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How to Pay For College: A Guide for DACA Students
By
Zach Skillings
Zach Skillings is the Scholarships360 Growth Product Manager. During his time as a Scholarships360 writer, he specialized in college admissions, striving to answer important questions about higher education. Zach graduated from Elon University with a degree in Cinema and Television Arts.
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Cece Gilmore is a Content Writer at Scholarships360. Cece earned her undergraduate degree in Journalism and Mass Communications from Arizona State University. While at ASU, she was the education editor as well as a published staff reporter at Downtown Devil. Cece was also the co-host of her own radio show on Blaze Radio ASU.
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Caitlyn Cole is a college access professional with a decade of experience in non-profit program and project management for college readiness and access organizations.
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Maria Geiger is Director of Scholarship Services at Scholarships360. She is a former online educational technology instructor and adjunct writing instructor. In addition to education reform, Maria’s interests include viewpoint diversity, blended/flipped learning, digital communication, and integrating media/web tools into the curriculum to better facilitate student engagement. Maria earned both a B.A. and an M.A. in English Literature from Monmouth University, an M. Ed. in Education from Monmouth University, and a Virtual Online Teaching Certificate (VOLT) from the University of Pennsylvania.
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Did you know that undocumented students can attend college in the United States! There is no federal law preventing undocumented students from attending U.S. colleges (although Georgia, South Carolina, and Alabama prohibit undocumented students from enrolling in certain public colleges). So, how can these students pay for college? Keep reading our guide to see how we break down the financial aid options for DACA students pursuing a college education.
See also: Top DACA Scholarships
What is DACA?
“DACA” is the acronym for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals. DACA students, also referred to as “DREAMers,” which allows undocumented immigrants who arrived in the U.S. as children to avoid deportation, obtain a work permit, social security number and driver’s license. However, without U.S. citizenship, it’s more difficult to get financial aid for college.
Unlike U.S. citizens, undocumented students cannot qualify for federal financial aid. This makes paying for college more challenging, but definitely not impossible. There are ways for DACA students to fund their college education without relying on money from the federal government.
DACA benefits for recipients
Protection from deportation
DACA allows recipients to live within the United States without the fear of deportation.
Work authorization
DACA recipients can receive a work permit to be able to legally work in the United States. This provides recipients with the opportunity to support themselves and their families legally.
Access to education
DACA does not provide federal financial aid for recipients but they can qualify for state or institutional financial aid.
Social security number
DACA recipients are issued a SSN which is essential for employment, banking and identification in the United States.
Driver’s licenses and state IDs
DACA recipients can obtain driver’s licenses in most states.
Access to healthcare
DACA recipients can have access to healthcare services through employers or private insurance. However, they are not eligible for federal programs.
Renewability
DACA status is renewable every two years as long as the recipient is eligible for the program.
DACA eligibility
In order to become a DACA recipient you will need to meet the following requirements:
- Entered the United States unlawfully prior to their 16th birthday
- Have lived continuously in the United States since June 15, 2007
- Were under age 31 on June 15, 2012 (born on June 16, 1981 or after)
- Were physically present in the United States on June 15, 2012 and at the time of making their request for consideration of deferred action with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)
- Had no lawful status on June 15, 2012
- Have completed high school or a GED, have been honorably discharged from the armed forces, or enrolled in school
- Have not been convicted of a felony or a serious misdemeanor, or three or more other misdemeanors, and do not otherwise pose a threat to national security or public safety
How to pay for college if you are a DACA student:
Private scholarships
Earning private scholarships from non-profit organizations and foundations is one of the best ways for DACA students to pay for college. Certain scholarships don’t require applicants to be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident. DACA students should look for these scholarships and pay close attention to other eligibility requirements to make sure they qualify. The ideal time to search for scholarships is early during your senior year of high school, or the year prior to attending college. The following list includes some of the most popular DACA-eligible scholarships:
TheDream.US National Scholarship
The National Scholarship is similar to the Pell Grant in which it grants full in-state tuition (up to $33,000) to highly motivated undocumented students. Some finalists may even receive an additional stipend for books, supplies and transportation (up to $6,000).
TheDream.US Opportunity Scholarship
The opportunity scholarship will cover tuition, fees, on-campus housing and meals at a partner school (up to $80,000). In order to be eligible for this scholarship, you must be undocumented and came to the United States before November 1, 2018.
Golden Door Scholarship
The golden door scholarship provides DACA and undocumented students with not only scholarship money but support including mentorship programs, career readiness and programming. Tuition, room and board is all covered with this scholarship as long as applicants attend regional partner schools.
Questbridge National Match Scholarship
This scholarship grants a full four-year scholarship which covers tuition, housing, food and other expenses. Additionally, you will have access to 52 college partners to choose from and will receive support from QuestBridge throughout the process.
