The Colorado House of Representatives passed a bill on Friday that would allow DREAMer immigrant students to pay in-state tuition at state colleges and universities. The bill now goes to Gov. John Hickenlooper (D) to be signed into law, something he has indicated he will do. Only three Republicans voted for the bill.

Once the bill is signed, any student who graduates from a Colorado high school would pay the in-state college tuition rate, regardless of their immigration status.  As of now, immigrants who are undocumented pay the nonresident tuition rate, which is about three times higher than the in-state rate.

Prior to Colorado approving this bill, 12 states allowed DREAMers to pay in-state tuition rates. Currently Oregon also is considering similar legislation.

Think Progress reports the bill is designed to make it easier for students who are undocumented to attend college:

According to the National Immigration Law Center, only 5 to 10 percent of undocumented youth who graduate from high school go on to college, compared to 75 percent of their classmates. But the Latino Policy Institute finds states that allow undocumented students to pay lower tuition have seen a 31 percent increase in enrollment and 14 percent decline in high school dropouts among undocumented Latino students.