A New Jersey appeals court has ruled an American-born high school student was wrongly denied state tuition assistance because her mother is an illegal immigrant.

Wednesday's ruling involves a student identified only by her initials.

A.Z.'s tuition applications were filed when she was a high school senior. They were denied because an agency found that the student lived with her mother who could not be a New Jersey resident because she is an illegal immigrant.

The court determined the residency requirement pertains only to the student. The judges found the student was a U.S. citizen and a New Jersey resident.