Top DACA Scholarships in 2021
Undocumented students, or “DREAMers” as they are sometimes referred to, are not eligible to receive educational grants or loans from the federal government. Perhaps that is why you landed on this page. If so, we are happy to assist in the form of this list of credible and current DACA scholarships that are open to you!
Jump ahead to:
- Top DACA Scholarships
- DACA Resources
- Summary of Top DACA Scholarships
- Scholarships that are closed, but will reopen soon
Keep on reading to learn more about the scholarships and financial aid opportunities available to undocumented DACA students!
Top DACA Scholarships in 2021
Esperanza Education Fund
- Eligibility: Graduating senior at a high school in the District of Columbia, Maryland, or Virginia or a recent GED grad residing in DC, Maryland or Virginia
- Amount: Scholarships range from $5000 to $20,000, depending on financial need
- Deadline: April 1, 2021
Resources for DACA students
The following list offers a variety of resources for DACA students. Remember to check with your current school, as sometimes there are local resources and groups to take advantage of and get involved in.
Bold.org
All of the scholarships found on Bold.org are open to DACA students. So, if you qualify for the scholarship in every other way, apply!
Immigrants Rising Mental Health Connector
This free and confidential organization provides undocumented young people in California with 100% free psychological support and resources.
National Conference of State Legislators
This website offers students and their families information on what their state offers DACA students in regard to higher education funding.
Questbridge Prep Scholars Program
The QuestBridge College Prep Scholarship helps high-achieving high school juniors successfully apply to the nation’s top colleges. The Program provides resources such as a full scholarship to a college summer program at Stanford, Yale, Notre Dame. These scholarships are valued at up to $20,000, and cover travel, tuition, and room & board. The program opens in March, so bookmark and check back!
TheDream.Us
This website offers legal resources and links to other sites where DREAMers can find scholarships, programs, and local support.
US Department of Education DACA Q&A
This document is written in an easy to understand Q&A style. The questions are organized into two categories: “Eligibility for Financial Aid” and “Completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) Form.”
Summary of DACA Scholarships
Scholarships that are closed, but will reopen soon
Ascend Educational Fund
- Eligibility: Applicants must be graduating high school seniors born outside the United States (or have two parents born outside the United States). They must reside in in one of the five boroughs of New York City (Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queens, Staten Island), and plan to enroll full-time at an accredited college or university in the 2020-2021 academic year
- Amount: $2,500 to $20,000
- Deadline: February 5, 2021 (Opens November 2021)
Bezos Scholars Program
- Eligibility: High achieving high school juniors with demonstrated financial need
- Amount: All expenses for the Program are covered, including transportation, lodging, meals, and all passes for the Aspen Ideas Festival in Colorado. Also includes opportunities to apply for $1,000 seed grants to design and implement ideas
- Deadline: January 11, 2021
Dream.US National Scholarship
- Eligibility: High school seniors schools and community college students. Students are eligible to apply if they were under age 16 when they came to the USA before November 1, 2015. Recipients must qualify for in-state and attend on of the partner colleges found on this list
- Amount: Up to $16,500 for an associate’s degree and $33,000 for a bachelor’s degree
- Deadline: February 25, 2021
Dream.US Opportunity Scholarship
- Eligibility: Open to high school graduates who live in states that do not offer DREAMers in-state tuition or bar them from attending state colleges and universities
- Amount: Up to $80,000 to cover tuition, fees, and on-campus housing and meals for a bachelor’s degree.
- Deadline: January 28, 2021
Ford Foundation Predoctoral Fellowship
- Eligibility: Outstanding graduate students (high GPA, class rank, honors, etc.), who are committed to a career in teaching and research at the college or university level in the U.S.
- Amount: $27,000 per year for three years
- Deadline: December 20, 2021
Global Citizen Scholarship
- Eligibility: Open to international and DACA students enrolled at Universities MPOWER supports
- Amount: $3,000 and two $1,000 awards
- Deadline: December 31, 2020
HACU Scholarship Program
- Eligibility: Open to college students of Hispanic descent with financial need who are attending one of the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities
- Amount: $1,000 to $5,000
- Deadline: November 20, 2020
Hispanic Scholarship Fund Scholarship
- Eligibility: Must be of Hispanic heritage and have a minimum 3.0 GPA for high school seniors and 2.5 GPA for undergraduate and graduate students
- Amount: $500 to $5,000
- Deadline: February 15, 2021
Jack Kent Cooke Tranfser Scholarship
- Eligibility: Open U.S. community college students, including DACA, with a 3.5 GPA with financial need. Applicants must be enrolling as a full-time student at a four year college in the fall
- Amount: Up to $40,000 per year
- Deadline: January 6, 2021
Jack Kent Cooke College Scholarship
- Eligibility: Open to high-achieving high school seniors, including DACA status, with financial need who seek to attend four-year colleges and universities
- Amount: Unmet college tuition financial need as well as college planning support and personal advising
- Deadline: October 20, 2020 (opens in August)
