There are multiple ways to pay for college, don't let money deter you. UCs provide a vast amount of resources for undocumented students. Checkout all of the resources available to you!
Financial Aid
CA Dream Act
The CA Dream Act is state-based financial aid for AB540 eligible undocumented students attending a CA Community College, Cal State University, or a UC. When you apply for the CA Dream Act, you are applying different types of financial aid (such as Cal Grants, institutional scholarships, etc.) that can help you pay your education at UCSB.
The California Dream Act is a combination of three bills, Assembly Bill (AB) 540, AB 130 and AB 131. Together, these bills allow undocumented and nonresident documented students who meet certain provisions to be treated the same as resident students. Together these are called the California Dream Act and they allow these students to pay the resident fees at public colleges and universities, apply for and receive private scholarships funded through public universities, state-administered financial aid, university grants, community college fee waivers and Cal Grants.
Note: If have applied/received approval for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), then you should complete the CA Dream Act Application, NOT the Free Application for Federal Students Aid (FAFSA).
Make sure you qualify for AB540. Only students who are eligible for AB540 qualify for the CA Dream Act.
(Scroll to AB540 section for eligibility requirements)
Gather all the information. Parents' and Student's Federal Income Tax Return (if filed), W2 Forms (student and parents'), current bank statements, current investment account statements, and Alien Registration number (if you have one)
Keep in mind the deadline. The deadline to submit the CA Dream Act Application is MARCH 2nd. It is very important that you submit your application before the deadline because it can have an impact on the amount of your financial aid.
That is the easy part. Just go to https://dream.csac.ca.gov and start a new application.
It is important to make notes of your login information for you will be using the same login if you intend to apply the following year.
Complete all the required questions and follow along the side bar for clarification on questions.
Make sure all information is correct before submitting.
Approximately one week after you complete the CA Dream Application, you will receive your Student Aid Report (SAR). Carefully review your status and follow the instructions if you need to make any corrections.
You may also qualify for Cal Grants. The application information How to apply
If you have any questions, please contact our Dream Scholar Resource Team's financial aid representative Jennifer Leon at Jennifer.Leon@sa.ucsb.edu
CA Dream Loan
The California DREAM Loan Program provides eligible undocumented AB 540 undergraduates with the option to borrow loans to help cover the cost of attending UC.
Additional Resources
For more information, check out the following links
Scholarships
for undocumented undergraduate and graduate students at UCSB
Dream Scholar Fund Scholarship
- Academic Experiences: Focuses on how academic experiences, including internships and research, have contributed to the students' growth.
- Community Involvement: Focuses on community service and involvement, including student organizations, volunteer work, extracurricular activities, leadership, community service, etc.
- Need Based: Focuses on extenuating financial hardships
Scholarship Amount:
Awards amounts will range between $500 - $1,000.
To be eligible, students must be:
- an undocumented undergraduate student (with/without DACA)
To apply, students have to complete an application and scholarship essay(s). The application typically opens in the Spring quarter.
A scholarship selection committee will review all applications. Please note that the committee wants to get to know your story and how that connects to your interests. We encourage you to invest time drafting your essays. Take time to reflect, write, and ask someone for feedback to ensure you are answering the prompt before submitting.
USS Programs Scholarship
At Undocumented Student Services, we design several programs to meet the specialized needs of undocumented students. Our programs are related to mentoring, career development, entrepreneurship, graduate school exploration and application, and more. The USS Programs Scholarship aims to recognize the participation and contributions of students who participated a USS program in the given academic year.
Scholarship Amount:
Awards amounts will range between $500 - $1,000.
This scholarship is open to undocumented undergraduate and graduate students who completed a USS program in the given academic year. Qualifying programs may include:
To apply, students have to complete an application and scholarship essay(s). The application typically opens in the Spring quarter.
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A scholarship selection committee will review all applications. Please note that the committee wants to get to know your story and how that connects to your participation in a USS Program. We encourage you to invest time drafting your essays. Take time to reflect, write, and ask someone for feedback to ensure you are answering the prompt before submitting. |
USS Graduate Student Scholarship
In USS, we are committed to fostering a safe, nurturing, and supportive environment for prospective and current undocumented students, including those who are pursuing a Master's and/or Doctoral degree at UCSB. This scholarship opportunity was created to uphold this commitment and provide need-based financial support for eligible students breaking barriers to pursue an advanced degree.
Scholarship Amount:
Award will range between $1,500 - $2,500.
To qualify, students must be:
- An undocumented graduate student (with/without DACA) enrolled in a program at UCSB
- In good academic standing (no GPA requirement)
- Able to demonstrate financial need
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To apply, students have to complete an application and scholarship essay(s). The application typically opens in the Spring quarter.
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