Students with undocumented immigration status or who have been approved for DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) are not eligible to receive federal financial aid. There are other funding options that undocumented students may benefit from exploring.
Apply for scholarships
UWM Scholarships
All students are encouraged to apply for UWM scholarships.
While applying for UWM scholarships, undocumented students may find that eligibility criteria include demonstrated financial need. Students who are ineligible to file the FAFSA are encouraged to complete the Non-FAFSA Need-Based Aid Worksheet and submit it in their Panther Scholarship Portal General Application. In many circumstances, this worksheet can be used instead of the FAFSA to determine financial need.
External Scholarships
- The Dream.US Scholarships
- Golden Door Scholars
- Earnest
- My Undocumented Life Scholarships
- Hispanic Scholarship Fund
- Consejo de Federaciones Mexicanas Scholarships
- Scholarship America Dream Award
- Get Schooled DACA/Undocumented Scholarships
Apply for a private loan
Many banks and credit unions may require a student to be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident before they would approve a private education loan for the student, but some undocumented and DACA students have been able to locate a private lender that would allow a family member or sponsor who is a U.S. citizen or permanent resident to borrow a private loan on the student’s behalf. Each private lender will have their own policies, so be sure to contact any lenders before applying to learn about their requirements. You may review private loan information and lenders by visiting uwm.edu/fastchoice.
Crowdfund
Many students create a crowdfunding account to put out the call to family and friends who may be willing to assist with educational costs. This allows the student to expand the circle of individuals supporting the student’s education by allowing an easy way for them to directly contribute. A simple internet search for “crowdfunding” will help you locate many options for creating a crowdfunding account.
Use UWM’s payment plan option
UWM provides an Installment Payment Plan for students to pay out of pocket toward their tuition and charges each semester.
Affirm your residency
Undocumented and DACA students who grew up in Wisconsin or who would meet the standard requirements for Wisconsin Resident Tuition should contact a Residency Specialist in the Office of Undergraduate Admissions by calling 414-229-2222 or emailing residency-tuition@uwm.edu, or in person in Room 212, Mellencamp Hall, 2442 E. Kenwood Boulevard, Milwaukee WI 53211.