At the time of this report conducted last April, undocumented students made up approximately 2% of all students enrolled in the US higher education system. By the numbers, this comes out to over 450,000 students.
Because undocumented and DACA students are not eligible to file the FAFSA or receive any sort of federal aid. Depending on your state of residence within the US, however, you may be able to secure in-state tuition rates or state-based financial aid.
Ultimately, the amount of latitude varies from state to state in terms of how much assistance you can receive through being eligible for grants and other forms of financial aid.
One solution to attempt to make up for the lack of federal aid?
Applying for scholarships!
While applying for scholarships is a part of most students’ financial plans, this is in some ways a crucial aspect of the paying-for-college plan for undocumented students for the reasons outlined above.
So, without further ado, here is my list of nearly thirty great scholarships for undocumented students.
- Latin American Educational Foundation Scholarships
- Amount: Varies
- Deadline: January 17
- Details: Open to high school and college students who are Colorado residents and who are of Hispanic/Latino origin or who are actively involved in the Hispanic/Latino community. Minimum 3.0 GPA.
- GSBA Scholarship Fund
- Amount: up to $13,000
- Deadline: January 8
- Details: GSBA awards educational scholarships to LGBTQ and allied undergraduate and graduate students who are committed to making a difference in the world.
- MPOWER Women in STEM Scholarship
- Amount: up to $3,000
- Deadline: January 15
- Details: Scholarships awarded annually to female international/DACA students who are currently enrolled or accepted to study full-time in a STEM degree program at a program MPOWER supports in the United States or Canada.
- eQuality Scholarships for High School Graduates
- Amount: $6,000
- Deadline: January 30
- Details: eQuality Scholarships for high school graduates recognize graduating high school seniors and recent graduates in northern and central California students for their service to the LGBTQ community. Applicants must plan to attend or have begun attending an accredited post-secondary institution for the first time in the award year.
- EmPOWERED to Serve Scholarship (program paused)
- Amount: $10,000
- Deadline: January 31
- Details: All currently enrolled college freshmen, sophomores, and juniors who are working to improve community health and wellness are eligible to apply. No minimum GPA, although 3.0 or higher is preferred.
- Ascend Educational Fund
- Amount: up to $20,000
- Deadline: February 4
- Details: Ascend Educational Fund awards scholarships ranging from $2,500 to $20,000 to immigrant students and children of immigrants who are graduating from a New York City high school to attend public or private colleges and universities, regardless of ethnicity, national origin, or immigration status.
- Peninsula College Fund Scholarship
- Amount: $3,000
- Deadline: February 19
- Details: As a PCF scholar, you will be paired with a mentor through your college career, required to attend college and career workshops, and you will receive internship support. Minimum 2.8 GPA, must be a first-generation college student.
- The Vegetarian Resource Group Scholarship
- Amount: $10,000
- Deadline: February 20
- Details: Three scholarships (one $10,000; two $5,000) will be awarded to graduating U.S. high school students who promoted vegetarianism (includes veganism) in their schools and/or communities.
- The DREAM Scholarship for High School and Community College Graduates
- Amount: up to $37,000
- Deadline: February 25
- Details: We think of our National Scholarship as the “Pell Grant” for highly motivated DREAMers with significant, unmet financial need. While we consider your GPA and test scores, we place great emphasis on your demonstrated commitment to community service and your ability to overcome the barriers and challenges that DREAMers face each and every day. Minimum 2.5 GPA.
- Red Thread Foundation for Women Scholarship
- Amount: $1,000
- Deadline: February 26
- Details: The Red Thread Scholarship is available to college-bound women of international backgrounds who will be entering an American college or university in the coming fall.
- LAGRANT Foundation Scholarship for Graduates
- Amount: $3,750
- Deadline: February 26
- Details: Twenty awards will be given to graduate and Ph.D. students. Must have a minimum of 3.2 GPA and MUST major in a field of study that has an emphasis in advertising, marketing, or public relations.
- Pursuit of Excellence Scholarships (multiple)
- Amount: $5,000
- Deadline: February 28
- Details: The Pursuit of Excellence scholarship program is a local program focused on high school seniors and community college transfers for whom additional funds can be the tipping point in allowing them to attend a four-year college. Scholarship recipients typically have challenging backgrounds and are determined to go to college.
- California DREAM Act Scholarship
- Amount: N/A
- Deadline: March 2
- Details: The California Dream Act allows undocumented and nonresident students (U.S. Citizens and eligible non-citizens) who qualify for a non-resident exemption under Assembly Bill 540 (AB 540) to receive certain types of financial aid such as private scholarships funded through public universities, state-administered financial aid, university grants, community college fee waivers, and Cal Grants.
- In addition, the California Dream Act, allows eligible students to pay in-state tuition at any public college in California.
- McConnell Foundation Scholars Program
- Amount: $30,000
- Deadline: March 5
- Details: The purpose of The McConnell Foundation Scholars Program is to identify and support students qualified to bring about positive change in their communities. Ideal candidates are high-achieving students, are among the first generation in their family to attend college, have overcome personal challenges, have positive influence on younger siblings or community members, and demonstrate commitment to the values of giving back and caring for others.
- Social Justice Scholarship
- Amount: $12,000
- Deadline: March 6
- Details: For graduating high school students of a school in the Sequoia Union High School District or EastSide College Preparatory in East Palo Alto, Calif. Must have demonstrated activities or community involvement in social justice efforts that address immigrant issues. Minimum 2.5 GPA.
- Que Llueva Cafe Scholarship
- Amount: $500
- Deadline: March 15
- Details: For graduating high school seniors who will enroll for the first time in an accredited college or university in the U.S. or Puerto Rico.
