Financial Aid Resources for Undocumented Students

Undocumented students are not eligible to receive federal student aid, including loans and grants. However, undocumented students can go to college! There are some financial aid and scholarship opportunities available.

FAQ

  • Who are undocumented students?
    Undocumented students are students who are not U.S. citizens, U.S. nationals, or “eligible noncitizens.” Undocumented students may have a Social Security Number (SSN) for work purposes only through DACA. However, DACA recipients are not eligible for federal student aid.
  • Who is an eligible noncitizen?
    An eligible noncitizen is one of the following
    – U.S. Permanent Resident (green card holder);
    – Conditional permanent resident (I-551C);
    – Has an 1-94 from USCIS that shows “refugee”, “Asylum Granted,” or “Cuban-Haitian Entrant” or
    – Holds a T nonimmigrant status for victims of human trafficking (“T-visa“).
  • Is need-based financial aid available for undocumented students?
    Undocumented students are not eligible for federal student aid. (i.e., Federal Pell Grants, Federal Direct Loans, Federal Work Study). However, some colleges and universities do offer institutional financial aid and/or merit scholarships to undocumented students.
  • Which colleges offer need-based aid and/or merit scholarships to undocumented students?
    Click here for the list of schools that meet 100% of demonstrated need for undocumented and DACA students.
  • Should undocumented students complete the FAFSA?
    Undocumented students should only complete the FAFSA if it is required by a college or scholarship organization to determine their family’s income.
  • Does my parents’ citizenship status affect my eligibility for federal student aid or DC aid?
    No, your parents’ citizenship status does not affect your eligibility for federal student aid or DC aid (i.e., DCTAG, Mayor’s Scholars, DC Futures). In fact, the FAFSA doesn’t even ask about your parents’ citizenship status.
  • What should I do if my parents are undocumented and I need to complete the FAFSA?
    If you are a US citizen or eligible noncitizen and are completing the FAFSA but your parents do not have a social security number, they should create a StudentAid.gov account (FSA ID) and complete the parent section of your online FAFSA. They should indicate that they do not have a SSN. If they have an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN), they should provide this number under the ITIN question. They should NOT provide their ITIN under the SSN questions, and they should NOT enter 000-00-0000 as their SSN.

Scholarships for Undocumented Students.