TheDream.US National Scholarship: who can apply and how

This page is general information, not legal or financial advice. DNLH is not part of TheDream.US. For the short version, see Who is eligible for the National Scholarship?

What is TheDream.US National Scholarship?

It is a private college scholarship for Dreamers who cannot get federal student aid. TheDream.US says it pays tuition and required fees up to $18,000 for an associate degree or up to $36,000 for a bachelor's degree. It adds up to $6,000 in stipends for books and supplies.

You use it at one of its partner colleges. The 2027 to 2028 Application Guide says there are close to 80 of them, and each one names a Scholar Advisor to work with its scholars. You renew the award every year, as long as you keep meeting the rules.

DACA is not required. That matters right now, when many young people cannot get DACA for the first time.

Can I apply if I live in California?

No. TheDream.US says plainly that it does not offer its scholarship to Dreamers in California or Washington. Its reason is that both states already give strong state and college aid. Tennessee students are sent to a partner group, Equal Chance for Education, instead, per the Application Guide.

That is not a dead end. In California, the free state aid can be worth more. Jump to What should I do if I live in California?

Who can apply?

The 2027 to 2028 Application Guide lists eight rules. You can apply if all of these are true:

1. You are a first generation immigrant student who came to the United States before November 1, 2021, and has lived here without a break since then.
2. You came before age 16.
3. You face status barriers as a Dreamer. The guide's examples: you are undocumented, you have or had DACA or TPS, or you have a pending immigration application.
4. You cannot get federal student aid through the FAFSA, and you do not hold a student, visitor, work or other temporary visa. International students cannot apply.
5. You have or will have a high school diploma by the start of the 2027 to 2028 school year, or a GED or high school equivalency recognized under your state's law.
6. Your high school GPA is 2.5 or higher on a 4.0 scale. If you earned college credits after high school, your college GPA must also be 2.5 or higher.
7. You will enroll full time in an associate or bachelor's program at a partner college in your state, or an online partner, in fall 2027 or spring 2028.
8. You have significant unmet financial need.

There is one more rule about your college. If the partner college is public, you must qualify for in state tuition there. Private and online partners do not have that rule. The guide also lists three Texas community colleges (Austin Community College, San Antonio College and South Texas College) as exceptions.

One big catch: the guide says that if you received TheDream.US Scholarship before, you may not apply again.

College students can apply too. The guide says you can apply if you are, or have been, enrolled in a community college or university.

Which colleges can I use it at?

Only partner colleges, and only ones that fit your home state. Open the partner college list and use the password from the guide: collegedream.

Some partners have extra limits. These come from the Application Guide:

• ASU Online is only for students who live in Florida or Texas, and only for engineering or certain science majors.
• Capella University and Strayer University (online) cannot be used if you live in Massachusetts.
• Grand Canyon University in Arizona is on campus only, not GCU Online.
• Oglethorpe University in Georgia: commuters must live within 25 miles.
• Northern Illinois University is only for transfer students.

You must apply to your first choice partner college yourself, before February 28, 2027. Winning the scholarship does not get you admitted, the FAQ says.

What is the Opportunity Scholarship?

It is TheDream.US's second award, for Dreamers who live in states that make college very hard to reach. The Opportunity Scholarship page lists 14 home states: Alabama, Arkansas, Indiana, Iowa, Louisiana, Maine, Mississippi, Missouri, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Ohio, South Carolina, West Virginia and Wisconsin.

Students from those states attend one of five partner colleges in another state:

• Christian Brothers University (Memphis, Tennessee)
• Delaware State University (Dover, Delaware)
• Dominican University (River Forest, Illinois)
• Eastern Connecticut State University (Windham, Connecticut)
• Trinity Washington University (Washington, D.C.)

The award covers tuition, fees, on campus housing and meals, up to $100,000 for a bachelor's degree. Its window is shorter: November 1, 2026 to January 31, 2027, with answers around mid March 2027. Check the page itself, since dates can move.

What does the application ask for?

The application opens November 1, 2026, on the National Scholarship page. A company called ISTS runs it for TheDream.US. The guide says the program key, if asked, is "Dream". Here is what each part asks, per the Application Guide:

About you. The same basic information as most college applications, plus a few immigration questions. It does not ask for your home address, only city, state and ZIP code.

Money. Dependent students give their parents' and their own information. Independent students give their own (and a spouse's, if married). You report yearly household income, how many people live on it, and how many will be in college in 2027 to 2028. You do not upload tax returns or pay stubs.

