Undocumented Students: Welcome At George Washington University?

The George Washington University (GW) welcomes students from all backgrounds and is committed to ensuring that all students have access to a high-quality college education. The university supports undocumented students by providing significant financial assistance, programming, and academic support services. GW invites applications from all students, regardless of citizenship and immigrant status. The admissions process is confidential and does not consider immigration status. Undocumented students are eligible to apply test-optional and are not required to submit English proficiency exam scores or financial certificates. GW also offers merit-based and need-based aid to undocumented students, ranging from $5,000 to $30,000 per academic year.

Application process for undocumented students

The George Washington University (GW) welcomes applicants from all backgrounds and is committed to ensuring that all students have access to a high-quality college education. The university supports undocumented students throughout their undergraduate or graduate studies.

Undergraduate Admissions:

Prospective students interested in GW must follow the standard application process for admission, regardless of their country of citizenship, immigration status, residency, or school location. Undocumented students are considered domestic high school students within the application process and must submit the Common Application, an official high school transcript, and two letters of recommendation. Undocumented students are also eligible to apply test-optional and do not need to submit English proficiency exam scores or a Financial Certificate. However, applicants must still waive these requirements by contacting their admissions representative within the Office of Undergraduate Admissions at GW once their Common Application has been submitted.

The admissions process is confidential, and immigration status is not considered by the admissions committee. GW offers merit-based and need-based financial aid to undocumented students.

Graduate Admissions:

For graduate admissions, students must also follow the standard application process, regardless of their country of citizenship, immigration status, residency, or school location. The admissions process is confidential, and immigration status is not considered. GW offers school- and program-based assistantships and fellowships, most of which are open to highly qualified students regardless of immigration status.

Financial aid for undocumented students

The George Washington University (GW) is committed to ensuring that all students have access to a high-quality college education by providing significant financial assistance, programming, and academic support services. The university welcomes applications from students regardless of citizenship and immigrant status.

There are two kinds of aid that GW can award: merit-based and need-based. Merit-based scholarships are awarded by the Office of Undergraduate Admissions to highly qualified undergraduate applicants regardless of immigration/citizenship status. Need-based aid is based on the financial need of a family. GW can offer some need-based aid from its own institutional assets to applicants regardless of immigration/citizenship status, but federal funds cannot be included in this package for students without immigration or citizenship status.

For a limited number of undocumented and DACA students, GW will provide additional funding to meet the Estimated Financial Contribution as determined by the CSS Profile. All students, regardless of immigration/citizenship status, must complete and submit the CSS Profile if they wish to be considered for need-based aid. GW provides aid to highly qualified applicants (regardless of immigration/citizenship status) in the form of merit scholarships ranging from $5,000 - $30,000 per academic year.

Students with valid work authorization, such as those with DACA status, are eligible for non-Federal Work-Study employment, and the Office of Student Employment can help students find work once they are on campus.

GW also offers school- and program-based assistantships and fellowships, most of which are open to highly qualified students, regardless of immigration/citizenship status.

Support for undocumented students

The George Washington University (GW) welcomes and supports students from all backgrounds around the world. The university is committed to ensuring that all students have access to a high-quality college education by providing significant financial assistance, programming, and academic support services.

GW provides support for undocumented students through various offices and resources, aiming to create a welcoming, enriching, and inclusive environment for all students. The Office of Student Life and Multicultural Student Services Center (MSSC) often lead collaboration, mentorship, and support for the university, offering community-building programming to help undocumented students address their needs with compassion, discretion, and empathy.

• Alleviating food insecurity
• Sourcing cost-free or low-cost legal advice
• Providing limited emergency funds
• Providing healthcare (including insurance and care, both physical and mental/emotional) through the Student Health Center
• Providing counseling and psychological services to help overcome challenges that may interfere with emotional, academic, and personal success
• Providing a sense of community around shared identity or situation

Financial aid for undocumented students

GW offers financial aid to undocumented students in the form of merit-based scholarships awarded by the Office of Undergraduate Admissions. These scholarships are given to highly qualified undergraduate applicants regardless of immigration/citizenship status and range from $5,000 to $30,000 per academic year.

