Douglas Olsen
The California Dream Act allows students interested in attending eligible California colleges, universities, and career education programs to apply for state financial aid and scholarships. The Act extends eligibility for certain types of UC and California financial aid to students, including undocumented students, who qualify for a nonresident tuition exemption under AB 540. It is important to note that the California Dream Act is unrelated to the federal Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, and students with DACA status should not fill out a FAFSA. If you are an international student with Temporary Protected Status or a U Visa, you may be eligible for the California Dream Act.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Application | California Dream Act Application |
| Application deadline | March 2 for priority consideration; April 2 final deadline |
| Application method | Online or paper |
| Eligibility | Students interested in attending eligible California colleges, universities, and career education programs; students who were brought into the US under the age of 16 without proper visas/immigration documentation; students with Temporary Protected Status or a U Visa; students with AB 540 status |
| Requirements | GPA, AB 540 eligibility, Statement of Legal Residence (SLR) |
| Exemptions | Non-resident tuition exemption |
| Aid | State financial aid, scholarships, loans |
| Ineligible for aid | Federal aid, including federal loans and grants, and the federal work-study program |
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What You'll Learn
International students' eligibility
Firstly, international students with Temporary Protected Status or a U Visa may be eligible for the California Dream Act. These students can apply for state financial aid through the California Dream Act Application.
Secondly, to be eligible for the California Dream Act, international students must meet specific educational requirements. They must have attended a California high school for three or more years, earned credits equivalent to three years of full-time high school coursework in California, and have a total of three or more years of attendance in California elementary and secondary schools. Alternatively, they must have graduated or will graduate from a California high school or obtained a Certificate of General Education Development (GED), High School Equivalency Test (HiSET), or a similar assessment.
It is important to note that the California Dream Act Application is unrelated to the federal Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. Undocumented students, including those with DACA status, should submit a California Dream Act Application and a Non-SSN GPA instead of a FAFSA.
To summarize, international students with specific visa statuses and educational backgrounds may be eligible for the California Dream Act. They should submit the necessary applications and meet the eligibility requirements to be considered for state financial aid.
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Application process
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 also exempts certain students from paying non-resident tuition fees.
The application process for the California Dream Act involves several steps and requirements. Here is a detailed guide to help you through the process:
- Eligibility: To be eligible for the California Dream Act, you must meet specific criteria. The Act is designed for students who were brought into the US under the age of 16 without proper visas or immigration documentation. Additionally, you must have attended high school in California for at least three years and obtained credits equivalent to three years of full-time high school coursework. Alternatively, you can qualify if you have attended a combination of California elementary and secondary schools for a total of three years. Finally, you must have graduated or will graduate from a California high school or obtained a Certificate of General Education Development (GED) or equivalent.
- Application Submission: The California Dream Act Application is available online via the California Dream Act Application webpage. You should submit your application between October 1 and March 2 for priority consideration for the upcoming academic year. You can also download and complete a paper application, but the online submission is recommended.
- GPA Verification: Ensure that your school has submitted your GPA to the California Student Aid Commission. Most California high schools and community colleges do this automatically. If your school does not, you must download the Cal Grant GPA Verification Form and have your school submit it to the Commission.
- Additional Documentation: Depending on your circumstances, you may need to provide additional documentation. If you are considered an independent student, no parental information is necessary. However, you may need to submit your prior-year tax return or W-2, account statements for investment assets and bank statements, and records of any untaxed income.
- Scholarship Opportunities: If you are eligible for the California Dream Act, you may also be qualified for scholarships with no residency or citizenship requirements. These scholarships may require you to demonstrate financial need, so ensure you have submitted your California Dream Act application.
- Loan Programs: The California Dream Loan Program is available for undergraduate students with AB540 status and a valid California Dream Act application. This program offers loans with interest, but the interest does not accrue while you are enrolled at least half-time or during the grace period before repayment.
- Non-SSN and DACA Considerations: If you have a DACA SSN, ensure you include it on question #8 of your California Dream Act Application. If you are a DACA student, you should not fill out a FAFSA; instead, apply for scholarships specific to your status.
- Legal Residency and Tuition Exemption: Once you've been accepted to a UC campus, submit a Statement of Intent to Register (SIR). After the campus receives your SIR, submit a Statement of Legal Residence (SLR) to the campus residence deputy. If you receive a non-resident classification, complete the AB 540 non-resident tuition exemption forms, which are available at your campus registrar's office.
Please note that the application process may vary slightly depending on the specific institution you are applying to. Always check with your chosen college or university's admissions office for any additional requirements or steps.
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Financial aid
The California Dream Act Application allows students interested in attending eligible California colleges, universities, and career education programs to apply for state financial aid. This application is unrelated to the federal Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program.
