5 Ways to Find Colleges That Accept Undocumented Students in the United States
In the United States, everyone has the opportunity to learn in elementary school, middle school, and high school. Unfortunately, it is often difficult to find universities for undocumented students in the United States. Luckily there are colleges that welcome undocumented students. Then I show you how to find colleges that welcome people without social security.
Here are several ways to find local colleges in your area. Before I share these ideas I warn you that each state is different, but usually these techniques facilitate a local search. I share online resources, what to do on your part, and who to contact.
There are usually some public and private universities that are available for undocumented students. The states of California, Texas, and New York have laws that allow undocumented students to pay college fees at the same level as state residents.
Online Resources
There are several resources such as organizations that are dedicated to helping undocumented students. These organizations offer guides and provide resources that help undocumented students find scholarships and colleges. The following list provides a list of websites that offer information that may be useful in your search.
The Dream US – The Dream US offers a list of colleges that accept undocumented immigrants. The list is organized in alphabetical order by state. Search for the name of the state where you live and under your state you will find a list of university names. With each university you will also see a link that takes you to the main page of each university. This page does not have this information in Spanish, but the list is very easy to understand. See list of universities.
Best Colleges – On this website you can explore a complete guide to knowledge, education and resources for students who are participating in the DACA program. See resources and information.
Higher Education Services NYC – The NYC website provides information for people living in New York State. Here you will find information about scholarships and grants that you can use in university education. On the main page you will find information in English. At the bottom of the page you will find the same information in Spanish. See NYC website.
Get School Education – Provides answers to frequently asked questions and explains how to access federal, state, and local financial aid as an undocumented student. This page explains a lot of information in Spanish and you can also access the same information in English. See frequently asked questions.
United We Dream – The United We Dram organization focuses on providing information provides answers to frequently asked questions and explains how to access federal, state, and local financial aid as an undocumented student. This page explains a lot of information in Spanish and you can also access the same information in English for undocumented students. It constantly provides updates on the program for indigenous students called DACA. See organization United We Dram.
What to do when finding a university?
After finding a college that accepts undocumented students, the next step is to understand the benefits the college offers and its requirements to apply. The benefits will help you decide whether or not you are interested in applying to this university. The requirements will help you understand if you have what it takes to be able to study at this university.
When I talk about benefits, I mean financial aid that many colleges offer. For example, some colleges allow undocumented students to study by paying a fee similar to what other students pay. Even many of these universities also offer scholarships that depend on the student’s academic average. On the contrary, there are several universities that require higher pay from undocumented students.
Search university pages
Apart from searching through organizations, you can also search by entering the university’s websites. Start by looking for the names of colleges that are in your area and from there you can see whether or not this college accepts undocumented people.
On the page of each university you will also find the application process of that university and if they have scholarships or aid available. This search may take longer to do but at the same time provides more up-to-date information. In the following image I show you an example of how to find the universities that are in your local area. In the search engine start typing collages and universities near me and the search will show you a list of local universities. From there you can enter each university where you can find out more information.
It is important to mention that a search will show a list of local public and private universities. There are several differences between public and private universities that you should be aware of.
Local Contact
If searching the internet is not to your liking then you can try making calls to local universities. To get phone numbers you may have to use the online search engine to get phone numbers.
Start by doing a search just like the previous search. From there you can go to each university to get the phone number. By getting your phone number you will be able to call and ask questions. Keep a list of colleges where you can mark which ones do or do not accept undocumented students. Once you complete the list you will be able to focus better according to the results of your search. Use the college planner to make a list of colleges you call or research.
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Remember that colleges have different policies in awarding financial aid. Your research will help you understand what they offer or not and which of them is more accessible.
School Counselors
At their high schools they have counselors who can help find colleges that accept undocumented immigrants in the United States. A school counselor can also help with the college application process either online or by regular mail. School counselors can be contacted by parents of students or by students at any time.
Typically, a school counselor has access to information about colleges that can be of great benefit to students. Contact your counselor for a meeting for information. Many counselors have information about the DACA program that may be helpful to your family.
DACA Program Participants
Another way to find which colleges accept undocumented students is to find which universities participate in and support the DACA program. DACA refers to the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. Schools that participate in and support this program may have policies that help undocumented students.
What is the DACA program?
The DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) program was created in 2012 under the administration of Barack Obama. DACA allows undocumented immigrants who came to the United States at an early age to obtain temporary protection from deportation and work permits.
Requirements to be eligible include having arrived in the U.S. before turning 16, currently in school or having completed high school, having no criminal record, and being in adequate health. The program has benefited hundreds of thousands of young immigrants, but it has been the subject of political and legal controversies, and its future remains uncertain.
Conclusion
In the United States there are several universities that accept undocumented students. Each college has its own rules that facilitate low-income student aid, financial aid, and merit scholarships. Obtaining a college education is possible, as long as we take the time to research our options and at the same time understand the process of solicitation that we must follow.