For a limited number of undocumented and DACA students, GW will provide additional funding to meet the Estimated Financial Contribution as determined by the CSS Profile. All students, regardless of immigration/citizenship status, must complete and submit the CSS Profile if they wish to be considered for need-based aid. However, federal funds cannot be included in the financial aid package for students without immigration or citizenship status.

Undocumented students with valid work authorization, such as those with DACA status, are eligible for non-Federal Work-Study employment, and the Office of Student Employment can assist them in finding work on campus.

DACA status

The George Washington University (GW) welcomes applicants from all backgrounds and is committed to supporting undocumented students throughout their undergraduate or graduate studies. The admissions process is the same for all applicants, regardless of their country of citizenship, immigration status, residency, or school location.

If you have no immigration status or have Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival (DACA) status, you are considered a domestic high school student within the application process. Required documents include the Common Application, an official high school transcript, and two letters of recommendation. Like all GW applicants, undocumented students are eligible to apply without submitting test scores, English proficiency exams, or financial certificates. However, applicants must still waive these requirements by contacting their admissions representative within the Office of Undergraduate Admissions after submitting their Common Application.

The admissions process at GW is confidential, and the immigration status is not considered by the admissions committee. GW provides significant financial assistance, programming, and academic support services to ensure that all students have access to a high-quality college education.

For students with DACA status, there are additional considerations regarding financial aid and employment opportunities. While federal aid is not available to DACA students, GW provides aid to highly qualified applicants regardless of immigration status in the form of merit scholarships ranging from $5,000 to $30,000 per academic year. Additionally, students with valid work authorization, such as those with DACA status, are eligible for non-Federal Work-Study employment, and the Office of Student Employment can assist in finding on-campus jobs.

It is important to note that GW has demonstrated its commitment to undocumented students by signing amicus curiae briefs in support of the DACA program and the bipartisan Senate Dream Act of 2021. The university also provides various resources and support services to address the unique challenges faced by undocumented students, both on campus and at home. These resources include food assistance, legal advice, emergency funds, healthcare services, counseling, and community-building programs.

Undocumented students' legal rights

The George Washington University (GW) welcomes applicants from undocumented individuals and values diversity in all forms. The university supports students from all backgrounds and is committed to ensuring that all students have access to a high-quality college education. GW provides significant financial assistance, programming, and academic support services to undocumented students. The admissions process is kept confidential, and immigration status is not considered by the admissions committee.

Undocumented students in the United States have specific legal rights that help them attend school and pursue their educational goals. Here are some of the key legal rights of undocumented students:

• Right to public education: Federal law mandates that all children, regardless of their immigration status, have the right to attend public elementary and secondary schools.
• Protection under the Equal Protection Clause: The U.S. Constitution's Equal Protection Clause guarantees all students, including undocumented children, equal access to education.
• Privacy of student records: The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) protects the privacy of student education records. School officials cannot disclose a student's immigration status without a subpoena or parental consent.
• Limited impact of immigration enforcement: The U.S. Department of Education has stated that the government has guidance that generally limits immigration enforcement actions on or directed towards school campuses.
• Access to bilingual education or accommodations: Undocumented students have the right to access bilingual programs that support their language development and academic success by helping them overcome language barriers in the classroom.
• No discrimination based on national origin: Federal law prohibits discrimination based on a student's place of birth or national origin, ensuring that all students have access to educational opportunities.

In addition to these rights, the Plyler v. Doe Supreme Court case in 1982 guaranteed all children the right to pursue a high school diploma, regardless of their immigration status. This landmark decision reinforced the rights of undocumented students to attend public schools and prohibited schools from denying students access to education based on their legal status or citizenship.

At the state level, policies vary regarding undocumented students' access to in-state tuition and financial aid. As of 2024, 25 states and Washington, D.C., provide in-state tuition to undocumented students, with 19 of those states also offering access to state financial aid. However, nine states actively block access to in-state tuition, and three of those states prevent undocumented students from enrolling in all or some public colleges.

Frequently asked questions