Proposition 308
Are you a non-citizen student considering NAU? Under Arizona Proposition 308, you may qualify for in-state tuition and state financial aid and funding to attend Arizona universities or community colleges.
What is Prop. 308?
Prop. 308 is a legislative referral that allows qualifying non-citizen students in Arizona to qualify for in-state tuition at Arizona universities or community colleges.
The proposition was on the ballot for November 2022 where it passed by vote and and was became effective Dec. 5, 2022, after the election results were certified and proclaimed to be law by former Arizona Governor Ducey.
What does Prop. 308 do?
Proposition 308 makes two significant changes to Arizona law. First, with the passage of Proposition 308, a qualified non-citizen student, with exceptions defined by law, is eligible for in-state tuition at state universities and community colleges if the student has both:
- Attended an Arizona public or private high school, or two years minimum of homeschooling;
- Graduated from an Arizona public or private high school, or homeschool equivalent, or earned an Arizona high school equivalent diploma, i.e., a general equivalent and diploma (GED).
Second, Proposition 308 repealed A.R.S. § 15-1825 and grants non-citizen students eligibility to receive financial aid funded entirely, or in part, with state money, regardless of immigration status.
Frequently asked questions
In-state tuition
Who qualifies for in-state tuition under Prop. 308?
A qualifying non-citizen student, other than the nonimmigrant aliens described under 8 U.S. Code § 1101(a)(15), is eligible for in-state tuition under Prop. 308, regardless of immigration status, if the student meets both of the following criteria:
- The student attended any public or private high school or homeschool equivalent while physically present in Arizona for at least two years; and
- The student graduated from any public or private high school or homeschool equivalent in Arizona or obtained a high school equivalency diploma in Arizona, i.e., a GED
Do the two years of physical presence in Arizona while attending high school need to be consecutive?
No. Students do not need to have two years of consecutive presence. However, to be eligible, they still must provide documentation that they both:
- Attended any public or private high school option or homeschool equivalent while physically present in Arizona for at least two years; and
- Graduated from a public or private high school option or homeschool equivalent or obtained a high school equivalency diploma in Arizona
What should I do if I have questions about my residency status?
Please contact a team member at residency@nau.edu or 928-523-4951 about your ability to qualify for in-state tuition under Prop. 308.
Are current qualifying non-citizen students eligible for in-state tuition?
Yes. Students who meet the requirements of Prop. 308 are eligible for in-state tuition for any semester that started after Dec. 13, 2022. Prop. 308 does not have a retroactive effect, so students will not be reclassified for semesters that began prior to Dec. 13, 2022.
Will students with visas be eligible for in-state tuition under Prop. 308?
Nonimmigrant aliens described under 8 U.S. C. § 1101(a)(15) are not eligible for in-state tuition under Prop. 308. This includes, but is not limited to, students who hold F1, F2, J1, H4 or H1 visas. For a complete list, please review the definition outlined in 8 U.S. C. § 1101(a)(15).
Does Prop. 308 change the eligibility for paying in-state tuition under A.R.S. § 15-1802?
No. Anyone eligible for in-state tuition prior to Prop. 308 remains eligible.
Do the qualifying non-citizen students eligible for in-state tuition under Prop. 308 also need to prove domicile under A.R.S. § 15-1802?
No. A qualifying non-citizen student will pay in-state tuition if they meet the requirements of A.R.S. § 15-1803(B):
- The student attended any public or private high school or homeschool equivalent while physically present in Arizona for at least two years; and
- The student graduated from any public or private high school or homeschool equivalent in Arizona or obtained a high school equivalency diploma in Arizona, i.e., a GED.
Financial aid
How does Prop. 308 impact eligibility for financial aid?
Prop. 308 repealed an Arizona law (A.R.S. § 15-1825) which prohibited students who were not citizens of the United States and who were “without lawful immigration status” from receiving financial assistance subsidized or paid in whole, or in part, with state monies, such as tuition waivers, fee waivers, grants, scholarships, and any other type of financial aid or assistance.
With the passage of Prop. 308, all students—regardless of immigration status—may be eligible to receive financial aid paid in whole or in part with state monies to attend an Arizona public university or an Arizona community college. While Prop. 308 eliminated barriers to eligibility for financial aid based on immigration status, a student must still meet all other requirements of the state financial aid they are seeking.
To be eligible for state financial aid, a student does NOT need to meet the Arizona high school attendance or graduation criteria. That applies only to eligibility for in-state tuition. Prop. 308 does not impact the eligibility requirements to receive federal financial aid.
What other scholarships are the students impacted by Prop. 308 now eligible to apply for?
NAU offers a number of financial aid opportunities, including merit scholarships and need-based aid. Students who meet the requirements of NAU scholarships and financial aid programs are now eligible to receive them, regardless of immigration status.
Should students who are impacted by Prop. 308 complete the FAFSA application?
Any student who wants to apply for financial aid and who can complete the FAFSA should complete the FAFSA. However, a student must have a Social Security Number (SSN) to complete a FAFSA application, and some of the students impacted by Prop. 308 may not be eligible to complete the FAFSA. Students can visit SSA Deferred Action document for more information on how to obtain an SSN.
Are students who are eligible for in-state tuition under Prop. 308 also eligible for the Arizona Promise Program?
No. To qualify for the Arizona Promise Program, a student must meet all the eligibility requirements under A.R.S. § 15-1701. One requirement of the Promise Program is that a student must qualify for a Pell Grant, which is federal need-based financial aid. Aliens without legal immigration status, who are not citizens or legal permanent residents, do not qualify for federal financial aid. More information about the Arizona Promise Program, including eligibility requirements, is available at Arizona Board of Regents.
Students impacted by Prop. 308 may be eligible for other state or college financial aid, in addition to private scholarships.
Who can I talk to about specific questions I have about financial aid?
Please contact NAU’s Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid at (928) 523-4951 or financial.aid@nau.edu.
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