Scholarships For DACA Recipients & Undocumented Students
Last updated December 18, 2024
While undocumented students unfortunately do not qualify for federal financial aid, there are a number of scholarships out there that they're eligible for! Scroll down to find some scholarships we hand-picked for undocumented students and DACA recipients.
Disclaimer: Some scholarship websites or organizations found on this list may sell your personal information to third parties, including (but not limited to): your name, email address, home address, and phone number. While we aim to share scholarships and scholarship websites that do not sell any student data, we know that those with larger money scholarships may. We encourage you to always be intentional about the scholarships you apply to and the information you share with them.
Looking for more? We have lots of resources to help you in your scholarship search!
- Use our free scholarship application requirements tracker.
- Text #Scholarships to 33-55-77 with any scholarship-related questions.
- Submit your scholarship essay for free review.
- Use Get Schooled’s brand new Scholarship Finder to gain access to over 21,000 scholarships just for YOU!
Scholarship Resource Guide // Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund
Amount: Varies
Deadline: Varies
MALDEF's scholarship resource guide is updated annually to help students, parents, and educators find good scholarship opportunities. MALDEF also offers helpful scholarship advice and things to consider when applying to scholarships, both in English and Spanish, to help students better understand their options.
Oregon Community Leadership Scholarship // Harrington Family Foundation
Amount: $20,000 over four years
Deadline: Application opens December 2024
The Oregon Community Leadership Scholarship is a renewable four-year collegiate scholarship program for current Oregon high school seniors who are emerging leaders, and plan to attend an Oregon trade school, college or university. No citizenship requirements to apply.
Esperanza Fund Scholarship // Esperanza Education Fund
Amount: $4,000-$5,000
Deadline: Application opens January 1, 2025
The Esperanza Education Fund provides scholarships to students from Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, DC who are immigrants or the children of immigrants.
McDonald’s HACER National Scholarship // McDonald's
Amount: $5,000-$100,000
Deadline: February 6, 2025
High school seniors who have at least one parent of Hispanic heritage and have a minimum 2.8 GPA are eligible to apply for this scholarship. DREAMERS/DACA recipients are eligible to apply.
PCF Scholarships // The Peninsula College Fund
Amount: $10,000-$12,000
Deadline: February 7, 2025
To be eligible for this scholarship, applicants must attend a public or private high school in San Mateo or Santa Clara County, have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.8, be a first-generation college student, and demonstrate financial need. The PCF application is open to undocumented students as well as students who have DACA status.
National Scholarship // The Dream.Us
Amount: Up to $33,000
Deadline: February 28, 2025
This scholarship is available to immigrant students with or without DACA or TPS who came to the U.S. before the age of 16 and before Nov. 1, 2019 and qualify for in-state tuition at one of the organization's 80+ Partner Colleges.
Foundation 649 Scholarship // Foundation 649
Amount: $4,000 over four years
Deadline: March 1, 2025
This scholarship is for Asian American and Pacific Islander students who are seeking a college degree and have a track record of involvement and interest in AAPI communities, issues, or causes. Applicants must answer a questionnaire and write a maximum 1,000 word essay to be considered. Undocumented students are welcome to apply.
Beauty and Wellness Professionals Scholarship // Beauty Schools Directory
Amount: $2,500
Deadline: March 1, 2025
This scholarship is available to high school seniors and college students who are currently studying or planning to study at a beauty or cosmetology school. Both part-time and full-time students are eligible. All U.S. residents and DACA recipients are eligible to apply.
CA Dream Act // California Student Aid Commission
Amount: Varies
Deadline: March 3, 2025
This application is open to incoming and current college students who attended a California high school for a minimum of three years and will enroll in an accredited California college or university. Applicant must be a non-resident applying under AB 540 and AB 131.
Achieving the Dream Scholarship // First Coast Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
Amount: $2,000
Deadline: March 17, 2025
Applicants must have at least one parent or grandparent of Hispanic descent. Must have a minimum GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale. Must reside in one of the following five counties in Florida: Duval, Baker, St. Johns, Clay, or Nassau. DACA recipients are eligible to apply.
