FAQs

What is the DREAM Scholarship?

The DREAM Scholarship is a need-based scholarship awarded to an undocumented immigrant pursuing a post-baccalaureate program or degree.

Why is this scholarship specifically for DACA recipients and other undocumented students?

Although DACA recipients have temporary permission to be in the U.S., work legally and a valid Social Security number, they still are not eligible for Federal Financial Aid. This set back leaves DACA recipients with few and far between options to fund their higher education. In Texas, DACA recipients and other undocumented students are eligible for the Texas Application for State Financial Aid (TASFA). Unfortunately, TASFA is only available to those eligible students who are pursuing a bachelor's degree. This leaves even fewer funding sources for DACA recipients and other undocumented students pursuing graduate school, law school, medical school, and other post-baccalaureate degrees.

What funding sources are available to DACA recipients and other undocumented students in Texas?

Apart from TASFA, undocumented students rely heavily on the merit-based scholarships offered by schools. There is the additional option of applying for private scholarships that are either merit-based or need-based, but even these scholarships are available in limited quantities. An even fewer number of private scholarships exist for undocumented students in post-baccalaureate programs or degrees. And apart from paying out of pocket for the high tuition rates in graduate programs and degrees, there is the option of applying for a private bank loan. These private bank loans often times have high-interest rates and are only available if you have a financially stable U.S. citizen co-signer.

Important application dates

The application for the 2021 DREAM Scholarship will be available on March 1, 2021, through the deadline on May 31, 2021, at 5 pm CST.

How to stay in contact?

Updates about the scholarship will be announced on Edgar’s YouTube Channel.