Jiménez Supports Bill That Makes Public University Tuition Affordable for Illinois Students

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – To create more pathways for affordable higher education for high school students, state Rep. Lilian Jiménez, D-Chicago, is supporting a bill that would prioritize Illinois public school students for admission and tuition protections at public colleges and universities. 

“High-achieving students deserve to have the opportunity and choice to attend a higher education institution in their state,” said Jiménez. “This legislation takes meaningful steps to ensure our top students have a place in our public universities and that in-state students are prioritized in competitive programs.”

Jiménez supported House Bill 4343, which aims to make higher education more affordable for Illinois high school students by amending multiple higher education Acts, including;

• Requiring the Illinois Board of Higher Education (IBHE) to guarantee admission to at least one public university for top-performing high school graduates;
• Requiring transparency through annual reporting that would illustrate admission, tuition and graduating trends for in-state students;
• Requiring each public university to prioritize in-state students during admission cycles and ensuring there is a 70% residency requirement for high-demand programs with limited capacity; 
• Prohibiting the governing board of a public university from increasing its in-state tuition based on inflation beginning with the 2027-2028 academic year; and
• Creating workforce incentive grants and loan forgiveness to encourage graduates, especially from underserved regions, to work in Illinois after graduation.

“Higher education should be accessible, affordable and focused on keeping opportunity here in Illinois,” said Jiménez. “Illinoisans need to have clear and transparent information about tuition costs and affordability. We’re doing this by supporting students, stabilizing the tuition cost and creating incentives for graduates to build their careers here at home. This way, we invest in our high-achieving students, financially help low-and-modest-income families and the long-term strength of our communities and workforce.”