City University of New York (CUNY) officials encouraged undocumented immigrant students to continue applying for admission despite a federal lawsuit challenging New York’s in-state tuition policy for undocumented students. Chancellor Félix Matos Rodríguez delivered the message on Thursday during an annual “Welcome to CUNY” event held at Borough of Manhattan Community College, reinforcing the university’s commitment to defending the policy in court.
The lawsuit was filed in August by the U.S. Department of Justice under the Trump administration, targeting several states, including New York. The legal challenge argues that New York’s in-state tuition rates for undocumented immigrants discriminate against out-of-state American citizens who must pay higher tuition fees. At CUNY’s senior colleges, in-state tuition currently stands at $6,930 annually, while out-of-state students are charged $18,600. Meanwhile, the State University of New York (SUNY) system charges $7,070 for in-state and $17,730 for out-of-state students, with community colleges offering lower rates at both systems.
New York, represented by Attorney General Letitia James, has filed a motion to dismiss the federal government’s lawsuit, asserting constitutional concerns regarding the challenge. Matos Rodríguez emphasized that despite the ongoing litigation, students should not be deterred from applying to CUNY or pursuing higher education opportunities in the state.
Speaking alongside Chancellor Kamar Samuels, Matos Rodríguez said, “We’ll go to court, defending the state law that guarantees that, so that we can continue to benefit all CUNY students.” Both officials participated in distributing “Welcome to CUNY” letters to dual-enrolled high school seniors from Manhattan Early College Academy for Marketing & Media Arts and Union Square Academy for Health Sciences. This outreach effort, now in its fourth year, aims to provide students with detailed application information, including a waiver of application fees through November 16.
The distribution of these letters is part of a broader effort to expand access to college-level coursework for high school students. Last school year, a record 37,000 New York City high school students registered for dual enrollment programs through CUNY. Matos Rodríguez highlighted the positive academic outcomes associated with participation in such programs, noting that students involved in initiatives like College Now tend to graduate more quickly and achieve higher grade point averages.
Chancellor Samuels noted that the FutureReadyNYC dual enrollment program has expanded this fall to approximately 190 schools, adding 11 new programs. Funded and supported by CUNY among other partners, FutureReadyNYC offers early college credit through career-focused coursework designed to accelerate academic progress and better prepare students for postsecondary success.
These initiatives underscore CUNY’s ongoing commitment to providing accessible and affordable education options despite challenges posed by the current federal lawsuit. The university and New York State remain engaged in legal efforts to uphold policies that grant in-state tuition benefits to undocumented students.