- American Political Science Association Minority Fellows Program
- Amount: $4,000
- Deadline: March 19
- Details: The Minority Fellows Program (MFP) is a fellowship competition for individuals from underrepresented backgrounds applying to or in the early stages of doctoral programs in political science. Eligibility requirements include being a member of African Americans, Asian Pacific Americans, Latinos/as, American Indians or Alaska Natives, or Native Hawaiians community. Minimum 3.0 GPA.
- The Esperanza Education Fund Scholarship
- Amount: $20,000
- Deadline: April 1
- Details/Eligibility: Applicant must be born outside the U.S. or have two parents born outside the U.S; Applicant must be planning to enroll full-time at an accredited public college or university in the academic year the award is offered; Applicant must be either a 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.
- SCW DREAMers Scholarship
- Amount: $2,500
- Deadline: April 15
- Details: Must be a DREAMer with a GPA of 3.0 or higher. This is a video submission scholarship. Minimum 3.0 GPA to apply.
- Calculated Genius STEMINIST Scholarship
- Amount: $5,000
- Deadline: April 17
- Details: Open to college-bound women from the Chicago metropolitan area who will be majoring in engineering. Minimum 3.0 GPA.
- Best Foot Forward Scholarship
- Amount: $1,000
- Deadline: April 20
- Details: The applicant must be a high school senior on track to graduate or a college student enrolled in an accredited four-year university/college, or currently enrolled in a two-year college and planning to transfer to a four-year university/college upon completion. Current high school students in Georgia who are planning on attending college outside of Georgia may also apply.
- The Earnest Scholarship Fund
- Amount: $5,000
- Deadline: June 30
- Details: Earnest believes in helping people realize their hopes and dreams through further education. To help more students get to school, they created the Earnest Scholarship – a no-essay scholarship – as a way to award 50 students who best articulate how their education will enable their dreams.
- There are no minimum GPA, residency, or major requirements to apply!
- MPOWER Global Citizen Scholarship
- Amount: $5,000
- Deadline: July 20
- Details: In recognition of the extraordinary potential of these students, we’ve created the MPOWER Global Citizen Scholarship. We’ve intentionally designed this scholarship program to be as broad as possible to match the broad, diverse experiences of international students. Scholarships awarded annually to international and DACA students enrolled at Universities MPOWER supports.
- Golden Door Scholars Program
- Amount: full-tuition!
- Deadline: October 23
- Details: Scholarship recipients will receive funding for a four-year degree at Golden Door partner schools. Applicants must have DACA, TPS, or be undocumented, meaning currently not have lawful status in the US. Must also have high financial need.
- Jack Kent Cooke Scholarship Program
- Amount: $40,000 per year
- Deadline: October 30
- Details: The Jack Kent Cooke Scholarship Program is a full-ride undergraduate scholarship program available to high-achieving high school seniors with financial need who seek to attend and graduate from the nation’s best four-year colleges and universities. Minimum 3.5 GPA.
- PS – because the Cooke scholarship deadline is around the beginning of your senior year, if you are interested in applying to this competitive scholarship, you should begin to research and plan around the end of your junior year!
- Dr. Juan Andrade, Jr. Scholarship
- Amount: $1,000
- Deadline: November 30
- Details: The Dr. Juan Andrade Jr. Scholarship for young Hispanic leaders seeks to recognize Hispanic students who share Dr. Andrade’s lifelong commitment to servant leadership.
- Applicants must be enrolled or accepted for enrollment as full-time undergraduate students, in an accredited four-year or two-year institution in the U.S. or U.S. territories, and demonstrate a verifiable need for financial support.
- Questbridge National College Match Program
- Amount: over $200,000
- Deadline: mid-late September
- Details: We are looking for high school seniors who have shown outstanding academic ability despite financial challenges. We take a holistic approach to reviewing applications, and we do not have absolute criteria or cut-offs for GPA, standardized test scores, income, or other factors.
- The National College Match is open to all U.S. Citizens and Permanent Residents OR students, regardless of citizenship, currently attending high school in the United States.
- Act Six Scholars Program
- Amount: Full-ride!
- Deadline: December 1
- Details: The Science Act Six Scholars Program is a full-ride scholarship for high school students who love their community and want to use their college education to make a difference as a leader on campus and at home, and who live in one of the seven Act Six program site areas.
- Urbina Dreamers Foundation Scholarship
- Amount: $2,000
- Deadline: December 1
- Details: Scholarship applicants must be DACA recipients, living within the United States, and enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate program within the United States. High school seniors who will be enrolled in college before the application deadline of December 1 are also encouraged to apply.
- Applicants must also have a minimum GPA of a 3.0 on a 4.0 scale and demonstrate that they are actively involved as a volunteer in the Hispanic community.
- 10x Digital Marketing Scholarship
- Amount: $2,000
- Deadline: December 1
- Details: 10x digital awards a $2,000 scholarship each year to one talented high school senior or college student (twice a year) who is majoring in a field related to digital marketing. Undocumented students are eligible to apply.
- Science Ambassador Scholarship
- Amount: Full-ride!
- Deadline: December 14
- Details: The Science Ambassador Scholarship is a full-ride scholarship for undergraduate women in STEM majors (science, technology, engineering, or math), funded by Cards Against Humanity.
- Renthop College Scholarship Program
- Amount: $1,000
- Deadline: Rolling
- Details: Open to undergraduate students who demonstrate the ambition, diligence, leadership, and entrepreneurial spirit that is central to their company culture.
There you have it – my list of awesome scholarships for undocumented students!
Happy applying, feel free to reach out by signing up for office hours (on my resources page) if you need help, and good luck!