Mexican residents who live near the U.S. border can pay in-state tuition while attending community colleges in San Diego and Imperial County, according to KPBS, San Diego’s public radio station.
Low-income Mexican residents who live within 45 miles of the U.S. border are eligible.
Tuition at Southwestern College in Chula Vista is about $550 for California residents and $5,000 for nonresidents, according to KPBS. Almost 100 students at the college are enrolled through the new program, college officials said.
Assembly Bill 91, which passed in 2023, went into effect this fall. The bill’s author, Assemblymember David Alvarez (D-Chula Vista), said the legislation is part of a broader effort to support binational students and increase opportunities for higher education in the South Bay, according to KPBS.
Lambert writes about teachers and teaching for EdSource.
