DACA students with social security numbers (SSNs) can fill out the FAFSA®. Although they will not be eligible for federal aid, filling out the FAFSA® will give them a Submission Summary, which may be important for getting other kinds of financial aid, for example from their state government or from their college. Submission Summaries are also sometimes required for outside/external scholarship applications. However, note that in some instances, the state financial aid agency also specifically requests that students fill out the state aid form and not the FAFSA®. (See table below.)
Undocumented students or those without SSNs unfortunately cannot fill out the FAFSA®. However, about 10 states have alternative grant applications specifically for undocumented students or DREAMers. (Again, see table below.)
State | If you are DACA and have a SSN | If you do not have a SSN |
California | You are not eligible for federal government aid, but you ARE likely eligible for California state aid!
To apply for that, you should instead fill out the CA Dream Act application here. You do NOT need to complete the FAFSA. | You are not eligible for federal government aid, but you may still be eligible for California state aid!
To check your eligibility and apply for state aid, go to the CA Dream Act application here. |
Colorado | You are not eligible for federal government aid, but you ARE likely eligible for Colorado state aid!
To apply for that, you should do two things: 1. Fill out an "ASSET application" for every CO college you apply to, in order to get (cheaper) in-state tuition rates. This is a PDF application that you need to fill out and mail in. Check on your colleges' financial aid websites for those applications. 2. Apply for the Colorado Opportunity Fund grant here.
You do NOT need to complete the FAFSA. | You are not eligible for federal government aid, but you may still be eligible for Colorado state aid!
To check your eligibility and apply for state aid, do these two things: 1. Fill out an "ASSET application" for every CO college you apply to, in order to get (cheaper) in-state tuition rates. This is a PDF application that you need to fill out and mail in. Check on your colleges' financial aid websites for those applications. 2. Apply for the Colorado Opportunity Fund grant here.
You do NOT need to complete the FAFSA. |
Connecticut | You are not eligible for federal government aid, but you ARE likely eligible for Connecticut state aid!
To apply for that, check the instructions here, which depend on which CT college(s) you're applying to. You do NOT need to complete the FAFSA. | You are not eligible for federal government aid, but you may still be eligible for Connecticut state aid!
To check your eligibility and apply for state aid, check the instructions here, which depend on which CT college(s) you're applying to. You do NOT need to complete the FAFSA. |
Illinois | You are not eligible for federal government aid, but you ARE likely eligible for Illinois state aid!
To apply for that, you should instead fill out the ISAC Alternative Application here. You do NOT need to complete the FAFSA. | You are not eligible for federal government aid, but you may still be eligible for Illinois state aid!
To check your eligibility and apply for state aid, go to the ISAC Alternative Application here. You do NOT need to complete the FAFSA. |
Maryland | You are not eligible for federal government aid, but you ARE likely eligible for Maryland state aid!
To apply for that, you should instead fill out the Maryland State Financial Aid Application here. You do NOT need to complete the FAFSA. | You are not eligible for federal government aid, but you may still be eligible for Maryland state aid!
To check your eligibility and apply for state aid, go to the Maryland State Financial Aid Application here. You do NOT need to complete the FAFSA. |
Minnesota | You are not eligible for federal government aid, but you ARE likely eligible for Minnesota state aid!
To apply for that, you should instead fill out the Minnesota DREAM Act Application here. You do NOT need to complete the FAFSA. | You are not eligible for federal government aid, but you may still be eligible for Minnesota state aid!
To check your eligibility and apply for state aid, go to the Minnesota DREAM Act Application here. You do NOT need to complete the FAFSA. |
New Jersey | You are not eligible for federal government aid, but you ARE likely eligible for New Jersey state aid!
To apply for that, you should instead fill out the New Jersey Alternative Application here. You do NOT need to complete the FAFSA. | You are not eligible for federal government aid, but you ARE likely eligible for New Jersey state aid!
To check your eligibility and apply for state aid, go to the New Jersey Alternative Application here. You do NOT need to complete the FAFSA. |
New Mexico | You are not eligible for federal government aid, but you ARE likely eligible for New Mexico state aid, in addition to college-specific aid!
To apply for that, you will need to contact the financial aid office of each college you are interested in. Unfortunately, NM doesn't have one application form, so each college has their own process to help undocumented students and DACA students.
You do NOT need to complete the FAFSA. | You are not eligible for federal government aid, but you may still be eligible for New Mexico state aid, in addition to college-specific aid!
To apply for that, you will need to contact the financial aid office of each college you are interested in. Unfortunately, NM doesn't have one application form, so each college has their own process to help undocumented students and DACA students.
You do NOT need to complete the FAFSA. |
New York | You are not eligible for federal government aid, BUT you may still get aid from New York state and from your college.
To apply for New York state aid, make sure you open this NY DREAM Act TAP Application in a separate tab to complete after the FAFSA.
For now, let’s keep going. | You are not eligible for federal government aid, BUT you may still get aid from New York state and from your college.
To check your eligibility and apply for state aid, go to the NY DREAM Act TAP Application. You do NOT need to complete the FAFSA. |
Oklahoma | You are not eligible for federal government aid, but you ARE still eligible aid from Oklahoma state and from your college.
To apply for that, you'll still need to complete the FAFSA. So let's keep going. | You are not eligible for federal government aid, BUT you may still get aid from Oklahoma state and from your college.
To check your eligibility and apply for state aid, go to the Oklahoma Tuition State Aid Grant Application. You do NOT need to complete the FAFSA. |
Oregon | You are not eligible for federal government aid, but you ARE likely eligible for Oregon state aid!
To apply for that, you should instead fill out the Oregon Student Aid Application here. You do NOT need to complete the FAFSA. | You are not eligible for federal government aid, but you may still be likely eligible for Oregon state aid!
To check your eligibility and apply for state aid, Oregon Student Aid Application here. You do NOT need to complete the FAFSA. |
Texas | You are not eligible for federal government aid, but you ARE still eligible aid from Texas state and from your college.
To apply for that, you'll still need to complete the FAFSA. So let's keep going. | You are not eligible for federal government aid, but you may still be likely eligible for Texas state aid!
To check your eligibility and apply for state aid, Texas Application for State Financial Aid here. You do NOT need to complete the FAFSA. |
Washington | You are not eligible for federal government aid, but you ARE likely eligible for Washington state aid!
To apply for that, you should instead fill out the Washington Application for State Financial Aid here. You do NOT need to complete the FAFSA. | You are not eligible for federal government aid, but you may still be eligible for Washington state aid!
To check your eligibility and apply for state aid, Washington Application for State Financial Aid here. You do NOT need to complete the FAFSA. |
All other states | You are not eligible for federal government aid, BUT you may still get aid from your college.
To apply for that, you generally still need to complete your FAFSA. We also recommend that you contact any colleges you're considering to see if there are additional college-specific financial aid applications.
For now, let’s keep going. | Unfortunately, you’re not eligible for federal financial aid.
You might still be eligible for some college-specific aid and for local community scholarships⏤but reach out to us at financialaid@goingmerry.com, so we can discuss your options. |