Welcome Students!
This November, Arizona voters cast their ballots in support of Proposition 308, allowing qualifying non-citizen Arizona high school graduates to receive in-state tuition at Arizona’s community colleges.
Starting with Spring 2023 classes, students who meet eligibility requirements can take advantage of Maricopa Community Colleges’ affordable tuition and are also eligible for financial aid in the form of state and local assistance, in the form of grants, scholarships, or tuition waiver programs.
To be eligible, these students must have done both of the following:
Registration Is Now Open
Now, more Arizonans can have access to affordable, quality education available at any of our ten Maricopa Community Colleges. Whether you are pursuing a Fast Track certificate or are enrolled in one of our 600+ certificate and degree programs, registration is now open for Spring 2023 classes.
If you have any additional questions, you can contact your college’s Admissions, Records, and Registration/Enrollment Services office for details.
Opportunities for Additional Support
The HSI EXCELlence program is offered at six of the nine Hispanic Serving Institutions in the Maricopa Community College District. The program’s primary focus is Latina/o/x student success. The program welcomes YOU, qualifying non-citizen Arizona high school graduates, to apply to HSI EXCELlence for support with every step of your college journey.
A Message from Our Chancellor
Dear Maricopa Students, We Are Ready For You!
This November, Arizona voters cast their ballots in support of Proposition 308, which will allow non-citizen Arizona high school graduates to now receive in-state tuition and state and local financial aid at Arizona’s community colleges. Starting with Spring 2023 classes, students who meet eligibility requirements will be able to take advantage of Maricopa Community Colleges’ affordable tuition and financial aid, in the form of state and local grants, scholarships, or tuition waiver programs.
This change will have a profound impact on the lives of countless students, many of whom put their dreams of higher education on hold. Whether you’ve recently graduated from high school, are looking to reskill and re-career, or returning as an adult learner, the Maricopa Colleges are ready for you. I am honored to welcome you as a member of our community and invite you to explore all that our colleges have to offer.
As a System of ten colleges, we are proud to offer our students world-class instruction, expansive support services, small class sizes, flexible learning options, state-of-the-art degree and certificate programs and, by Fall 2023, seven bachelor’s degree programs.
Our faculty and staff are prepared to support you through the enrollment process today.
Sincerely,
Dr. Steven R. Gonzales
Chancellor, Maricopa County Community College District
Frequently Asked Questions
Prop. 308 was on the Arizona ballot in November 2022 and passed by the voters. It makes two significant changes to Arizona law. First, non-citizen students—with exceptions as defined by law**—are eligible for in-state resident tuition if the student has a) attended a high school in Arizona for a minimum of two years and b) graduated from a public school, private high school, or homeschool in Arizona, or earned a GED in Arizona.
Second, Prop. 308 repealed A.R.S. § 15-1825, and now eligible non-citizen students can receive financial aid funded in whole, or in part, with state monies.
**If you are on a visa or seeking adjustment of status and wonder if you are eligible, talk to someone in your Admissions and Records office.
It became effective on December 5, 2022, after Governor Doug Ducey signed it into law.
Non-citizen students** (including undocumented and Dreamers) are eligible for in-state resident tuition if the student a) attended a high school in Arizona for a minimum of two years and b) graduated from a public high school, private high school, or homeschool in Arizona, or earned a GED in Arizona.
**If you are on a visa or seeking adjustment of status and wonder if you are eligible, talk to someone in your Admissions and Records office.
The college must determine if your visa status can be eligible based on current administrative regulations, as many visa types (including F1, F2, J1, H4, or H1) are not eligible.
If you are currently on a visa or seeking an adjustment of status, talk to someone in your college’s Admissions and Records office.
Dual Enrollment and early college non-citizen students do not qualify while still attending high school. The good news is once you graduate from high school, you will be eligible if you meet the criteria.
This rate will be applied to all courses starting after December 6, 2022. If you’ve already registered for Spring 2023 classes and are eligible, we will update your tuition before the start of the semester. If you’ve enrolled in a payment plan, that will automatically update based on the new balance due. Check your email regularly for updates from Maricopa Community Colleges.
While you do not qualify for federal aid as a non-citizen student, you may be eligible for state and local financial assistance through grants, scholarships, or tuition waiver programs available through your college, the Maricopa Community Colleges Foundation, and scholarship donors.
Talk to someone in your college’s Financial Aid office—they are there to help.
Beyond valid identification, you will need to provide an Arizona high school transcript showing your attendance for two years and graduation; or, if a GED, your Arizona high school transcript verifying two years of attendance and a GED transcript. We will use high school transcripts if we already have them on file and can use unofficial transcripts to set conditional in-state resident tuition rates. You will need to submit an official copy of your transcripts.
Please contact your high school counselor or front office for more information. You can also check if your institution issues electronic transcripts through our provider, parchment.com. If your high school is listed, you can create an account and order one to be sent to your college.
If you are a qualified non-citizen student, you must have a) attended a high school in Arizona for a minimum of two years and b) graduated from a public high school, private high school, homeschool, or earned a GED in Arizona to be eligible for the in-state tuition benefit.
You may be eligible moving forward as long as you have a) attended a high school in Arizona for a minimum of two years and b) graduated from a public high school, private high school, homeschool, or earned a GED in Arizona to be eligible for the in-state tuition benefit.
If you have questions, contact the Admissions and Records office—we're here to help!
You may be eligible as long as you have a) attended a high school in Arizona for a minimum of two years and b) graduated from a public high school, private high school, homeschool, or earned a GED in Arizona to be eligible for the in-state tuition benefit.
If you have questions, contact the Admissions and Records office—we're here to help!