Eligibility
To be eligible for the California Dream Act Application, students must meet the following requirements:
- Have attended a high school in California for three or more years
- Have earned credits equivalent to three or more years of full-time high school coursework from a California high school
- Have attended a combination of California elementary and secondary schools for a total of three or more years
- Have 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 Secondary Completion (TASCC)
- Have completed or will complete an affidavit to legalize immigration status as soon as eligible
- Do not hold a valid non-immigrant visa (F, J, H, L, A, B, C, D, E, etc.)
- If you have Temporary Protected Status or hold a U Visa, you may be eligible for the California Dream Act. AB 1899 allows U and T visa holders to apply for state financial aid.
The California Dream Act provides the following financial aid opportunities:
- AB 540 exempts certain students from paying non-resident tuition, allowing them to pay the lower resident tuition rates at California public and private colleges
- Dreamer students are eligible for Cal Grants and other state financial aid programs
- Students can apply for different types of California Dream Act financial aid, such as scholarships, grants, and loans offered by the state of California
Application Process
To apply for financial aid under the California Dream Act, students should follow these steps:
- Submit a CA Dream Act Application and Non-SSN GPA instead of a FAFSA
- If you have a DACA SSN, include it on question #8 of your CA Dream Act Application
- Submit your application between October 1 and March 2 for priority consideration for the upcoming academic year
- Submit your prior year's tax return or W-2, if applicable
- Provide account statements for all investment and bank accounts, such as stocks, bonds, and business assets, if applicable
- Submit records of any untaxed income, such as child support and interest income, if applicable
- Download and submit the Cal Grant GPA Verification Form if your school does not automatically submit your GPA to the California Student Aid Commission
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Scholarships
The California Dream Act allows students who were brought into the US while under the age of 16 without proper visas or immigration documentation to apply for certain student financial aid benefits. This includes privately funded scholarships, provided that they meet the eligibility criteria as defined by the scholarship donors.
The California Dream Act Application allows students interested in attending eligible California colleges, universities, and career education programs to apply for state financial aid. This application is unrelated to the federal Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program.
DACA is a federal process that defers removal action by USCIS for a specified number of years. It is important to note that DACA is not the same as financial aid, and undocumented students should still submit a CA Dream Act Application and Non-SSN GPA instead of a FAFSA.
The California Nonresident Tuition Exemption, commonly known as AB 540, exempts certain students from paying non-resident tuition, which is typically higher than resident tuition. It also allows them to apply for and receive state aid at certain California public and private colleges.
Students with Temporary Protected Status or a U Visa may be eligible for the California Dream Act. AB 1899 allows U and T visa holders to apply for state financial aid. T visa holders should file a FAFSA, while U visa holders should file a CA Dream Act Application.
The California Dream Loan is a loan program for undergraduate students with AB540 status and a valid California Dream Act application. Funding is limited, and the loan must be repaid with interest. The interest rate corresponds with the rate on Federal Direct Subsidized loans and is subject to change annually. The loan does not accrue interest while the student is enrolled at least half-time, during periods of approved deferment, and during the 6-month grace period before repayment begins.
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Deadlines
The California Dream Act Application is for students interested in attending eligible California colleges, universities, and career education programs. It allows them to apply for state financial aid. This application is separate from the federal Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program.
The deadline for submitting the California Dream Act Application for the 2025-2026 academic year is March 3, 2025. Applicants are recommended to submit their application online. However, they can also download and fill out a paper application form. The GPA submission deadline is also March 2, 2025. This deadline applies to all Dreamer Cal Grants and most other types of financial aid.
To receive priority consideration for the upcoming academic year, applicants should submit their applications between October 1 and March 2.
It is important to note that applicants with Temporary Protected Status or holding a U Visa may be eligible for the California Dream Act. These applicants should complete the CA Dream Act Application for financial aid. Their college will then verify their AB 540 eligibility.
Additionally, applicants with a valid non-immigrant visa (F, J, H, L, A, B, C, D, E, etc.) are instructed not to complete an affidavit to legalize their immigration status.
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Frequently asked questions
The California Dream Act allows students interested in attending eligible California colleges, universities, and career education programs to apply for state financial aid.
The California Dream Act allows children who were brought into the US under the age of 16 without proper visas or immigration documentation to apply for certain student financial aid benefits. Undocumented students are eligible for state and UC aid, as well as private scholarships.
You can submit your California Dream Act application online or by downloading and completing a paper application. You must also submit your GPA to the California Student Aid Commission.
The deadline for the California Dream Act application is March 2 for priority consideration for the upcoming academic year.
DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) is a federal process that defers removal action by USCIS for a specified number of years. It is important to note that DACA is not the same as financial aid, and students with DACA status should still submit a California Dream Act application.
