DENVER - In 2009, Teikyo-Loretto Heights University changed its name and its mission. Now, Colorado Heights University is looking to help students in the area who typically are left with few options after high school.
"We saw that there was a definite need that how do we help these immigrants," said Jason Johnson, director of marketing and admissions for Colorado Heights University.
On Saturday, the private school held an open house celebrating its open-door policy.
"We established our admissions standards that if you graduate high school in the state of Colorado, four years of high school in the state of Colorado, you pay our in-state tuition," said Johnson.
Administrators will not ask about residency status. They will not ask for a social security number.
Colorado Heights overlooks west Denver, an area with hundreds of undocumented students, like Ana Yeli.
"So, it's really hard to pay for college," said Yeli. "Without loans, without anything, it's really, really hard to pay for college."
Undocumented students are forced to pay out-of-state tuition to public institutions. Those costs can easily be more than $10,000 per semester. Yeli says what Colorado Heights is doing can really help the neighborhood.
"Well, just because it gives them that hope of finishing a degree of continuing their education," said Yeli. "If this school is giving them that chance, then that will help a lot of students that new hope, like 'Hey, I'm going to college.'"
Johnson says undocumented students can also earn a chance for a scholarship at the school which would charge around $2,500 per semester for a full-time student.
"We have a merit-based scholarship program that's all our own money," said Johnson.
Former Republican Colorado Congressman Tom Tancredo is famous for his strong stance on immigration.
"If it's a private institution using private funds, they can do everything they want, I suppose," said Tancredo. "My gut tells me, it's a way to try to fill some seats."
Tancredo adds that the efforts at Colorado Heights are essentially pointless.
"What you've got after you educate an illegal alien is an illegal worker," said Tancredo.
He says that if the school wants to help families in the community, it should focus on those that entered the country legally.
"And, what do you tell the people who have done it the right way?" said Tancredo.
Tancredo believes this will be an experiment that will fail.
"Are there all these thousands and thousands out there chomping at the bit?" said Tancredo. "They're here illegally, 'please let me into some institution of higher education.' I'll bet not - to tell you the truth."
Johnson says it's worth a try. He says it's worth it to give undocumented students some hope.
"I'm talking kids with 3.8, 4.0's (grade point average) who simply, because they are not eligible for in-state tuition, they don't go to college," said Johnson. "So, you'll have these valedictorians working at gas stations and it's just not right."