Scholarships and Financial Resources for DACA Students
Scholarships help provide financial assistance so you can concentrate on your studies. Not all scholarships require disclosure of citizenship status. View this list of Arizona-based and national scholarship resources to help you start your search.
Arizona-Based Scholarships
| Scholarship | Scholarship Description |
|---|---|
| Maricopa County Community Colleges Foundation | Many scholarships on this site do not require proof of citizenship. Students do not need to complete a FAFSA to apply for these scholarships. Students complete one application and then are matched to eligible scholarships. |
| Pepsico Cesar Chavez Latino Scholarship Fund | The Cesar Chavez Foundation, in partnership with Pepsico, awards scholarships to students of Latino descent who are beginning or continuing their studies at higher education institutions in Arizona and California, regardless of immigration status or national origin. |
| Chicanos Por La Causa | This program provides financial assistance and ongoing support services to outstanding Latino students attending Arizona colleges and universities. The program is especially dedicated to those students with limited access to financial resources, such as DREAMers who qualify for DACA status. |
| Arizona Community Foundation | High school seniors, college students or adult re-entry students may apply, The general application process begins in January each year, and students should apply early to qualify for the most awards. Some award deadlines begin in March, while other deadlines are as late as May. |
National Scholarships
| Scholarship | Scholarship Description |
|---|---|
| Dream.US Scholarship | This is a national scholarship program for high school and community college graduates with significant, unmet needs. While GPA and test scores are considered, special emphasis is placed on demonstrated commitment to community service and the ability to overcome barriers and challenges faced by DREAMers. |
| Golden Door Scholars | This scholarship program partners with specific 4-year institutions and is for undocumented students. |
| Hispanic Scholarship Fund | The Hispanic Scholarship Fund assists students of Hispanic heritage to obtain a university degree, including community college students transferring to 4-year universities. |
| Hispanic Association of Colleges & Universities | A variety of national scholarships for Latino students are listed on this site. Please be aware of geographical restrictions when researching each scholarship opportunity. |
| Scholarships A-Z | This site lists scholarship resources that are organized by month and due date. |
| DREAMers Roadmap | A mobile app designed to help DREAMers find and track available scholarship opportunities across the nation, DREAMers Roadmap also serves as a crowdsourcing platform, allowing the public to suggest a scholarship that isn't already in the current database. |
| The Mexican American Legal Defense Fund (MALDEF) | The Mexican American Legal Defense Fund (MALDEF) provides a Scholarship Resource Guide — a free, informative resource for students, parents, and educators with an extensive list of scholarships, including many that do not inquire about immigration status. |
| Fast Web Scholarship Search | This is a scholarship search engine for high school and current college students that matches individual profiles to scholarships. |
| La Unidad Latina Foundation | The La Unidad Latina Foundation lists scholarships that support all students, regardless of immigration status, who have demonstrated a dedication to advancing the Latino community. |
| Migrant Farmworker Baccalaureate Scholarship | This scholarship is for students who have completed one or more years at a postsecondary institution and who demonstrate a recent history of movement for agricultural employment. The site also includes a national scholarship search engine. |
| Que Llueva Café Scholarship Program | This scholarship program is open to students in all states — who are undocumented and are enrolling for the first time in an accredited college or university in the United States or Puerto Rico. Applicants cannot be current college students. |
| The Collegeboard | The College Board Opportunity Scholarships are currently open to all students regardless of citizenship status. It does not require an essay, application or minimum GPA, but instead rewards effort and initiative as students complete key steps along their path to college. |
| Scholarship America | Scholarship America's Dream Award is a renewable scholarship, and its award amount grows each year to ensure that students can afford to complete their degrees. Applicants must be enrolled full time at the sophomore level or higher at an accredited college, university, or vocational-technical school. The award is renewable each year for up to three years or until graduation, whichever comes first, and is contingent upon satisfactory performance. |
Applying for Maricopa Community Colleges Foundation Scholarships
The Maricopa Community Colleges Foundation offers privately-funded scholarships that are open to all Maricopa Community Colleges students.
Note: A FAFSA and verified lawful presence are not eligibility requirements for filling out the application.
Quick Guide to Filling out the General Application
- Click the Sign In button and enter your MEID (first 3 letters of your first name followed by numbers) and password
- Be sure to click on the Save and Keep Editing button as you are completing the application (your session will time out after 25 minutes if you do not save your work)
- When answering the 3 essay questions, be mindful of grammar and spelling; provide details in your essay answers with at least 7 sentences
- When you are done filling out the application click on the Finish and Submit button; make sure your application indicates General Application Has Been Successfully Saved located at the top of the page before you sign out
- You will be notified through your student email if you have been awarded a scholarship
Scholarship Essay Questions and Guidelines
Essay 1
Please describe in at least 7 -10 sentences your financial need for the upcoming year. Identify the types of funding you plan to receive, including personal/family contributions, as well as any special circumstances.
To Answer
- Explain your current financial situation as well as any special circumstances resulting in your need to receive scholarship money
- Answer how you are covering your everyday expenses
- Indicate whether or not your family is able to support you financially (if so, explain how and to what extent)
- Answer if you receive financial assistance from anyone other than family members, and, If so, explain
- Discuss how receiving scholarship assistance will help you with your educational goals
Essay 2
Please describe in at least 7 -10 sentences your academic goals and plans for achieving them. Include your prospective degree/certificate, timeline for completion and an explanation of how you plan to apply your education to your career choice.
To Answer
- Answer where or not you are the first in your family to attend College
- Discuss what inspired you to pursue the degree/certificate you are currently majoring in
- Explain your timeline in reaching your academic goal
- Explain what career success looks like to you and how you plan to use your degree after graduating
Essay 3
Please describe in at least 7 -10 sentences your employment and/or campus extra-curricular activities (clubs, organizations, athletic teams, etc.) and/or your volunteer community service experience. Explain how you have demonstrated leadership skills.
To Answer
- Answer if you are working; explain what a day in your job is like, and discuss how you show leadership skills in your position
- Answer if you volunteer in the community; if so, explain what you do and what inspired you to serve your community
- Answer if you are involved in any student organizations; if so, explain to what extent and why you chose to be involved
- Explain how a positive or negative experience shaped your leadership skills
Helpful Hints and Suggestions for Writing a Strong Essay
- Share your unique story; talk about what made you who you are
- Be positive, truthful, and descriptive
- Be yourself, and take the time to completely explain your circumstances
- Write the essay questions in Word, then copy and paste to the scholarship form
- Use spell check – grammar, spelling, and punctuation count
- Remember to include at least 7-10 sentences
When you have finished filling out your application, scroll to the bottom of the page, sign and date your application, and click on the Finish and Submit button.
Need Assistance Applying for Scholarships?
Sign up for a one-on-one session with one of our scholarship coordinators. During the session, we will:
- Walk you through the online general application process
- Share tips on how to write a successful essay
- Answer any questions you have regarding scholarships to make the application process easy and comprehensible