Thousands of DACA recipients graduate from U.S. high schools every year, but only a small percentage of these students go on to attend college. But many of those graduates don’t attend college because they can’t afford it.
But did you know that there are actually many financial aid opportunities that DACA recipients are eligible for, including numerous scholarships? Financial aid can help make even the most expensive colleges affordable!
We’ve composed a guide to scholarships for DACA students to help you locate and navigate the financial aid opportunities for DACA recipients. In this guide, we’ll explain what DACA is, who qualifies for DACA scholarships, and where DACA scholarships are accepted. After that, we’ll provide a list of the 12 best DACA scholarships and give you four tips for applying for DACA scholarships.
DACA stands for “Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals.” The acronym comes from a 2012 government memo that established application criteria for “deferred action” for illegal immigrants who came to the U.S. from another country.
DACA is available for undocumented people who were children or young adults when they immigrated to the United States. DACA recipients receive a two-year, renewable “deferred action” period from deportation. During the deferred action period(s), DACA recipients, also commonly called “DREAMers,” are eligible for a work permit in the U.S.
The criteria for qualifying for DACA is pretty specific. You have to:
If you meet this criteria, you can apply for DACA and deferred action using the DACA form.
If you’re awarded DACA, you’re eligible to receive a work permit in the United States, and you’re also eligible to apply to and attend U.S. colleges and universities.
Put another way, if you receive DACA, you can attend college in the United States.
Since DACA was established as an immigration policy in the U.S., many organizations have begun offering scholarships specifically for DACA recipients. These scholarships are intended to help DREAMers finance their college education, since other federal financial aid options are not available to them.
In order to qualify for DACA scholarships, which are sometimes called DREAMer scholarships, you first have to apply for and receive DACA. You won’t be able to receive a DACA scholarship without this documentation! Because of this stipulation, those who have the means to do so should apply for DACA before applying for admission to U.S. colleges and universities.
In addition to receiving DACA, you also have to get accepted to or be a current student at a U.S. college or university in order to be eligible for a DACA scholarship. There are many scholarships you can apply for and receive prior to getting accepted to college—you’ll just have to show proof of your acceptance and then actually enroll and attend in order to receive the scholarship funds.
Another thing to keep in mind is that many general scholarships that are open to DACA recipients even if the scholarship doesn’t explicitly state that on the application. Look for awards that don’t ask for immigration or citizenship on the application. It’s also a good idea to contact the scholarship committee if you’re unsure about whether you qualify for an award.
There is no federal law in the U.S. that prevents DACA recipients or undocumented individuals from attending college. However, public colleges and universities are inconsistent in the way that they treat DACA recipients who apply for admission. Since some states (like Alabama and South Carolina) have legislation in place that denies college admission to DACA recipients, public universities in those states don’t accept DACA or DREAMers scholarships, either.
The good news is that several states that do offer college admission to DREAMers also offer resident DACA recipients in-state tuition. In-state tuition comes with a much lower price tag than out-of-state tuition or tuition for international students (both of which are the only option for DREAMers in certain states).
