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College and

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College and Scholarships
The U.S. is home to 427,000 undocumented students in higher education. Each U.S. state implements its own policies in terms of providing undocumented students with access to in-state tuition (for public universities) and state financial aid. Please see below for resources regarding college and scholarships that students can apply to regardless of immigration status.

How to apply to college

Guide for Undocumented High School and College Students (Informed Immigrant, 2021)

  1. Enter the workforce (See section on Entrepreneurship)
  2. Enroll in technical or vocational school (also called trade schools)
  3. Attend a two- or four-year undergraduate program at a college or university
  • What if I didn’t graduate from high school?
    • Any adult who has not received a high school diploma in the United States can earn their high school equivalency diploma by sitting for a high school equivalency exam such as the High School Equivalency Test (HiSET), Test Assessing Secondary Completion (TASC), or General Equivalency Diploma (GED). U.S. citizenship is not required to take these tests. 
    • A high school diploma or equivalent is necessary to enroll in college or other post-secondary education opportunities, so if you didn’t graduate from high school but would like to enroll in college, sitting for a high school equivalency exam is your next step.
    • While acknowledging that being undocumented can restrict the work available to you, earning a high school equivalency diploma may also help make you more competitive in the job market.
    • Learn more about the high school equivalency exams offered in your state and discover which one is right for you at the Community for Accredited Online Schools. 
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Resources for Applying to College as an Undocumented Student

(Informed Immigrant, 2021)

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Starting Your College Search

Make the Call:

The best way to find out if your prospective institution has the programs you are looking for and supports undocumented students is to call them on the phone! Colleges and universities should be striving to figure out how to best support all their students, including undocumented students. We know it can be challenging to talk publicly and to strangers about your undocumented status, you should be able to get many of your questions answered while remaining anonymous when you call colleges and universities as a prospective student.

Lean on Allies:

This is also where your allies come in! If you don’t feel comfortable calling prospective institutions or are worried about revealing your immigration status over the phone, you can ask your guidance counselor or another trusted individual to make these calls on your behalf.

Key Offices to Contact for Undocumented Student Support

We encourage you to contact the following three offices to learn about what your prospective institution has to offer undocumented students.

  • Admissions Office
  • Financial Aid Office
  • Multicultural Student Center or Undocumented Student Center

Utilize Online Resources for Undocumented Students

Some colleges and universities also have webpages dedicated to campus resources that exist for undocumented students. If this page exists for your prospective institution, it may include points of contact for on-campus offices that address advising, financial aid, mental health, and other needs.

Thorough Research:

Not all colleges and universities are undocumented student-friendly. Though transferring to a new school might be an option in the future, you are choosing a school where you will spend much, if not all, your time for the next two or four years. Doing all the research you can to make sure you will be comfortable and supported as an undocumented student on-campus is hugely important.

How to Pay for College

Tuition rates vary from school to school depending on the type of institution. As a reminder, tuition at public colleges and universities, including community colleges, is often less expensive than tuition at private colleges.

While tuition at private colleges and universities is often more expensive than tuition at public universities, undocumented students may be able to obtain need-based financial aid that significantly lowers their tuition rate.

Keep in mind that many undergraduate and graduate institutions may offer significant institutional aid (i.e., financial aid directly from the institution), particularly for those candidates with mid to high standardized test scores. Thus, studying for the required standardized test (whether self-study or through a course) and applying as a competitive candidate is often the first step to ensuring you maximize the amount of aid you obtain from an institution.

Options to Pay for College

Scholarships

Loans

Although undocumented students are not able to access student loans from the federal government, they can often access private or personal loans from banks, credit unions, and other sources. While certain private loans are available to undocumented folks, the bank or organization making the loan will most likely require a U.S. citizen or legal permanent resident with good credit to co-sign the loan. 

Community Support

While often informal, students are sometimes able to get financial support to attend college from their communities, particularly religious communities. If you are active in a church, temple, or mosque, you might consider inquiring to see if your community provides scholarships or other help to students in paying for college.

On-Campus Fellowships and Funding

  • Even though undocumented students cannot legally work (unless they have DACA), there are opportunities that colleges and universities can create to provide non-employment based funding and fellowships to undocumented students. Your school may have non-employment based experiential, education, or training fellowships that provide stipends to participants regardless of immigration statusAt minimum, some campus organizations or institutions may be able to find ways to support undocumented students for their involvement with gift cards for food, school supplies, and other necessities.

Transfer Process for Undocumented and Refugee Students: Models and Considerations for 2 & 4 Year Institutions

(Presidents’ Alliance, 2022):

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Admissions & Funding Opportunities

  • A growing number of private colleges and universities in the U.S. consider undocumented students to be domestic students for the purposes of admission and financial aid. Many colleges and universities have also expanded access to specific institutional funds, external scholarships or other donor funds to support undocumented students.
  • You can see a list of top 30 U.S. colleges and universities. The overwhelming majority have expanded financial aid equity to undocumented students comparable to other domestic students.

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