Undocumented Students

Undocumented and Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) students pursuing a bachelors degree will be considered for institutional grant aid and may be eligible to apply to some State aid programs.

Merit Aid

UMBC offers merit scholarships to all qualified entering freshmen, including undocumented and DACA students. Merit awards are based on students’ academic performance, including high school cumulative grade point average (GPA) and SAT/ACT scores.

Community college transfer students, including undocumented and DACA students, are considered for merit scholarships based on their cumulative grade point average (GPA) earned at their prior college(s).

Check out our website for more information about UMBC’s freshmen merit scholarships and transfer merit scholarships.

Institutional Need-Based Aid

Beginning with the 2019-2020 award year, undocumented students can apply for the financial need-based UMBC Grant. For consideration, print and complete the UMBC Grant Application, gather the requested tax documents, and contact Colleen Lindbeck, Associate Director, to submit your application packet and discuss your eligibility.

Eligible students will receive a grant ranging from $1,000 to $3,000 for the year. The UMBC Grant is renewable and the application will be made available each January for the upcoming year. Students are held to the same Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) standards expected for all need-based Federal, State, and institutional need-based financial aid recipients.

State Aid

Beginning with the 2019-2020 award year, undocumented students who are eligible for in-state tuition are eligible to apply for various State financial aid grands and scholarships using the Maryland State Financial Aid Application (MSFAA). You can learn more about the MASFAA here.

Federal Aid

As Federal financial aid programs generally require that the student be a citizen or permanent resident of the United States, undocumented and DACA students are normally ineligible to receive Federal financial aid. For more information on what constitutes an eligible non-citizen, view our page on financial aid citizenship requirements. The U.S. Department of Education provides information about financial aid for undocumented and DACA students.

Students may also find the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (NASFAA) Tip Sheet for Undocumented Students helpful in answering some general questions regarding the financial aid eligibility for undocumented and DACA students.

A Q&A sheet entitled Financial Aid and Undocumented Students has been released by the U.S. Department of Education to provide additional guidance to undocumented students and their families.

In-State Tuition Rate

Undocumented and DACA students who graduated from a Maryland high school and completed their Associates’ Degree at a Maryland community college may be eligible for in-state tuition rates. Eligibility criteria and forms to request in-state tuition can be found on the Registrar’s Residency page. Questions regarding consideration for in-state residency may be directed to the Registrar’s Office.