I need money for college
The right aid form, the deadline and scholarships.
5 steps
Step 1 of 5: Pick the right aid form
Your own status decides which form is yours.
- FAFSA or Dream ActYour immigration status decides which aid form is yours. Pick the right one and you are considered for every dollar you can get. Pick the wrong one and you can lose time or money. Here is how to choose in two minutes, and what to do if your family has mixed status.Guide
- Which aid form is mine?Print it and fill it in by handChecklist
Step 2 of 5: Meet the deadline
Missing it can cost you a Cal Grant.
- CA Dream Act deadlinesFor fall 2027, send your California Dream Act Application by March 2, 2027. That is the last day to be considered for a new Cal Grant and the Middle Class Scholarship. The application opened October 1, 2026, so you can apply now.Quick answer
- Get considered for a Cal GrantTwo things must reach the state by March 2, 2027: your California Dream Act Application and your verified Cal Grant GPA. Community college students have until September 2, 2027. Miss either one and you are not considered, so check both today.Quick answer
- CA Dream Act deadlines checklistPrint it and fill it in by handChecklist
Step 3 of 5: Apply for scholarships
Many never ask about citizenship.
- ScholarshipsYou can apply for scholarships without papers. Many never ask about citizenship or a Social Security number. Here is where to find them, which ones near East Palo Alto we confirmed are open to undocumented students, and how to stay clear of scams.Guide
- Write your scholarship essayYour story is worth money. A strong essay shows judges who you are, what you have done, and where you are going. You decide how much to share, including about immigration status. Here is a step by step plan from blank page to final draft, with a worksheet you can print.Guide
- My scholarship trackerPrint it and fill it in by handChecklist
Step 4 of 5: Compare your offers
A bigger offer is not always the better deal.
- Compare aid offers and budgetAn aid offer is not a bill, and a bigger offer is not always the better deal. This worksheet helps you read every line of each offer, find what college will really cost you each year and each month, and plan how to cover it without counting loans as free money. It works for any student, and it flags what undocumented students and DACA recipients need to check.Guide
- Compare aid offers and budget checklistPrint it and fill it in by handChecklist
Step 5 of 5: Get help from a person
You do not have to do this alone. Ask about cost, languages and current openings before you share documents.
This page puts DNLH guides in a useful order. It is general information, not legal advice. Each guide shows its sources and the date its facts were checked.
Not quite your situation?
All situations- I am undocumented and want to go to collegeApply, pay the in-state price and get state aid.6 steps
- I do not qualify for AB 540Check again, then find ways to pay less.3 steps
- I am enrolling my child in schoolEnrollment, meals, language help and special education.5 steps
- I am worried about ICE at my child's schoolWhat schools must do and what you can do this week.4 steps
- I finished college and want to work or keep studyingWork, licenses and graduate school.3 steps