If you’re a high school student who’s undocumented — that is, you were born outside the United States and you’re not a U.S. citizen or legal resident — you probably have a lot of questions about going to college. Here are some important facts:

YOU CAN GO TO COLLEGE

The first thing you should know is that no federal law prevents U.S. colleges from admitting undocumented students. And only a few states — including Georgia, South Carolina and Alabama — have placed any kind of restrictions on undocumented students attending public colleges and universities. In most cases, colleges set their own rules on admitting undocumented students, so you should research the policies of colleges you are interested in attending.

You should also know that undocumented students cannot receive federal financial aid for college. You can receive aid from New York state and accept private scholarships.

YOU ARE NOT ALONE

If you’re worried about telling teachers and counselors that you’re undocumented, be aware that, by law (the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), school officials cannot disclose personal information about students — including their immigration status. 

YOU WILL APPLY LIKE ANY OTHER STUDENT

The college application process is usually the same for all students. See the "STEPS TO APPLY TO COLLEGE" page for step by step information.

The New York State Dream Act

eligible immigration statuses for the nysda (new york state dream act)

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