Undocumented Student Resources
The CCC is here to help students of all immigration statuses navigate career, college, and life after high school. The resources on this page are specifically for students who are undocumented, with and without DACA. For legal assistance, please reach out to the Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota.
Higher Ed Immigration Portal is a new digital platform that integrates data, policies, and resources about DACA and undocumented, other immigrant, international, and refugee students to support immigration reform and federal policymaking, fuel change at the state and campus level, and build a diverse movement of partners and stakeholders advocating for these students.
Applying to College
"Undocumented students, like any other students, have a right to pursue and attend college in the United States. Do NOT let anyone tell you differently!" - Unidos MN
When applying to college, you may be asked about your immigration status. Your immigration status DOES NOT disqualify you from applying. Some colleges may have you apply as an international student, but most of the time you will be considered an in-state student at Minnesota colleges. For those schools, it's okay to choose "other" as your citizenship status.
The colleges and programs below are excellent options for undocumented students. However, they are not the only ones, and you will have specific criteria that's unique to you in your college search. Work with the CCC to figure out the best college list for you.
The U welcomes applications from undocumented students and those with DACA. Generous institutional financial aid is available.
You can apply for in-state tuition at Minnesota State Colleges and Universities, some of the most affordable options in the state.
Undocumented students' applications are reviewed on the basis of academic achievement and potential. Generous institutional financial aid is available.
This program at MCTC is designed for you to attend college tuition-free. Students with DACA, TPS, U-Visas, and other statuses can apply.
These 70+ colleges are committed to serving DREAMers and prepared to offer support services to help navigate college life – both on and off the campus.
This is a list of colleges that meet 100% of financial need for undocumented students. That means that your tuition is fully covered!
Financial Aid
Undocumented students in Minnesota can apply for state grants (free money) through the MN Dream Act. This application is also used to qualify for in-state tuition rates and institutional financial aid at some colleges. If you have DACA, the MN Dream Act qualifies you for work study as well. Learn more about how to apply for the MN Dream Act on our CCC website or the Minnesota Office of Higher Ed's website.
Scholarships
Scholarships are free money you don't have to pay back and are awarded based on some type of merit. We recommend applying to these local scholarships that are open to undocumented students:
Immigrants-Rising_Applying-for-Scholarships.pdfMore scholarship resources:
Income Generation*
*Talk with your lawyer, legal advocate, or someone from the Immigrant Law Center before pursuing these options to understand how they may affect your personal situation!
Students who are undocumented and do not have DACA have barriers to legal employment in the United States. However, there may be other ways to generate income without a social security number or work authorization card. These include: 1) working as an independent contractor, 2) starting your own business, 3) fellowships, and 4) worker coops.
"Undocumented people without DACA or TPS can have a career and earn a living. Undocumented professionals share their stories and advice on how to make it work. We present options and resources to help you advance your careers, regardless of your immigration status." - TheDream.Us
"Our business training instruction is a multisession program offered twice a year, from February to April and from September to December. Our objective is to guide prospective entrepreneurs in their start-up process while introducing them with key business concepts.
In addition, we offer finance, marketing, and computer workshops throughout the year. Computer skills instruction is directly linked to our business instruction via Excel and QuickBooks training." - Latino Economic Development Center
General Resources
Navigate MN is an immigrant-led, multigenerational, Latinx based community non-profit organization that builds power for gender, racial and economic justice.
Immigrants Rising empowers undocumented young people to achieve educational and career goals through personal, institutional and policy transformation.