information
Being undocumented is certainly a challenge. However, this should not stop you from reaching your post-secondary goals. The rest of the website applies to you entirely, with the exception of FAFSA. However, this section provides more specific information for you.
SCHOLARSHIPS
Check these sites out.
- The Dream, click here
- My (UN)Documented Life, click here
- Maldef: Encourages all students, regardless of immigration status, to seek private scholarships for their educational expenses. Click here
- Golden Door Scholars: DACA students are ineligible for federal financial aid and in-state tuition in most states; this wastes talent by preventing tens of thousands of qualified students from affording college. Golden Door Scholars eliminates this barrier by investing in undergraduate education and career access for high-performing DACA students. Learn More here
Helpful apps
- DACA Scholars: DACA Scholars is the connection between undocumented college students and scholarship opportunities. Get App, here
- Dreamers Roadmap: Free national mobile app that helps undocumented students find scholarships to go to college. Get App, here
- Know Your Rights: A must-have resource which aims to help immigrants defend and protect themselves by learning their legal rights. Get App, here
Dream Act (Financial aid)
The California Dream Act allows undocumented and nonresident students (U.S. Citizens and eligible non-citizens) who qualify for a non-resident exemption under Assembly Bill 540 (AB 540) to receive certain types of financial aid such as: private scholarships funded through public universities, state administered financial aid, university grants, community college fee waivers, and Cal Grants. In addition, the California Dream Act, allows eligible students to pay in-state tuition at any public college in California. Click here
Applying to uc (adopted from uc website)
Q: Can an applicant skip questions on UC’s application for undergraduate admission if they are unsure of how to answer?
All students, including undocumented applicants, must thoroughly and accurately complete the entire application. For undocumented students, questions that may cause uncertainty about how to respond are as follows:
Country of citizenship: The response option “No Selection” is considered a response and is the recommended choice for undocumented applicants including those with Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) status. The “No Selection” response will avoid the applicant being asked other questions about permanent residency and visa status that are not applicable to undocumented applicants.
Social Security Number: Applicants are required to disclose their Social Security number if they have one. If an applicant does not have a Social Security number, he/she may skip that item. Applicants with DACA status should NOT enter an Individual Tax Payer Identification Number (ITIN) or an Alien Number in place of a Social Security number.
Q: How does an undocumented student establish California residency for admissions purposes? Being classified as a bona fide California resident for admissions purposes allows the applicant to be considered for admission using a lower minimum GPA than is applied to nonresidents.
To determine if the applicant will be considered a bona fide California resident for admissions purposes, the applicant should respond to the following questions:
Q: How does an undocumented applicant/student establish California residency for UC tuition and fee purposes? Under current law, undocumented applicants/students cannot establish California residency for UC tuition and fee purposes regardless of their eligibility for bona fide California residency for admissions purposes. However, any UC student who: is not in possession of a non-immigrant visa to the United States, and has attended a California high school for at least three years, and has graduated from a California high school, and signs an affidavit agreeing to seeking legal status as soon as she or he is able to do so may be eligible for a nonresident supplemental tuition exemption (commonly known as an AB 540 tuition exemption after the authorizing California law). This exemption enables eligible students to enroll at UC without paying UC’s nonresident supplemental tuition. Applications to determine eligibility for AB 540 tuition exemption status are accepted only after a student has (1) been admitted to UC, (2) submitted a Statement of Intent to Register and (3) filed a Statement of Legal Residence at a UC campus.
All students, including undocumented applicants, must thoroughly and accurately complete the entire application. For undocumented students, questions that may cause uncertainty about how to respond are as follows:
Country of citizenship: The response option “No Selection” is considered a response and is the recommended choice for undocumented applicants including those with Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) status. The “No Selection” response will avoid the applicant being asked other questions about permanent residency and visa status that are not applicable to undocumented applicants.
Social Security Number: Applicants are required to disclose their Social Security number if they have one. If an applicant does not have a Social Security number, he/she may skip that item. Applicants with DACA status should NOT enter an Individual Tax Payer Identification Number (ITIN) or an Alien Number in place of a Social Security number.
Q: How does an undocumented student establish California residency for admissions purposes? Being classified as a bona fide California resident for admissions purposes allows the applicant to be considered for admission using a lower minimum GPA than is applied to nonresidents.
To determine if the applicant will be considered a bona fide California resident for admissions purposes, the applicant should respond to the following questions:
- Have you attended a California high school for three or more years and will graduate or have graduated from a California high school? How long have you lived in California?
- Is your parent or legal guardian a permanent resident of California? [if applicant is under 18] Is your parent, legal guardian, spouse or registered domestic partner an employee of the University of California or a UC-affiliate national laboratory (Los Alamos National Security LLC or Lawrence Livermore National Security LLC)?
Q: How does an undocumented applicant/student establish California residency for UC tuition and fee purposes? Under current law, undocumented applicants/students cannot establish California residency for UC tuition and fee purposes regardless of their eligibility for bona fide California residency for admissions purposes. However, any UC student who: is not in possession of a non-immigrant visa to the United States, and has attended a California high school for at least three years, and has graduated from a California high school, and signs an affidavit agreeing to seeking legal status as soon as she or he is able to do so may be eligible for a nonresident supplemental tuition exemption (commonly known as an AB 540 tuition exemption after the authorizing California law). This exemption enables eligible students to enroll at UC without paying UC’s nonresident supplemental tuition. Applications to determine eligibility for AB 540 tuition exemption status are accepted only after a student has (1) been admitted to UC, (2) submitted a Statement of Intent to Register and (3) filed a Statement of Legal Residence at a UC campus.
