Admission, Tuition, and Financial Aid The Journey to College for the Undocumented Student

Key Questions Asked by Undocumented Students

1.Will colleges admit me?

2.How much will my tuition be?

3.Where is there financial help for me to go to college?

Video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1htaw6aYdnA

Admission to College

• There is no federal or state law that prohibits the admission of undocumented immigrants to U.S. colleges, public or private.

• Federal and/or state laws do not require students to prove citizenship in order to enter U.S. institutions of higher education.

• Institutional policies on admitting undocumented students vary.

Researching Colleges • How does the school

work with undocumented students? • What is the school’s

success rate with undocumented students? • Who can I talk to for

emotion and financial support?

Tuition in Washington State

Washington State House Bill 1079 allows undocumented students to pay in-state tuition at state colleges and universities.

You must have: • Been a resident of WA

for at least 3 years • Attained high school

diploma or GED• Continuously resided

in Washington since graduating from high School • Signed an affidavit .

Tuition Process for Undocumented Students

Research colleges and complete application paper work

Sign and submit the affidavit with your application

Once you are identified as in-state tuition eligible, the affidavit is stored or destroyed

Evaluation of Your Application:

Colleges will evaluate your application the same way as non-1079 students!

Resident Status

Resident status for in-state college tuition does not change your citizenship or immigration status.

Financial Aid Realities

Federal Support • Undocumented

students cannot legally receive any federally funded student financial aid including loans, grants, scholarships or work study money.

State Support • Students in

Washington are not eligible for state financial aid.

Financial Aid Strategies

1. People and Organizations that can help

2. Earning College Credit in High School

3. Earning community college credit and uses the Washington State Automatic transfer to four-year colleges

4. Scholarships

5. Work

Strategy 1: People and Organizations that can help • High School

Counselors • Members of your

community

• Financial Aid Office at the college

• Washington Dream Act Coalition

http://www.wdac.info/

• Washington State Educational Access Coalition for HB 1079 Students • LEAP – Latino/a

Educational Achievement Project

http://www.leapwa.org/

Strategy 2: College Credit in High School • Career and Technical

Courses that allow for dual high school and college credit • AP courses

Strategy 3: Community Colleges Running Start Washington State’s

community and technical college system provides educational course work and degree programs which “transfer” to upper-division institutions, both public and private.

Strategy 4 : Scholarships • Make looking for

scholarships your “job” while in high school • Finaid.wsu.edu/

1079.html provides information about financial aid for undocumented students

Start here scholarship sites: • theWashboarg.org• Campanaquetzal.org

Strategy 5: Work • It is very clear that

college students who work often have higher grades than those who do not. • Financial aid offices

have long lists of jobs on campus and the community that do not require citizenship proof.

What’s the Message? • You may have to be

more creative than most students to find the money for college!

• “There is hope. It is hard but other undocumented students have made it to college and you can too!