Embedded Files
Overview
Undocumented and DACA students often face barriers to traditional financial aid. Outside scholarships—offered by nonprofits, community groups, and national organizations—can help cover tuition, books, and living costs. Many are open regardless of immigration status, with some created specifically for undocumented students.
Highlighting outside scholarships not only helps students find financial support but also affirms their right to pursue education with dignity and hope. By curating these resources in one place, our goal is to empower undocumented students to see college as both possible and attainable, and to ensure they have equitable opportunities to thrive.
Tips
Apply to as many scholarship resources as possible (preferably all the scholarships if they apply to you), because applying does not guarantee awardance
Apply as soon as the scholarships are available! The longer you wait, the less funds are available to you
United We Dream (UWD)
UWD provides an interactive and regularly updated listing of scholarships and financial aid opportunities available to undocumented students and DACA recipients nationwide. The platform serves as a curated database to help remove financial barriers to higher education.
Scholarships
United We Dream Scholarship page
Interactive Scholarship Listings: Users can explore scholarships tailored for DACA and undocumented students and filter by region, academic level, type of award, and more.
Student & Administrator Guidebooks: UWD publishes comprehensive guides—such as the United We Dream Student Guidebook and College Administrator Guidebook—that outline resources, strategies for access and retention, and support structures for undocumented or differently documented college students and the educators who serve them.
Why It Matters:
For undocumented and DACA students—who are ineligible for most federal financial aid—finding accessible scholarship supports is vital. United We Dream's scholarships hub consolidates these rare opportunities into one easily searchable platform. The accompanying guidebooks empower students and educators with practical strategies to navigate college systems, form advocacy networks, and increase educational equity and completion rates
Additional scholarship search resources for undocumented students:
Beyond Dreaming: Scholarship List for Undocumented Students in Washington State was created by the 2018 Beyond Dreaming Conference.
Immigrants Rising is a California-based organization that provides resources and advocacy for undocumented people and those navigating the immigration system. We recommend their Educational Resource Binder for an extensive list of scholarships for undocumented students updated every year.
Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund provides bilingual resources for Chicano students, including scholarship lists updated annually with options open to students of all citizenship statuses.
The Washington State Commission on Hispanic Affairs website lists resources related to college education and funding for Hispanic students across the state.
Point Foundation
It is the nation’s largest scholarship-granting organization for members of the LGBTQ+ student of merit community (regardless of their immigration status). It provides scholarships, leadership training, mentorship (comes with the scholarship), as well as a supporting community for LGBTQ+ students, regardless of immigration status.
Schedule: Mon-Fri (responses take from 24hrs to 48hrs)
Contact Info: info@pointfoundation.org
WSAC Financial Aid Toolkit
A collection of resources and promotional material provided by the Washington Student Achievement Council (WSAC) to support the financial aid application process, including informational videos and handouts in multiple languages. It contains handouts and flyers about financial aid programs and processes.
Schedule: Mon-Fri from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm
Contact info: (360) 753-7800, wasfa@wsac.wa.gov
or info@wsac.wa.gov
The Hispanic Scholarship Fund (HSF)
It is one of the nation’s leading nonprofit organizations that has awarded over $756 million in scholarships, as well as provided a range of programs and support services for students, parents, HSF Scholars, and HSF Alumni. The HSF is open to students with various immigration statuses (e.g., DACA recipients). The HSF scholarship is available for students pursuing a wide range of degrees: Bachelor’s Degrees (at any undergraduate level) & Graduate Degrees (Master’s, Doctoral, etc.). The HSF takes a holistic approach when reviewing applications, meaning they consider multiple factors to get a well-rounded understanding of each student. The award amounts range from $500-$5,000 based on relative need
Requirements for scholarship
Requirements for scholarship
Immigration Status (e.g., U.S. citizen, permanent legal resident, or DACA)
Academic Information (e.g., minimum 3.0 GPA for high school students, minimum 2.5 GPA for college/graduate students through the provision of transcripts, and planning for full-time academic enrollment)
Financial Aid Forms (e.g., FAFSA, WAFSA, or other state-based financial aid forms)
Personal Strengths Essays (the essays must demonstrate your background and heritage, your goals and aspirations, your challenges and how you’ve overcome them, your leadership experience, your commitment to your community, and why you deserve the scholarship)
Application Deadlines
Application Deadlines
Application Opens: Early January, 2026
Application Closes: Mid February, 2026
Scholarship Awardence: December, 2026
Northwest Education Access
It is a nonprofit organization that focuses on the support for low-income students (ages 16-29) through the provision of a free comprehensive, individualized program in which you are paired with a financial aid expert. The scholarships provided are “gap scholarships,” meaning that it is based on the amount left of tuition.
Schedule: Open Mon-Fri from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm
Contact Info: (206) 523-6200, info@nweducationaccess.org
NW Education Access
The way in which the program runs is by (1) becoming a program participant, (2) develop an individualized plan, which is based on your school’s tuition, book and supplies, room and board, transportation, personal expenses, and childcare, (3) maximize all other financial aid (WAFSA, Washington College Grant, College Bound Scholarship, Institutional Aid, External Scholarships, and other benefits like food assistance and housing assistance opportunities), (4) calculate the “gap,” and finally (5) provide “gap” scholarship. First, they require the submission of the Referral Form for initial board criteria (takes approximately a few business days to 2 weeks for review), and if you qualify, they will reach out to you by phone or email to schedule an intake interview. After the intake interview, a NW Education Assistant (NWEdA) will assess if you are a good fit based on the interview (which can take 1-3 weeks after the interview was conducted). If accepted, you will be formally on board and assigned a specific Education Advocate that will stay with you until you have reached your education goals (this can be from months up to even over 7 years). They do not operate on fixed application cycles, therefore the referral form is generally open all year-round.
Why it matters: Helps fill institutional gaps with community-based support.
Requirements
Age: 16-29 years old
Income Status: The organization utilizes the Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to measure income eligibility. To determine whether you qualify for Low-Income Status, input the county in which you live in to display a table with the different ranges of annual income based on family size.
Residency: Must live in Washington state (primarily King, Pierce, or Snohomish county)
Motivation to Pursue Education: The form will require you to explain the type of education you are seeking (i.e., GED, High School Diploma, Vocational Certificate, Associate’s, Bachelor’s Degree), why you want to pursue it, the challenges you are currently facing, and your career aspirations
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