The Trump administration has sued seven states over their in-state tuition policies for undocumented students, arguing they violate federal immigration statutes. Several states have backed down, while others are fighting back in court. The financial gap between in state and out-of-state costs can be significant, with in state tuition and fees averaging $11,950 for the 2025-2026 academic year. The University of Virginia's tuition costs was $23,897 in tuition, while out of-state students paid $62,923 in 2025. The Justice Department's suits cite two Trump executive orders seeking to prevent undocumented immigrants from receiving taxpayer-funded benefits and the 1996 Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act as evidence of discrimination against U.S. citizens. The legal battle over tuition eligibility continues to escalate.