Despite heated controversy over immigration laws as it appears on the nation's political agenda, at least seventeen states allow non-native students to pay in-state tuition after having passed a tuition equity bill. While they may seem scarce, there are plenty of scholarships for undocumented students. Not all scholarships will explicitly call for "undocumented" students - they may require students to have a specific status such as DACA, AB 540, etc. Some scholarships may not even ask about immigration status or citizenship, so you may qualify for those scholarships if you are currently undocumented. Make sure to check your state's immigration laws and policies when applying for scholarships and other forms of financial aid, in addition to reading all scholarship eligibility requirements.
The Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) is an American immigration policy that allows certain undocumented students who entered the country before their 16th birthday and before June 2007, to receive a renewable, two-year work permit and exemption from deportation. In some states, like in California, AB 540 students may qualify to attend college and pay in-state tuition; being exempt from paying non-resident tuition. Be sure to know your status and all the eligibility requirements when applying for these kinds of scholarships.
There are specific organizations such as TheDream.Us that help immigrant youth and undocumented students who have received DACA status achieve their American Dream through the completion of a college education. The Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund also provides students a scholarship program, regardless of their immigration status, as long as students can demonstrate a commitment to advancing Latino civil rights through their career.
Not only do such organizations provide scholarship programs and opportunities, but they also have education resources based on your state - be sure to check your current or prospective college's scholarship and financial aid opportunities to help fund your college education. You may need to conduct some personal research and stay updated on immigration policies, as they are constantly fluctuating and may have some gray areas. Even if a state does not have a DREAM Act, schools may offer merit scholarships that are not tied to federal funding. And remember to conduct a free search to see what scholarships you may be eligible for.
Below are just some scholarships available to undocumented students, or ones that do not request immigration status or citizenship. Read the eligibility and status requirements carefully when applying. You can find more information on these and other awards by completing a profile and conducting a free college scholarship search on Scholarships.com.
Four (4) $1,000 scholarships will be awarded to graduating LAUSD seniors who will be the first in their immediate families to go to college. Preference will be given to students who are (or have been) in foster care, homeless, undocumented students and/or LGBTQ. A two to three paragraph essay must accompany the application (between 400-700 words) on the following topic: Humanism is based on the [...] More
Through its Fellowship Programs, the Ford Foundation seeks to increase the diversity of the nation's college and university faculties by increasing their ethnic and racial diversity, to maximize the educational benefits of diversity, and to increase the number of professors who can and will use diversity as a resource for enriching the education of all students.
Created in 1988 by the award-winning teachers of the Golden Apple Foundation, the Golden Apple Scholars of Illinois program recruits and prepares a rich ethnic diversity of bright and talented high school graduates for successful teaching careers in schools of need throughout Illinois.
Golden Apple Scholars are selected from these distinct paths: - Graduating high school students - Pathway [...] More
The PepsiCo Cesar Chavez Latino Scholarship Fund is awarding scholarships to students of Latino descent who are beginning or continuing their studies at a higher education institution. The fund provides financial assistance to qualified Latino/a students in an effort to promote academic success. PepsiCo Cesar Chavez Latino Scholarship Fund Recipients will be honored at the annual Si Se Puede [...] More
The Professional Certification Scholarships are for students pursuing certification as a Certified Nursing Assistant, Patient Care Technician, or in Phlebotomy from UAMS/Schmieding Center, Petra Allied Health, PRN, NTI, or NWACC. Applicants must be a single parent and a U.S. resident or a resident with DACA Status, and a resident of Carroll, Madison, or Washington County, Arkansas. Must be [...] More
The Single Parent Scholarship Fund of Northwest Arkansas, Inc. (SPSF NWA) works to help single parent families become financially stable and independent. We do this by providing direct financial assistance to low-income single parents who are pursuing a career-related course of study in order to gain sufficient employment to meet the basic needs of their families.
The Fellowship is awarded each year to as many as 175 high school seniors. Fellows receive up to $24,000 in funds while they complete a degree leading to teacher licensure. A Fellow agrees to teach in a South Carolina public school one year for every year he or she receives the fellowship.
