed a high school equivalency examination in Colorado; and Has been physically present in Colorado for at least 12 consecutive months prior to enrolling in an institution. The act clarifies that a student who is classified as an in-state student because the student meets the requirements in the act is an in-state student for the purposes of determining whether an institution meets the minimum required percentage of in-state students in an incoming freshman class. Because the act repeals the requirement to be admitted to college within 12 months of graduation, the act also repeals the exception to that requirement for a student who does not have lawful immigration status and graduated or successfully completed the equivalency examination prior to September 1, 2013. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

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