International Students: California Dream Act Eligibility

The California Dream Act allows certain students to apply for state financial aid and be exempt from paying non-resident tuition fees at eligible California colleges and universities. This includes undocumented students who are ineligible for federal aid, as well as non-resident U.S. citizens and eligible non-citizens. Students with DACA status are also advised to fill out a California Dream Act Application instead of a FAFSA. To be eligible, students must have attended high school in California for at least three years and graduated or obtained an equivalent qualification.

International students with DACA status

To be eligible for the California Dream Act, students must meet specific residency and education requirements. They must have attended high school in California for at least three years and earned credits equivalent to three years of full-time coursework. Alternatively, they must have attended a combination of California elementary and secondary schools for a total of three years. Additionally, they must have graduated or be on track to graduate from a California high school or obtain the equivalent, such as a GED or HiSET. It is important to note that international students with DACA status may not meet these requirements, as the Dream Act is primarily intended for undocumented students who have resided in California for a significant period.

The California Dream Act Application process requires students to submit a Non-SSN GPA and, if applicable, their DACA SSN on question #8 of the application form. While DACA recipients are not required to have a separate visa, as DACA permits them to study, their status as domestic or international students may vary depending on the state and the policies of the specific institution they plan to attend. In the case of public universities, state laws will determine their status, while private institutions have their own policies, with some counting DACA as international and others as residential.

It is worth noting that the DACA programme has been subject to legal challenges and changes in recent years. As of January 2025, USCIS will continue to accept and process DACA renewal requests and accompanying applications for employment authorisation. However, they will not process initial DACA requests at this time. Any grants of DACA and related Employment Authorization Documents will remain valid until their expiration date, unless individually terminated. International students with DACA status should stay updated with the latest developments and consult official sources, such as the USCIS website, for accurate and up-to-date information.

Non-citizen students

The California Dream Act allows certain students to apply for state financial aid and exempts them from paying non-resident tuition fees. This includes undocumented students, who are ineligible for federal aid, but who can now borrow student loans through the DREAM Loan Program.

If you are a non-citizen student and meet the requirements for an AB 540 non-resident tuition exemption, you should complete the CA Dream Act Application for financial aid, rather than a FAFSA form. You will also need to submit a certified GPA by the March 2 Cal Grant deadline. Your college is responsible for verifying your AB 540 eligibility, so check with your Admissions Office before the Fall Term starts.

Many colleges offer on-campus resources for students seeking immigration support, such as undocumented liaisons and undocumented student resource centres. These provide a safe community and a judgement-free place for undocumented students.

Undocumented students

To apply for financial aid, undocumented students should complete the CA Dream Act Application for financial aid and submit a certified GPA by the March 2 Cal Grant deadline. Students should also check with their Admissions Office in the summer before the Fall Term starts to verify their AB 540 eligibility.

Non-resident tuition exemption

The California Dream Act allows students interested in attending eligible California colleges, universities, and career education programs to apply for state financial aid. The Act is unrelated to the federal Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program.

The California Nonresident Tuition Exemption, commonly known as AB 540, exempts certain students from paying nonresident tuition and allows them to apply for different types of California Dream Act financial aid. Nonresident students who meet the criteria will be exempted from paying nonresident tuition, but they will not be classified as California residents and will continue to be "nonresidents".

To be eligible for the California Nonresident Tuition Exemption, students must meet the following criteria:

• Have attended a combination of elementary, middle, and/or high school in California for a combined total of three or more years.
• Graduated from a California high school, obtained a GED, HiSET, or TASC in California, or attained an associate degree from a California Community College.
• Will register or enroll in an accredited and qualifying California college or university.
• If applicable, complete an AB 540 affidavit stating that you will legalize your immigration status as soon as you are eligible.
• Do not hold a valid non-immigrant visa (A, B, C, D, E, F, J, H, L, etc.), except for persons granted Temporary Protected Status (TPS) or holding a U Visa.

It is important to note that AB 540 does not provide federal student financial aid eligibility for undocumented students, who remain ineligible for federal financial aid. Additionally, the exemption is not available for persons who are absent from California and taking distance education classes.

Financial aid and scholarships

The California Dream Act allows eligible students to apply for state financial aid and exempts them from paying non-resident tuition fees. This includes undocumented students, who are ineligible for federal aid, but may now borrow student loans through the DREAM Loan Program.

Application

Undocumented students should submit a California Dream Act Application and a Non-SSN GPA instead of a FAFSA. If you have a DACA SSN, you must include this on question 8 of the application form. The deadline for all Dreamer Cal Grants and most other aid is March 2.

Eligibility

To be eligible for the California Dream Act, students must have attended high school in California for three or more years and attained credits equivalent to three or more years of full-time high school coursework. Alternatively, they must have attended a combination of California elementary and secondary schools for a total of three or more years. Students must have also graduated or will graduate from a California high school or obtained a Certificate or General Education Development (GED), High School Equivalency Test (HiSET), or Test Assessing.

Types of Aid

The California Dream Act includes the Middle-Class Scholarships and school-specific scholarships. It also gives access to Dream Loans at the CSU or UC. Students may also be eligible for state and UC aid, as well as private scholarships.

Frequently asked questions