Undocumented Students At The University Of Florida: What's The Verdict?

The University of Florida does accept undocumented students, but they are not eligible for federal or state aid. Undocumented students can apply for an out-of-state fee waiver if they attended a Florida high school for three consecutive years and graduated, and applied for enrollment in a state institution of higher education within 24 months of graduation. Florida is classified as an Accessible state in terms of inclusive in-state tuition and state financial aid policies for undocumented students.

Undocumented students' eligibility for in-state tuition

Florida is considered an accessible state in terms of inclusive in-state tuition and state financial aid policies for undocumented students.

Undocumented students in Florida are eligible for in-state tuition rates if they meet the following criteria:

• They attended a secondary school in Florida for at least three consecutive years before graduation.
• They enroll in a Florida public institution of higher education within 24 months of graduating high school.
• They submit an official Florida high school transcript as evidence of attendance and graduation.

This is known as an out-of-state fee waiver, and students who receive it remain classified as non-Florida residents and are not eligible for state financial aid.

University of Florida's Policy on Undocumented Students

The University of Florida does not specify whether it accepts undocumented students. However, they do provide information on their website for undocumented students and those with DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals). Undocumented students at the University of Florida do not qualify for federal or state aid, including loans and grants. However, they can apply for an out-of-state fee waiver if they meet the criteria listed above.

Scholarships for Undocumented Students

There are several scholarship opportunities available for undocumented students, including:

• TheDream.US: This is a national scholarship program for DREAMers, and the University of Florida is a partner college.
• CHISPAS Scholarships
• OCIU Scholarship

Scholarship opportunities for undocumented students

Undocumented students and students with DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) do not qualify for federal or state aid in Florida. However, there are still some scholarship opportunities available for them. Here are a few:

CHISPAS Scholarships

The CHISPAS scholarship is one option for undocumented students. The scholarship website can be found at http://chispasuf.com.

OCIU Scholarship

The OCIYU scholarship is another opportunity for undocumented students. The scholarship website is available at https://www.raise.me/scholarship/names/ociyu_scholarship_for_undocumented_students.

TheDream.US Scholarship

TheDream.US is the nation's largest college access and success program for DREAMers. As a Partner College, DREAMers can attend partner colleges, including the University of South Florida and Florida International University, using the National Scholarship funded by TheDream.US. Applications for the 2024-2025 academic year opened on November 1, 2023, and close on February 29, 2024.

SOL (Status of Latinos) Scholarship

The SOL Scholarship is a renewable scholarship for students who are undocumented or whose parents are undocumented. It is restricted to students who are the first generation in their family to attend college. This scholarship is available at the University of South Florida.

Out-of-State Fee Waiver

Undocumented students who attended a secondary school in Florida for three consecutive years immediately before graduating from a Florida high school and applied for enrollment in an institute of higher education within 24 months of high school graduation may be eligible for an out-of-state fee waiver. This waiver allows students to pay tuition at the Florida residency rate.

State financial aid for undocumented students

Undocumented students are not eligible for federal financial aid and are treated as foreign students by public institutions, making them ineligible for state aid and resident tuition rates. However, some states have passed laws that allow undocumented students to pay in-state tuition rates under certain conditions.

In Florida, undocumented students are not eligible for state aid, including the Machen Florida Opportunity Scholarship, Bright Futures, and National Merit. However, they can apply for an out-of-state fee waiver if they attended a Florida high school for three consecutive years and apply for enrollment in a state institution of higher education within 24 months of graduating.

Additionally, there are some private scholarships available for undocumented students, such as the CHISPAS and OCIYU Scholarships. TheDream.US Scholarship is another option for DREAMers, which is funded by a national scholarship and can be used at Partner Colleges, including the University of South Florida and Florida International University.

Undocumented students in Oregon may be eligible for state financial aid programs such as the Oregon Opportunity Grant and the Oregon Promise Grant, as long as they meet certain requirements. They can apply by submitting the Oregon Student Aid Application (ORSAA).

It is important to note that the availability of state financial aid for undocumented students may vary from state to state, and it is always a good idea to check with the specific state and institutional policies for the most up-to-date information.

Federal and state funding for undocumented students

The University of Florida does not accept undocumented students for federal or state aid. However, undocumented students can apply for an out-of-state fee waiver if they attended a secondary school in Florida for three consecutive years before graduating from a high school in the state. They must also apply for enrollment in a higher education institute within 24 months of graduating high school.

Undocumented students face challenges in pursuing a college education, primarily financial ones. They cannot qualify for federal and most state-based financial aid, including grants, work-study jobs, or loan programs. The cost of full-time enrollment at a public college or university can be prohibitive without financial aid.

However, there are some funding opportunities available for undocumented students. Here is an overview of federal and state funding options:

Federal Funding

Undocumented students, including those with DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) status, do not qualify for federal aid. This includes loans and grants that are available to other students.

State Funding

State funding options vary depending on the state. In Florida, undocumented students are not eligible for state aid. However, they may qualify for an out-of-state fee waiver, as mentioned earlier.

In other states, there may be more opportunities for state funding. According to the Higher Ed Immigration Portal, 19 states and Washington, D.C., provide comprehensive access, which means they offer statewide access to in-state tuition and some state financial aid or scholarships for undocumented students and DACA recipients. These states are:

• Arizona
• California
• Colorado
• Connecticut
• District of Columbia
• Florida
• Hawaii
• Illinois
• Kansas
• Kentucky
• Maryland
• Massachusetts
• Minnesota
• Nebraska
• New Jersey
• New Mexico
• New York
• Oklahoma
• Oregon
• Rhode Island
• Texas
• Utah
• Virginia
• Washington

Additionally, some states offer state financial aid or institutional scholarships at public colleges or universities. These states are:

• California
• Colorado
• District of Columbia
• Hawaii
• Illinois
• Maryland
• Massachusetts
• Minnesota
• Nevada
• New Jersey
• New Mexico
• New York
• Oklahoma
• Oregon
• Texas
• Utah
• Washington

It is important to note that state policies and offerings may change, and it is always best to refer to the specific state's official sources for the most up-to-date information.

Private Scholarships

While undocumented students may not have access to federal or state funding, there are private scholarships available specifically for this population. One example is the TheDream.US Scholarship, which is the nation's largest college access and success program for DREAMers. This scholarship is available to immigrant students with or without DACA or TPS who came to the U.S. before the age of 16 and before November 1, 2019. The scholarship amount varies depending on the type of degree being pursued.

Other scholarship opportunities for undocumented students include the CHISPAS Scholarships and the OCIU Scholarship.

In conclusion, while undocumented students face challenges in accessing federal and state funding for their education, there are some options available, including out-of-state fee waivers and private scholarships. It is important to research the specific opportunities available in each state, as offerings may vary.

Requirements for out-of-state fee waivers

Undocumented students and students with DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) are not eligible for federal or state aid in Florida. However, they can apply for an out-of-state fee waiver at the University of Florida if they meet the following requirements:

• They attended a secondary school in Florida for three consecutive years immediately before graduating from a high school in the state.
• They applied for enrollment in an institute of higher education within 24 months of graduating from high school.

The University of Florida provides additional information and resources for undocumented students and DACA recipients on their website. They also offer a Dreamer Guide with more details.

Additionally, Florida International University and the University of South Florida, as Partner Colleges of TheDream.US, allow DREAMers to attend using scholarship funds provided by TheDream.US. TheDream.US is the nation's largest college access and success program for DREAMers.

Frequently asked questions