Tuition tug-a-war.

• Position: STATELINE

Maryland's legislature is the latest to pass a bill allowing undocumented students to pay in-state tuition. In Maryland, however, the rates apply only to community colleges. Eleven other states give undocumented students who meet specific requirements in-state tuition rates at all public postsecondary institutions. Lawmakers in California and Texas were the first to pass this kind of legislation in 2001. New York and Utah followed in 2002. Since then, Illinois, Kansas, New Mexico, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Washington and Wisconsin passed laws. Oklahoma, however, has since amended its law, leaving it up to the Board of Regents to decide who qualifies for in-state tuition rates. To be eligible, in most states, students must live in the state, have attended high school for one to three years, and sign an affidavit stating their intention to file for legal immigration status. Nine of the 11 states prohibit undocumented students from receiving state financial aid; New Mexico and Texas do not. This year, lawmakers in at least another 12 states--Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Iowa, Maryland, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Missouri, New Jersey, Oregon and Rhode Island have considered similar legislation to expand...