Scholarships For DACA Recipients & Undocumented Students
Last updated September 5, 2023
If you're an undocumented or DACA student, finding financial aid for college can be tricky. Undocumented students do not qualify for federal aid, and only a handful of states offer state grants to undocumented students. However, there are a number of scholarships for undocumented students out there!
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.
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- Submit your scholarship essay for free review
- Check out our college scholarships page to find more scholarships you can apply to now!
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.
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National Match Scholarship // QuestBridge
Amount: $200,000
Deadline: September 26, 2023
Match Scholarship Recipients are granted early admission to one of QuestBridge's college partners with a full four-year scholarship, worth over $200,000.
No-Essay Scholarship // Scholarships360
Amount: $1,000
Deadline: September 30, 2023
To be considered for a $1,000 scholarship, simply create an account on Scholarships 360 and sign up for email newsletters.
Golden Door Scholarship // Golden Doors Scholars
Amount: Varies
Deadline: October 1, 2023
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
US citizens, permanent residents, or F1 visa holders are not eligible to apply.
Global Citizen Scholarship // MPOWER Financing
Amount: $2,000-$10,000
Deadline: October 31, 2023
To be eligible, you must be a DACA recipient enrolled in a full-time college degree program in the U.S.
Achieving the Dream Scholarship // First Coast Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
Amount: $2,000
Deadline: Application opens November 1, 2023
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.
Kennedy-King Memorial College Scholarship // Kennedy-King Memorial College Scholarship Fund
Amount: $6,000 for two years
Deadline: Application opens November 4, 2023
This scholarship is awarded to a few students who transfer in the fall or spring following the award from Contra Costa County community colleges in California to junior standing in four-year accredited institutions.
Ted & Holly Rollins Scholarship // Ted & Holly Rollins Scholarship
Amount: $1,000
Deadline: November 15, 2023
Applicants must write a few essays of 500 words each. Scholarships will be awarded to "high school seniors based on the most compelling stories -- regarding their life story, their intended field of study, career and how they will make an impact on the world."
Cooke College Scholarship // Jack Kent Cooke Foundation
Amount: Up to $55,000
Deadline: November 16, 2023
This foundation offers a scholarship each year to students who show financial need and hope to attend some of the nation's best colleges. Applicants must be graduating from high school in the spring of 2024 and intend to enroll in college in the fall of 2024. Must have a minimum cumulative unweighted GPA of 3.5 or above.
Dr. Juan Andrade Scholarship for Young Hispanic Leaders // United States Hispanic Leadership Institute
Amount: $500-$1,000
Deadline: November 30, 2023
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).
Applying to multiple scholarships? Download our FREE Scholarship Application Requirements Tracker to keep you organized!
Your Time to Climb Scholarship // Tenge Law Firm
Amount: $2,000
Deadline: December 1, 2023
This scholarship is available to all students in the United States. Must be a citizen, permanent resident, or DACA recipient to qualify. Applicants must write a short essay (500-1,000 words) answering the following prompt: “Tell us about a time you pushed yourself because you wanted something. Did you succeed? What did you learn from the experience?”
Chicana Latina Foundation Scholarships // Chicana Latina Foundation
Amount: $1,500
Deadline: Application opens January 1, 2024
This scholarship is offered to 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.
BECA General Scholarship // BECA Foundation
Amount: $500-$1,000
Deadline: February 5, 2024
San Diego high school seniors with plans to begin college in the fall of 2024 are eligible for this scholarship. Must submit two letters of recommendation.
BECA Alice Newell Joslyn Medical Scholarship // BECA Foundation
Amount: $500-$2,000
Deadline: February 5, 2024
High school seniors and college undergraduates studying to be a healthcare professional are eligible for this scholarship. Must submit two letters of recommendation.
College Scholarships // The Vegetarian Resource Group
Amount: Up to $10,000
Deadline: February 20, 2024
Graduating high school students who have promoted vegetarianism in their schools and/or communities are eligible for these scholarships.
SEG Scholarships // Society of Exploration Geophysicists
Amount: Up to $10,000
Deadline: March 1, 2024
SEG offers scholarships of up to $10,000 to students interested in pursuing an education in geophysics and related geo-sciences.
CA Dream Act // California Student Aid Commission
Amount: Varies
Deadline: March 2, 2024
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.
Esperanza Fund Scholarship // Esperanza Education Fund
Amount: Varies
Deadline: April 1, 2024
Applicants must have been born outside of the US or have two parents who were born outside of the US. Must be a 2024 graduating senior at a high school in the District of Columbia, Maryland, or Virginia OR have earned a GED within the last four years and reside in District of Columbia, Maryland, or Virginia. Must plan to enroll full-time in an accredited, public two-year community college or four-year university in the US for the 2024 - 2025 academic year. Must have had a household income in 2023 of less than $100,000. No citizenship requirements.
Davis-Putter Scholarship // Davis-Putter Scholarship Fund
Amount: Varies
Deadline: April 1, 2024
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.
Missed the deadline on any of these scholarships? That's okay! We'll save this list so you can apply next year.
Beauty and Wellness Professionals Scholarship // Beauty Schools Directory
Amount: Up to $2,500
Deadline: September 1, 2023
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.
Martin Family Foundation Honors Scholarship Program // University of Washington Seattle
Amount: Up to $12,000 per year for 3 years
Deadline: July 1, 2023
This program enables Washington State Community College students of exceptional ability and outstanding achievement to complete their baccalaureate degrees at the University of Washington in Seattle.