Check out: Ultimate QuestBridge scholarship guide
Hispanic Scholarship Fund
The award amount varies from $500 to $5,000 for Hispanic students. In addition to a scholarship, you will have access to mentors and receive internship and job opportunities with corporate partners. Additionally, there are conference opportunities that students can attend to help them reach their goals.
Cooke College Scholarship
This scholarship will cover tuition, living expenses and required fees (up to $55,000 per year) which allows students to graduate with as little or no debt as possible. Scholarship winners will be able to pursue any major, receive personal advising regarding selecting a college and transitioning to college life.
Ascend Educational Fund (New York City only)
This fund ranges from $2,500 to $20,000 for immigrant students and children of immigrants who are graduating from a New York City high school.
PepsiCo Cesar Chavez Latino Scholarship Fund (Arizona and California only)
This scholarship is for students of Latino descent who will be attending college in Arizona or California’s Central Valley. You also must be a resident of Arizona or California’s Central Valley. The scholarship is $5,000 per student annually.
Hispanic Educational Endowment Fund (Orange County, CA only)
The HEEF scholarship is looking for students who have high financial need, academic achievement and involvement in their communities and extracurricular activities. Students must be first-generation college students, be of Hispanic heritage and have lived in Orange County, CA the past three years.
Expert Perspective
Lynell Engelmyer | College admissions and financial aid advisor, Alexander Hamilton Scholars
DACA students can also search for scholarships using the following resources:
- DREAMer’s Roadmap
- Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund (MALDEF)
- My Undocumented Life
- Immigrants Rising
Also read: Top scholarships for immigrants
Institutional aid
In some cases, DACA students can qualify for scholarships and grants offered by the college or university they plan to attend. Students should check with their prospective schools to see if they qualify for any institutional aid. Colleges may require students to fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) for the sole purpose of determining financial aid eligibility. You’ll need a Social Security Number (SSN) to fill out the FAFSA online. If you don’t have an SSN, you may be able to submit the paper FAFSA to the financial aid office (DACA students may also be able to obtain a SSN if they don’t have one). Every college has different policies, so check with your admissions counselor or financial aid counselor to see if (and how) you can qualify for aid.
See also: Filling out the FAFSA without a social security number
Expert Perspective
Melody Lipford | Advising Specialist on the Virtual Access Team, College Possible
State financial aid
Although DACA students cannot qualify for federal financial aid, in some cases they can qualify for financial aid from the state where they attend school. At least 16 states currently allow undocumented students to receive state financial aid. These include California, Colorado, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oklahoma, Oregon, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, Washington and the District of Columbia. This interactive map breaks down each state’s position on state financial aid access and in-state tuition opportunities (which we’ll cover next) for undocumented students.
In-state tuition
Another way that DACA students can make college more affordable is to take advantage of in-state tuition. In-state tuition is typically significantly lower than out-of-state tuition. According to NILC, at least 25 states currently allow undocumented students to pay the in-state tuition rate at public colleges and universities. However, students are usually required to have lived in the state for a number of years to qualify for in-state tuition. In-state vs. out-of-state tuition charges are left to the discretion of colleges and universities in most other states.
Three states — Alabama, Georgia, and South Carolina — have laws specifically prohibiting undocumented students from qualifying for in-state tuition.
Don’t miss: How to get in-state tuition as an out-of-state student
Working
Work study programs
DACA recipients are not eligible to apply for federal work-study programs in every state. However, depending on the state, DACA recipients may qualify for work study programs in the states that do have state aid programs for DACA students. For example, DACA students in Minnesota are able to participate in work study.
Non-work study employment opportunities
Check with your school’s employment office to see what type of job positions are available on campus besides work-study. If you can’t find anything on campus, try finding a job off-campus, landing a paid internship, or looking for other ways to make money.
Private loans
If you’ve exhausted all your other financing options, your next best option is to search for private student loans. Unlike financial aid, loans have to be repaid over time with interest. DACA students are ineligible for federal loans, but there’s certain private lenders such as MPOWER Financing who will consider non-U.S. citizens. Unlike some other private lenders, MPOWER Financing doesn’t require DACA students to have a U.S. citizen cosigner.
There’s many other private lenders available, though, so be sure to search for private loans that are best for your situation. And make sure to only borrow what you can reasonably expect to repay once you leave school.
Check out: How do student loans work? Everything you need to know
Bottom line…
Ultimately, it’s possible for DACA students to pay for college even without federal financial aid.
DACA students should search for private scholarships along with institutional aid offered by specific colleges and universities. They also may be able to attend a public university in their state and qualify for in-state tuition and/or state financial aid. Finding part-time employment or taking out private loans are also funding options.
Students should also follow policy changes. Laws regarding undocumented immigrants are constantly changing, so staying up to date can help inform decisions about college. If you’re unsure whether you qualify for financial aid or admission, be sure to ask your college admissions counselor, financial aid counselor, or high school counselor. In the end, it’s possible for DACA students to see their college dreams become a reality.