School. You pick your first choice partner college and give your high school or college details.

Transcripts. You must upload these by the deadline:

• High school transcript or GED certificate, if you are a high school senior, a college freshman or sophomore, or a GED holder
• Community college transcript, if you earned credits there after high school
• University transcript, if you earned credits there

Responsibilities. Volunteer work, community service, and home duties like caring for siblings or working to help the family. The guide says to take this part seriously.

Essay. The guide calls it the most important part. It must be 750 words or fewer. The 2027 to 2028 prompt asks how your life as a Dreamer shaped who you are, and how you would give back to your community and campus. Read the exact prompt in the guide before you write.

How do I write a strong essay?

Tell one true story, not your whole life. Show a real barrier you faced and what you did next. Then connect it to what you will do in college and after. Keep it specific: a place, a moment, a choice.

Ask a teacher or counselor to read a draft. Our guide How do I start writing a scholarship essay? walks you through it.

Two safety lines. Only share what you are comfortable sharing. And never claim a status you do not have. You certify that your answers are true, and finalists may be asked for limited proof, which TheDream.US says it keeps confidential.

How do I make sure my application is complete?

An application with a missing transcript is not reviewed. The guide is blunt about this, and it says checking is your job.

1. Log in to your home page at dream.applyISTS.net/Dream.
2. A gray or orange STARTED button means something is missing. Click it to see what.
3. A green COMPLETE button means you are done.
4. Allow 5 to 7 business days after an upload for the status to change.
5. If a transcript shows Rejected, read the email that says why, and upload a corrected one right away.
6. Stuck, or close to the deadline? Email TheDream.US@applyISTS.com and name "TheDream.US National Scholarship Program".

Do not wait until February. Upload your transcript in December or January so there is time to fix problems.

What happens after I apply?

ISTS emails every applicant in late April 2027, chosen or not. Add ISTS to your safe senders. The guide warns that some winners lost the award because the email went to spam.

If you win, you get an acceptance form by email. Accept by its deadline or you lose the scholarship. After that, you renew each year. The FAQ says renewal needs a transcript, and missing the renewal deadline means losing the award. The award is only for an undergraduate degree, not graduate school.

What mistakes should I avoid?

• Missing the deadline. February 28, 2027, 11:59 p.m. Pacific. Late applications are not considered.
• Forgetting to apply to the college. The scholarship and the college are two separate applications.
• Picking a partner that does not fit your state. Check the restrictions above.
• Choosing a public partner where you do not get in state tuition. Ask the college's admissions office before you list it.
• Leaving out home duties. Caring for family counts.
• Paying anyone. No fee is listed. If someone charges to "guarantee" this award, see Warning signs of an immigration scam.

What should I do if I live in California?

Put your energy into the aid made for you. California's state aid does not need DACA.

1. Check AB 540. It can give you in state tuition. See Who qualifies for in state tuition in California (AB 540).
2. File the California Dream Act Application by March 2, 2027 for Cal Grant (community college students also have a September 2, 2027 deadline), per the California Student Aid Commission. Step by step: How to apply for the CA Dream Act.
3. Apply for private scholarships that do not ask for citizenship. See Where to find scholarships that do not require citizenship.
4. Visit your college's Dream Center. In the Bay Area, see Dream Centers and undocumented student programs at Bay Area colleges.

Questions people ask

Do I need DACA? No. The guide lists DACA as one example of a status barrier, along with being undocumented, having TPS, or a pending case.

Can I apply if I am already in college? Yes, if you meet the other rules and your college GPA is 2.5 or higher.

Can I use it for graduate school? No. It is for an associate or bachelor's degree only.

Will they share my information with immigration? TheDream.US says it keeps finalist verification confidential. It does not ask for your home address. If you are worried, talk to a free legal clinic before you apply. See Free legal help in the Bay Area, or ask your school counselor for one near you.

I was not chosen. Can I try again next year? The FAQ says all applicants accept the decision as final. It does not say whether non winners can reapply. Ask ISTS by email. Past winners cannot reapply.

Do I need letters of recommendation? The 2027 to 2028 guide does not list any.

Who can help?

Contact them to confirm hours, languages and openings. Being listed here is not a referral or a promise of service.

• ISTS, for TheDream.US: TheDream.US@applyISTS.com, for application and transcript problems.
• Your high school counselor: transcripts, GPA and essay feedback.
• The partner college's admissions office: in state tuition and admission questions.
• California Student Aid Commission (California students): (888) 224-7268 or studentsupport@csac.ca.gov, per its contact page.