This bill makes it easier and more affordable for people from U.S. territories to attend college on the mainland. Right now, students from Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, American Samoa, and the U.S. Virgin Islands often pay out-of-state tuition rates when they attend public colleges and universities in the 50 states, which can cost thousands of dollars more per year than what local students pay. This bill changes that by requiring public colleges that receive federal funding to charge these territorial residents the same in-state tuition rates as they charge students who live in that state.

The bill applies to people who are U.S. nationals (which includes most residents of these territories) and want to attend a public college or university. Essentially, a student from Guam would pay the same tuition as a student from that state, rather than the higher out-of-state rate. This removes a financial barrier that has made college less accessible and more expensive for people from these U.S. territories, giving them the same tuition benefits that students from the 50 states already receive.

Territorial Student Access to Higher Education Act

Moylan, James C.

Territorial Student Access to Higher Education ActThis bill requires public institutions of higher education that participate in federal student aid programs to charge no more than in-state tuition and fee rates to students who&nbsp;are residents of Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, American Samoa, or the U.S. Virgin Islands, provided they are also U.S. nationals.