Applying for financial aid to get into college presents certain challenges for undocumented students and those with Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA, in English).
For many of them, the alternative is to seek financial aid through private scholarships or institutional assistance offered by the universities to those who wish to apply.
This article offers up-to-date information on scholarships and grants for undocumented or DACA students, facilitating their path to college.
Related: Pupusas for Education scholarships for undocumented students with TPS or DACA
Federal barriers and financial limitations for undocumented students
Undocumented students cannot access the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid), federal loans, or Pell Grants, which greatly hampers their ability to finance higher education.
La FAFSA is required to apply for federal aid, such as the Pell Grant, which is vital for low-income students. However, by requiring a valid ID number Social Security, undocumented immigrants are excluded from this assistance.
Additionally, they are unable to access federal loans, another common resource for covering tuition costs.
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DACA students are also impacted
Students with protection under DACA, even though they have temporary legal status and Social Security, face similar limitations.
Some states offer tuition and state aid to students with DACA, but they don't qualify for federal aid. This means that DACA students, like undocumented students, must seek alternative ways to finance their studies.
Scholarships available in North Carolina
Despite these challenges, it is important to recognize that options exist and that higher education is achievable.
Here we offer a list of resources and programs that can help make college more accessible for students, regardless of their immigration status.
Pupusas for Education (P4E) Scholarship
- Requirements: Undocumented students, TPS or DACA holders; NC residents; recent high school graduates.
- Prize Amount: $4,000 ($500 per semester for 4 years).
- Deadline: Applications open each year between January and March.
- Notes: Acceptance into any post-secondary education program is required.
- Link: airtable.com
Vasquez Law Firm DACA Dreamer Scholarship
- Requirements: DACA recipients.
- Prize Amount: $ 1,000.
- Deadline: Applications usually open in the last months of the year.
- Notes: The submission of an artwork that represents what immigrating to the United States has meant to the student is required.
- Link: vasquezlawnc.com
Self-Help Federal Credit Union
- Requirements: Students regardless of immigration status attending any post-secondary educational institution, including universities, colleges, technical, trade, or vocational schools
- Prize Amount: $1,000
- Deadline: The scholarship application period is usually from January to March.
- Notes: You do not need to be a SHCU member to apply.
- Link: self-helpfcu.org
Elon University Odyssey Program
- Requirements: Undocumented students, with DACA or TPS.
- Prize Amount: Up to full registration.
- Deadline: Applications open between August and September of each year.
- Notes: Students must first submit a first-year application, then apply to the Odyssey program and submit the FAFSA (if eligible) or CSS Profile.
- Link: elon.edu
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national scholarships
Golden Door Scholars
- Requirements : Undocumented student, with DACA, TPS, refugee or pending asylum case in their senior year of high school in North Carolina, South Carolina or Georgia.
- Prize Amount: Complete tuition coverage.
- Deadline: Applications usually open from August to October 1
- Notes: Preference for students pursuing STEM or business majors. Must reside in North Carolina (NC), South Carolina (SC), or Georgia (GA).
- Link: goldendoorscholars.org
TheDream.US National Scholarship
- Requirements: Undocumented students who are eligible to pay in-state tuition
- Prize Amount: Up to $33,000 at a partner university toward a bachelor's degree.
- Deadline: Applications will open on November 1, 2025.
- Notes: Eligibility criteria are subject to change.
- Link: thedream.us
TheDream.US Opportunity Scholarship
- Requirements: Undocumented students who are not eligible to pay in-state tuition.
- Prize Amount: Up to $100,000 toward a bachelor's degree
- Deadline: Applications will open on November 1, 2025.
- Notes: For undocumented students living in states known as "locked-out states," the student must attend one of their partner universities.
- Link: thedream.us
Jack Kent Cooke Foundation
- Requirements: Undocumented students can apply.
- Prize Amount: Up to $55,000 for a bachelor's degree.
- Deadline: Applications will reopen in late August 2025.
- Notes: For students with high academic performance.
- Link: jkcf.org
QuestBridge Scholarship
- Requirements: Open to undocumented students.
- Prize Amount: Complete tuition coverage.
- Deadline: The page will be updated in the summer of 2025. Applications are expected to open in late July 2025.
- Notes: For students with high academic performance.
- Link: questbridge.org
National scholarships with application dates in 2026
Hispanic Scholarship Fund
- Requirements: Undocumented students with DACA.
- Prize Amount: Between $500 and $5,000.
- Deadline: Applications will reopen in January 2026.
- Notes: They must have Hispanic heritage.
- Link: hsf.net
Davis-Putter Scholarship Fund
- Requirements: Undocumented students can apply.
- Prize Amount: Up to $15,000.
- Deadline: Applications will open from January 2026 until April 1, 2026
- Notes: Activism and community work are valued.
- Link: davisputter.org
Esperanza Fund Scholarship
- Requirements: Undocumented or immigrant students in DC, Maryland, or Virginia.
- Prize Amount: $5,000 for bachelor's degree-seeking students and $4,000 for associate's degree students; distributed by semester according to the amount awarded.
- Deadline: Applications will open in 2026. Exact date unknown.
- Notes: For students graduating from high school in DC, Maryland, or Virginia (DMV area).
- Link: esperanzafund.org
Immigrants Rising Scholarships (Multiple)
- Requirements: Open to undocumented students.
- Prize Amount: Variable.
- Deadline: Variable.
- Notes: Scholarship opportunities database.
- Link: immigrantsrising.org
Scholarships based on merit or need
In addition to these scholarships, many universities and colleges in North Carolina accept undocumented students.
Universities such as Duke, Chapel Hill, Queen's University of Charlotte, and Wingate University offer merit-based scholarships for students in need of financial assistance.
Like many of the scholarships mentioned above, merit-based aid is awarded based on a student's achievements, such as academic excellence or community involvement.
On the other hand, “need-based” aid is determined by the financial situation of the student’s family.
By differentiating between need-based and merit-based aid, undocumented students can better understand the opportunities available to them.
This allows them to make more informed decisions about their educational paths and learn to more effectively navigate obstacles related to financial aid.
Despite the growing number of resources, it's important to research the colleges and universities you're interested in to learn about their financial aid options for undocumented students.
Eligibility requirements can vary widely between institutions, and understanding them is critical to maximizing available support and minimizing unexpected obstacles during the application process.
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