Fellows attend one of ten Teaching Fellows Institutions across the state. These schools include Anderson [...] More
If you attend a Delaware high school, keep your grades up and stay out of trouble, you can go to Delaware Tech tuition-free with aid from the Student Excellent Equals Degree (SEED) Scholarship.
Eligibility: -Must be a new, full-time first-year student (12 credits or more) at Delaware Technical Community College no later than the fall semester immediately after the student's graduation from a [...] More
Design something creative that illustrates your passion for your specific creative field. This can be done in absolutely any medium (drawing, painting, animation, digital media, film, etc.) Submit an essay that explains this piece of work. Also, make sure to express why you should receive this scholarship and any financial hardship that you may be going through. It can be as long as you want and [...] More
Design something creative that illustrates your passion for your specific creative field. This can be done in absolutely any medium (drawing, painting, animation, digital media, film, etc.). Submit an essay that explains this piece of work. Also, make sure to express why you should receive this scholarship and any financial hardship that you may be going through. It can be as long as you want and [...] More
The Anhelo Project Dream Scholarship is awarded to deserving undergraduate or graduate students who demonstrate leadership, academic competitiveness, community involvement, and financial need. You must be an Illinois resident attending a college or university located in the State of Illinois in order to apply; be an undergraduate or graduate student and have a minimum 2.5 GPA. High school [...] More
HSF/ General College Scholarships are designed to assist students of Hispanic heritage in obtaining a college degree. Scholarships are available on a competitive basis to graduating high school seniors, community college transfer students, undergraduate students and graduate students. Applicants must be of Hispanic heritage and have a minimum of 3.0 GPA for high school students. A minimum of 2.5 [...] More
The Pinnacol Foundation College Scholarship Program ensures that the children of seriously injured and killed Colorado workers have the opportunity to pursue their dreams by continuing their education. Applicants must be the natural child, adopted child, stepchild or full dependent of a worker who was injured or killed in a compensable work-related accident during the course and scope of [...] More
The Community College Graduate Scholarship is available to community college students with demonstrated financial need who have earned their associate's degrees and seek to complete their bachelor's degrees at one of our four-year Partner Colleges. Students who are currently enrolled in a bachelor's degree program are not eligible. Scholars are selected from a nationwide pool of [...] More
The TheDream.US First Time College Student Scholarship is available to high school seniors or high school graduates with demonstrated financial need who are first-time college students and seek to earn a career-ready associate's or bachelor's degree at one of our partner colleges. Students who are currently enrolled in college are not eligible. Must have a minimum 2.5 GPA, demonstrate significant [...] More
GBHEM Scholarships administers scholarship programs with one general application. Criteria for each scholarship program varies. Applicants must be U.S. citizens, permanent residents, or DACA person and be an active member of The United Methodist Church for at least one year. Applicants must have a masters degree and be enrolled in a doctoral program for ministry. A minimum 2.5 GPA is also [...] More
GBHEM Scholarships administers scholarship programs with one general application. Criteria for each scholarship program varies.
Eligibility: -Must be U.S. citizens, permanent residents, or DACA person -Must be an active full member of the United Methodist Church for at least one year (international applicants must be active full members for at least three years. Other Methodist [...] More
GBHEM Scholarships administers scholarship programs with one general application. Criteria for each scholarship program varies.
The minimum requirements for Ministry scholarships are: -Applicants must be U.S. citizens, permanent residents, or DACA person -Applicants must be an active full member of The United Methodist Church for at least 1 year (International applicants must be active full [...] More
A blind New York resident is suing 50 colleges nationwide over the accessibility of their websites. According to Jason Camacho, the "colleges are in violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act, as their websites are not accessible to people with disabilities." This is not the first time Camacho has sued higher education institutions over website accessibility. [...]
In a letter to the influential ranker of colleges, U.S. News & World Report, a group of Democratic senators urged them to use their "influential platform" to overhaul their college ranking formula by giving more weight to institutions that open their doors to students from underrepresented backgrounds when ranking schools. [...]
Despite being voted the top choice for a fast-food restaurant last year at the college, Chick-fil-A will no longer be a restaurant franchise option at Rider University "based on the company's record widely perceived to be in opposition to the LGBTQ+ community." The decision to remove Chick-fil-A as a new restaurant franchise option "required a difficult assessment of competing interests." [...]