Scholarships // Prism Foundation
Amount: $1,000-$5,000
Deadline: June 30, 2023
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.
WIA Foundation Scholarship // Women in Aerospace Foundation
Amount: $2,000
Deadline: June 13, 2023
WIA aims to provide scholarships to women interested in a career in the aerospace field to pursue higher education degrees in engineering, math or science. One or more awards of $2,000 will be given each year to a rising senior in college, to be applied during the upcoming academic year.
Arthur H. Goodman Scholarship // CDC Loans
Amount: Varies
Deadline: June 2, 2023
This scholarship provides financial assistance to dynamic, community-minded women and minority students transferring from a community college in California or Arizona to four-year universities.
California Latino Legislative Caucus Foundation Scholarship Program// CLLCF
Amount: $5,000
Deadline: June 1, 2023
Applicants must be full-time undergraduate students or high school seniors with a minimum GPA of 2.5. Must submit two letters of recommendation.
ScholarSHPE // Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers
Amount: Varies
Deadline: April 30, 2023
SHPE offers scholarships of up to $5000 to students pursuing an undergraduate degree in a STEM field with a minimum GPA of 2.75.
HSC Scholars Program // Hispanic Scholarship Consortium
Amount: Up to $5,000
Deadline: April 30, 2023
This scholarship is open to students of Hispanic/Latino heritage who plan to enroll in an accredited two-year 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.
Husband and Wife Law Team Scholarship // Breyer Law Offices PC
Amount: $1,000
Deadline: April 29, 2023
Arizona graduating high school seniors and current undergraduate students who are U.S. Citizens, permanent residents, or DACA recipients can apply for this scholarship. Applicants must submit a 500-1,000 word essay answering the following prompt: “Describe in your own words what makes a great leader. Talk about a time you stepped into a leadership role and what lessons you learned or insights you gained. As a leader, how do you plan to continue to support your community in the future?”
Education First Scholarships // Education First
Amount: $5,500
Deadline: March 17, 2023
Education First offers scholarships of to students in EF Chapter cities including Los Angeles, Seattle, Austin, San Diego, San Francisco, Boston, Denver, and Portland.
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.
Oregon Community Leadership Scholarship // Harrington Family Foundation
Amount: $20,000 over four years
Deadline: March 10, 2023
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.
Foundation 649 Scholarship // Foundation 649
Amount: $4,000 over 4 years
Deadline: March 1, 2023
This scholarship is for Asian American/Pacific Islander students. Applicants must write a 1,000 word essay to be considered. Undocumented students are welcome to apply.
POE Scholarships // Pursuit of Excellence
Amount: Varies
Deadline: February 28, 2023
This organization offers scholarships of $500-$6000 to students from the South Bay Area, CA.
National Scholarship // The Dream.Us
Amount: Varies
Deadline: February 28, 2023
This scholarship is available to current high school seniors and students previously or currently enrolled in college. Applicants must be undocumented with or without DACA or TPS, have come to the United States before November 1, 2017, and have continuously lived here since then. The amount of your annual award will be based on the cost of tuition and fees based on your enrollment status.
PCF Scholarships // The Peninsula College Fund
Amount: $3,000 per school year
Deadline: February 17, 2023
This college fund offers scholarships and mentoring to low-income, first-generation, and undocumented students attending any accredited college or university in the United States. Must have a 2.8 GPA or higher and demonstrate financial need.
HSF Scholarships // Hispanic Scholarship Fund
Amount: $500-$5,000
Deadline: February 15, 2023
Scholars are selected based on merit. Award amounts range from $500 - $5,000, based on relative need.
eQuality Scholarship // eQuality Scholarship Collaborative
Amount: $6,000
Deadline: January 31, 2023
These scholarships are available to students who are residents of Northern or Central California (but may study elsewhere) who have demonstrated service in the LGBTQ+ community.
Scholarships // Hispanic Education Endowment Fund
Amount: Awards start at $2,500
Deadline: December 31, 2022
This organization aims to help enhance Hispanic youths' educational opportunities and to improve students’ educational expectations in the Orange County area. They hope to help Hispanic students overcome financial barriers and work towards a higher education.
Pedro Zamora Young Leaders Scholarship // National Aids Memorial
Amount: Varies
Deadline: July 15, 2022
This scholarship is available to all current high school seniors, and college freshman, sophomores and juniors (ages 27 and younger) who demonstrate an active commitment to fighting HIV/AIDS and taking on roles of public service and leadership.
Scholarship // Los Hermanos de Stanford
Amount: $500-$1,000
Deadline: April 29, 2022
This scholarship is for Latinx students who are graduating from high school with plans to attend any two or four year institution of higher learning. Attending Stanford University is not a requirement. Applicants will be judged on their contributions to the guiding principles of Los Hermanos de Stanford: community service, academic excellence, and cultural awareness.
NAHJ Scholarships // National Association of Hispanic Journalists
Amount: Varies; Up to $10,000
Deadline: February 18, 2022
Theses scholarships are available to college-bound high school seniors, college undergraduates and graduate students pursuing careers in English or Spanish-language print, broadcast, digital, or photojournalism who have at least a 3.0 GPA.
Ascend Educational Fund Scholarship // Ascend Fund NY
Amount: $2,500-$20,000
Deadline: February 11, 2022
Ascend Fund offers scholarships 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.
Check out our College Scholarships page to find more scholarships you can apply to now!