Affording College For Mixed-Status Families and Immigrant Students

College applications can be overwhelming, especially for migrant students. This guide will help you understand your options when paying for college.

Financial aid is money from federal or state programs that can help you pay for college. This aid is given through federal grants, loans, and work-study jobs. To apply for federal student aid, use the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) Form, which is free and available in Spanish.

How do I use the FAFSA form?

Keep an eye out on the deadline and submit the FAFSA form as soon as it becomes available, typically on October 1.
Gather all required documents. The FAFSA form typically takes an hour or less to fill out and requires various financial and personal details.
Create a Federal Student Aid (FSA) ID, which will require your Social Security number and your own email address.
Include all potential colleges with the school code. You can search for the school code by selecting the state and searching the school’s name.
Once you have filled out all the required information and submitted, you should be provided with the Student Aid Report (SAR) or FAFSA Submission Summary, which summarizes the information you provided on your FASFA. Check this summary for accuracy and make corrections if needed.

Understanding FAFSA

The FAFSA Dictionary explains most terms in English and Spanish. For help in other languages, you can request a tutor on the FederalStudentAid Website. The New School provides a guide in multiple languages to understand the financial aid process.

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What if I don’t qualify for federal aid?

Most immigrant students, depending on their citizenship status, are ineligible for federal financial aid. However, there are a variety of grants and scholarships that are still available to migrant students.

In-state tuition

Take advantage on in-state tuition. As of March 2025, 23 states and Washington D.C provide in-state tuition to migrant students. New York residents can save at least 50% on college tuition if they apply in-state.

Find out if your state provides access to in-state tuition to migrant students with Higher Ed Immigration Portal’s tuition map tool, which highlights which states provide this financial aid.

If your state offers in-state tuition to migrant students, eligible students generally must have attended a school in the state for a certain number of years and have graduated from high school or obtained a GED in the state.

Each state has their own applications for financial aid, depending on your state search their state’s student aid website where you can find if you are eligible and how to apply.

New York State aid

The New York State DREAM Act gives migrant students who received their high school or GED in New York state and students receiving in-state tuition access to New York State-administered student financial aid to help pay for college.

Find out if you are eligible to apply on the NYS DREAM Act Steps to Apply section of the website.
If you are eligible, create a NYS DREAM Act account login with your personal email.
After making an account, you can apply for some state funded grants and scholarships and be directed to the NYS DREAM Act application.
The NYS DREAM Application is simple and the information provided will be used only to determine eligibility for awards. Students without lawful immigration status will not be asked for their home address and will not have to upload financial records.
Once you have submitted an application, make sure to monitor its status online. You might be asked to upload additional required documents to determine your eligibility.
You will be notified by email if you are determined eligible for each award you applied to. If you have been notified, your next step will be to accept the award.

School merit scholarships

A merit aid is a form of college financial aid that is only awarded based on academic, athletic, artistic, leadership or special-interest merit and does not consider a student’s financial need. Reach out to your prospective college or university’s college admissions office to find out which scholarships you may be eligible for and how to apply.

If you are in high school, it is suggested to start the search for these scholarships in your junior year. Reach out to your high school guidance office to start the scholarship search process.

Private scholarships

Private scholarships are funded by a variety of organizations, such as businesses, foundations, religious groups, community organizations, and more. These scholarships are gift aid that can help you cover educational expenses.

You can find and apply to these scholarships by contacting your high school guidance counselor or by searching for scholarship opportunities on a search engine.

Once you find a scholarship you would like to apply to, carefully read the information about the scholarship. They typically provide when the application opens and closes, the award amount, the scholarship qualifications, and if personal information or an essay is required. Be mindful to submit all required materials before the application deadline to ensure your application is considered.

Remember: You do not have to pay to find scholarships. Be mindful of potential scams, and check with your guidance counselor to verify an opportunity.

Here are scholarship search engines you can use to help you find scholarship opportunities. Once you have created a free account, you can enter your personal and academic information to help you find relevant scholarships:

New York resources

Here are some organizations in New York that can help you provide one-on-one support to help you on your college journey.

New York Public Library College and Career Pathways
A Tisch Youth Education Program: The New York Public Library provides resources with college applications and to figure out what career is best for you. They can connect you to individual counseling, college and career prep workshops, and other programs. Find a New York Public Library location near you and ask about their Tisch Youth Education Program.

NYC Public Schools
College-Career Readiness for English Language Learners: This page offers information for parents of students beginning the college application process. Visit NYC Public Schools Multilingual Learners

Hudson Guild
Teen and Young Adult Services: Hudson Guild offers academic support, employment counseling, and more services to youth between the ages of 13-24. These services include college access and career preparation programs that include SAT Prep, post-secondary readiness, and more. Find more information and fill out the interest form on the Hudson Guild website.

The Door
College and Future Pathways: The Door offers support in obtaining higher education with free services such as college advice and tutoring. They have multiple locations in Manhattan and the Bronx. Find a location near you here: The Door.

Sunnyside Community Services
College Readiness: Sunnyside Community Services offers a College Readiness Program that offers SAT prep classes, college admissions workshops, college application classes and workshops, and many more services. Find out if you are eligible and reach out to save your spot here: Sunnyside Community Services – College Readiness.

Support from CUNY Colleges
CUNY Immigrant Success Liaisons: Each CUNY college has designated liaisons to assist immigrant students with financial aid, enrollment, and other matters. You can contact your school’s liaison here: CUNY Undocumented Student Support

SUNY Resources
Support: SUNY provides financial aid resources for migrant students and FAQs. View SUNY – Bigger Aspirations.