Financial Aid for Undocumented Students

Financial Aid for Undocumented Students

Financial Aid for Undocumented Students

The José Peralta New York State DREAM Act allows undocumented and other students access to New York State‐administered grants and scholarships that support their higher education costs.
If you attended or graduated from an NYS high school, attended an approved NYS high school equivalency program, or received an NYS equivalency diploma, you may be eligible for state financial aid.
The DREAM Act opens the doors of higher education and provides access to the Excelsior Scholarship, the Tuition Assistance Program (TAP), and other state-administered scholarships.
Eligibility
A student seeking New York State financial aid, including TAP, for the first time, must pass a federally approved ATB test identified by the Board of Regents if the student does not possess a U.S. high school diploma or its recognized equivalent.
If you fit one of the descriptions below, you may be eligible for one or more NYS student financial aid awards under the DREAM Act:
  1. Your permanent home is in NYS and you are or have ONE of the following:
    1. U-Visa
    2. T-Visa
    3. Temporary protected status, pursuant to the Federal Immigration Act of 1990
    4. Without lawful immigration status (including those with DACA status)
    5. AND you meet ONE of the following criteria:
      1. You attended a NYS high school for 2 or more years, graduated from a NYS high school, and enroll or enrolled for undergraduate study at a NYS college within 5 years of receiving your NYS high school diploma OR
      2. You attended a NYS high school for 2 or more years, graduated from a NYS high school, and enroll or enrolled for graduate study at a NYS college within 10 years of receiving your NYS high school diploma OR
      3. You received a NYS high school equivalency diploma, and enroll or enrolled for undergraduate study at a NYS college within 5 years of receiving your NYS high school equivalency diploma OR
      4. You received a NYS high school equivalency diploma, and enroll or enrolled for graduate study at a NYS college within 10 years of receiving your NYS high school equivalency diploma OR
      5. You are or will be charged the NYS resident in-state tuition rate at a SUNY or CUNY college for a reason other than residency.
         
To learn more and apply, please visit www.hesc.ny.gov/dream/
 

SEEK

With the passage of the Jose Peralta New York Dream Act in 2019, immigrant students, including undocumented students, are now eligible to participate in Opportunity Programs including SEEK.

Undocumented Students are eligible for NYS Opportunity Programs, specifically for SEEK at John Jay College. Please review this guide that breakdown how to access SEEK. 

Excelsior Scholarship Under the New York State Dream Act

If you were granted the Excelsior Scholarship under the NYS Dream Act, your award needs to be packaged manually. This means the Financial Aid office needs to manually apply your scholarship to CunyFirst. The award will NOT post if you do not contact them. 

You can contact the following people for your award to be applied:

Denise Vivar at dvivar@jjay.cuny.edu
Clifton Moy, Excelsior Scholarship Coordinator at clmoy@jjay.cuny.edu

In your email please make sure you include the following: 

  • Copy of NYS Dream Act Application
  • Copy of signed Excelsior Contract 

 

Additional Financial Resources

Immigrant Student Success Center Emergency Fund

Emergency financial support is open to John Jay immigrant students who are unable to meet essential/legal expenses due to Covid-19. Undergraduate and graduate John Jay students who are not eligible for federal financial aid may apply, regardless of immigration status. Priority will be given to students without permanent legal status.

Application currently closed

Hispanic Federation Undocumented Student Support Fund

Hispanic Federation is a service-oriented membership organization that works with more than 100 Latino nonprofits in the Northeast and nationwide to promote the social, political and economic wellbeing of the Latino community.
Continuing its commitment to serve and support New York City’s young immigrant population, Hispanic Federation is proud to provide support funds to aid eligible undocumented students. HF is awarding student support funds to eligible students (see ‘Undocumented Student Support Fund Criteria’) in the form of tuition support or grocery assistance.

CRITERIA
Enrolled in at least 6 credits
Earned a degree from a high school or obtained a GED
Not eligible to apply for federal financial aid; and
Falls within the 400% federal poverty guidelines
Attend in one of the 5 NYC boroughs

INSTRUCTIONS
1. Download the application
2. We only need the answers to the questions in whichever format works for you.
3. Email your completed application to Denise Vivar at dvivar@jjay.cuny.edu
4. ImSSC will review your eligibility and your application
5. ImSSC will submit your answers electronically to the Hispanic Federation
6. The Hispanic Federation will approve and process the award
Click for the Application Here
 

Additional Financial Assistance at John Jay College

Wellness Center Emergency Funding
Thanks to the generosity of private donors, all John Jay students, including undocumented students are eligible for emergency grants of up to $1,500.  Click here for more information.