Chicana Latina Foundation Scholarships // Chicana Latina Foundation
Amount: $1,500
Deadline: March 31, 2025
This scholarship is offered to Chicana and/or Latina students in Northern California. Applicants must be enrolled in an accredited college, university, or community college in one of the following California counties: Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, Monterey, Napa, Sacramento, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Solano, San Francisco, Sonoma, or Yolo. Applicants must have lived in one of the above counties for at least two years.
Davis-Putter Scholarship // Davis-Putter Scholarship Fund
Amount: Up to $15,000
Deadline: April 1, 2025
In order to be eligible for the Davis Putter Scholarship, you need to be involved in movements for progressive social change, enrolled in a degree, trade or training program, and have financial need. U.S. citizenship is not required to apply, but applicants must have participated in activities in the United States and be planning to enroll in an accredited program in the U.S.
HSC Scholars Program // Hispanic Scholarship Consortium
Amount: Varies
Deadline: April 30, 2025
This scholarship is open to students of Hispanic/Latino heritage who plan to enroll in an accredited two- or four-year college or university in the United States with at least a 2.5 GPA. Applicants must reside in Texas, but U.S. citizenship is not required.
Missed the deadline on any of these scholarships? That's okay! We'll save this list so you can apply next year.
Dr. Juan Andrade Scholarship for Young Hispanic Leaders // United States Hispanic Leadership Institute
Amount: $500-$1,000
Deadline: November 30, 2024
This scholarship is available to students enrolled or accepted for enrollment as a full-time student in an accredited four-year or two-year institution in the U.S. or U.S. territories. Applicants must be able to demonstrate a verifiable need for financial support. At least one parent must be of Hispanic ancestry. Non-U.S. citizens are eligible to apply (DACA or undocumented).
Youth Award // Hispanic Heritage Foundation
Amount: Varies
Deadline: November 3, 2024
This scholarship is available to Latino high school seniors who excel in the classroom and community and for their excellence in areas such as education, community service, business and entrepreneurship, and media/entertainment.
Golden Door Scholarship // Golden Doors Scholars
Amount: Varies
Deadline: October 1, 2024
High school seniors, recent high school graduates, and current college students are eligible for this scholarship. Applicants must have one of the following documentation or immigration statuses:
- DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals)
- Temporary Protected Status (TPS)
- U-1 visa
- Pending Asylum case open with USCIS
- Pending Refugee
- Undocumented
U.S. citizens, permanent residents, or F1 visa holders are not eligible to apply.
National Match Scholarship // QuestBridge
Amount: $200,000
Deadline: September 26, 2024
Match Scholarship Recipients are granted early admission to one of QuestBridge's college partners with a full four-year scholarship, worth over $200,000.
Scholarships // Prism Foundation
Amount: $1,000-$5,000
Deadline: July 12, 2024
This scholarship is open to students who attend community college, university, and trade/vocational school. Applicants should have a strong history of engagement within the API and/or LGBTQIA+ communities. Non-citizens are welcome to apply.
California Latino Legislative Caucus Foundation Scholarship Program // CLLCF
Amount: $5,000
Deadline: June 1, 2024
Applicants must be full-time undergraduate students or high school seniors with a minimum GPA of 2.5. Must submit two letters of recommendation. All students, regardless of immigration status, are eligible to apply for this scholarship.
Rise to Legacy HBCU Scholarship // Get Schooled
First-Gen Trailblazers Scholarship // Get Schooled
Reach For Your Peak Scholarship 2023 // Get Schooled
HOLA at Microsoft Scholarship // Microsoft
Amount: $5,000
Deadline: March 15, 2023
This scholarship is available to Latinx high school seniors who need assistance paying for college. Must be planning to study Engineering, Computer Science, or Business in college. Must have a high school GPA of 3.0 and higher. DACA recipients are eligible to apply.
HSF Scholarships // Hispanic Scholarship Fund
Amount: $500-$5,000
Deadline: February 15, 2023
Scholars are selected based on merit. Award amounts range based on relative need. DACA recipients are eligible to apply.