Savanna Hoffman
The United States has a strong history of welcoming international students, who make up over 5% of all students in higher education and about 27% at the graduate level. International students are defined as those who hold or are seeking a visa. Undocumented students, on the other hand, are school-age immigrants who entered the US without inspection or overstayed their visas. They do not qualify for federal financial aid and are not eligible for assistantships, fellowships, or scholarships that require work. While there is no federal law preventing undocumented students from studying at US universities, they are not considered international applicants because they do not qualify for visas and do not go through the international admissions process.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Definition of undocumented students | School-age immigrants who live in the US after entering the country without inspection or overstaying their visas |
| Definition of international students | Students who currently hold a visa of any type or are seeking a visa |
| Number of undocumented students in the US | 510,027+ |
| Percentage of international students in higher education | 5% |
| Percentage of international students at the graduate level | 27% |
| Percentage of immigrant-origin students in higher education | 32% |
| Percentage of immigrant-origin students in higher education who are people of color | 80%+ |
| Obstacles for undocumented students | Financial |
| Tuition residency for international students | Determined by the Office of International Programs |
| Admission criteria for undocumented students | Based on a holistic review of all applicant information, both academic and personal |
| Form required for admission processing for undocumented students | Tuition Equity Form |
| Citizenship status for undocumented students | Non-US Citizen |
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What You'll Learn
International students are not undocumented
- Entered the United States without inspection or with fraudulent documents.
- Entered legally as a non-immigrant but then violated the terms of their status and remained in the US without authorization.
- Has Deferred Action Childhood Arrival ("DACA") status or has previously had DACA.
- Is otherwise currently in the process of legalizing.
Undocumented students are a heterogeneous community, representing a broad range of immigrants in the US. They are not considered international applicants because many do not qualify for a visa and do not have to go through the international admission process.
International students, on the other hand, are those who currently hold specific visas. They are considered international applicants even if they do not require a student (F or J) visa to attend a particular university. Most policies that apply to those seeking student visas will also apply to holders of other types of visas.
International students make up more than 5% of all students in higher education, and about 27% of students at the graduate level. They contribute to the education of all students through their global perspective, and they also provide economic and social contributions to their schools and local communities.
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Undocumented students' access to higher education
The United States has a strong tradition of welcoming immigrant and international students into its higher education system. Immigrant-origin students made up 32% of all students in higher education in 2022, and international students comprise more than 5% of all students in higher education, rising to 27% at the graduate level.
Undocumented students are not considered international applicants, as many do not qualify for a visa and do not have to go through the international admissions process. Undocumented students include immigrant youth and adults at public and private institutions of higher education. In 2021, an analysis of the American Community Survey found that more than 408,000 undocumented students were enrolled in U.S. colleges and universities, comprising 1.9% of all college students in the country.
Access to higher education for undocumented students varies by state. Twenty-five states and the District of Columbia have adopted \"tuition equity\" laws or policies that allow certain students who have attended and graduated from secondary schools in their state to pay in-state tuition, regardless of their immigration status. However, ten states actively block access to in-state tuition for undocumented students, and three of these states prohibit undocumented students from enrolling in all or some public colleges. Undocumented students in many states are charged out-of-state tuition, which is several times the in-state rate, and they are not eligible for federal financial aid.
Several organizations are working to improve access to higher education for undocumented students. The National Immigration Law Center (NILC) has developed a toolkit to help students, advocates, and legislators improve access to in-state tuition, financial aid, and scholarships for immigrant students. The NILC also campaigns to protect access to K-12 public education for all children, regardless of their immigration status. The American Immigration Council highlights resources to better support undocumented students in higher education, and the Higher Ed Immigration Portal provides information on state policies regarding DACA and undocumented students.
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Financial aid for undocumented students
Undocumented students in the United States are ineligible for federal financial aid, but they may qualify for certain state aid and private scholarships, depending on the requirements. For instance, in New York, eligible undocumented students can apply for the New York State Dream Act, Tuition Assistance Program (TAP). Similarly, Illinois passed a law in 2003, the Acevedo Bill or HB60, allowing some undocumented students to qualify for in-state tuition provided specific criteria are met.
Undocumented students who are also U.S. citizens or legal permanent residents with undocumented parents should apply for FAFSA. Students with mixed-status families (i.e. some family members are US citizens/legal residents, while others are undocumented) should also apply for FAFSA.
Undocumented students are not considered international applicants because many do not qualify for a visa and do not have to go through the international admission process. International students are those who currently hold a visa of any type or are seeking a visa.
DACAmented refers to youth who are eligible for and have received documentation under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA). DACA was passed by President Obama in 2012, allowing certain undocumented immigrants to be exempt from deportation for two years and to work during this time.
Undocumented students and their allies can also benefit from on-campus Undocu-Resource Centers, which provide common terminology and resources to better support undocumented students in higher education.
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DACAmented students
International students are those who hold specific types of visas. Undocumented students, on the other hand, are those who do not qualify for a visa and do not have to go through the international admissions process. Undocumented students are a diverse community, representing a wide range of immigrants in the US.
Yale University, for example, offers a network of support for DACAmented students, including access to experts, lawyers, and financial support. They also assist DACAmented students in finding post-graduation employment, internships, and programs, provided they have a valid EAD card. Yale also provides legal consultations for students seeking to renew their DACA status.
In terms of state policies, 23 states and Washington D.C. offer in-state tuition to undocumented students, with 18 of these also providing access to state financial aid. However, some states actively block access to in-state tuition or enrollment in public institutions for undocumented students, while still allowing DACA recipients to enroll.
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Undocumented students and immigration status
Undocumented students are a heterogeneous community, representing a broad range of immigrants in the US. There are more than 510,027 undocumented students enrolled in higher education in the US, including DACA recipients. Undocumented students are school-age immigrants who live in the United States after entering the country without inspection or overstaying their visas. They may have entered legally as nonimmigrants but then violated the terms of their status and remained in the US without authorization, or they may be in the process of legalizing their status.
Undocumented students are not considered international applicants, as many do not qualify for a visa and do not have to go through the international admissions process. International students are those who currently hold specific visas or are seeking a visa. However, some undocumented students may be international students in the process of changing their immigration status.
There is no federal law that prevents undocumented students from studying at American colleges and universities, and there are no federal penalties for institutions that enrol students without legal US immigration status. However, undocumented students face significant financial obstacles, as they are not eligible for federal financial aid and most state-based financial aid, including grants, work-study jobs, or loan programs. Schools and organizations can award true scholarships to undocumented students as long as there is no associated work component.
Some states have passed laws to support undocumented students, such as California, which allows qualifying students to access state and institutional funds to finance their college or university education. California is also the first state to grant law licenses to undocumented aspiring attorneys if they meet all other eligibility requirements. Additionally, Assembly Bill 21 (AB 21) seeks to ensure that students have access to financial aid, legal representation, and their constitutional right to due process, regardless of potential changes to federal immigration enforcement policies.
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Frequently asked questions
An international student is someone who holds a visa of any type or is seeking a visa. An undocumented student is a foreign national who either entered the US without inspection or with fraudulent documents, or entered legally and then overstayed their visa. Undocumented students are not considered international applicants because they do not qualify for a visa and do not have to go through the international admission process.
There is no federal law that prevents undocumented students from studying at US universities. There are also no federal penalties for universities that enroll students without legal US immigration status. However, undocumented students face many obstacles, such as being ineligible for federal financial aid and being unable to qualify for most state-based financial aid.
DACAmented students are recipients of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. They are considered undocumented students, but they may have a social security number and/or an Employment Authorization Card.
