Undocumented students are students who are not U.S. citizens, U.S. nationals, or “eligible noncitizens.” Each year we consider application for admission from students living in the United States without documentation of U.S. citizenship or legal permanent residency. Undocumented students are not eligible for federal or state financial aid. Within the larger group of undocumented students, there is a subgroup of students who have been granted Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA).

The FAFSA is not required for undocumented students applying to UML. However, the FAFSA is required for students with DACA status in order to be receive the John and Abigail Adams Scholarship. A Social Security Number (SSN) is needed to complete the FAFSA. DACA recipients should select “No, I am not a citizen or eligible non-citizen” as a response to the “Are you a citizen?” question on the FAFSA.

The FAFSA is free to complete – be careful of any site that requires you to pay to complete this form.

At this time, undocumented students are not eligible. Most financial aid, including federal, state, and many institutional aid sources, requires recipients to be U.S. citizens or eligible non-citizens. We encourage DACA and undocumented students to also look for private scholarship opportunities and/or loans.

For DACA status: Once a student has been granted DACA, he/she is eligible for:

• In-state Tuition Benefit: In November 2012, the governor of Massachusetts announced that Massachusetts students who have been granted DACA Status after August 2012 would be eligible for in-state tuition and fees. In order to be eligible for in-state tuition, applicants must submit a copy of the C-33/DACA card or a copy of the I-797 Notice of Action to the online application. Please be advised that this legislation may change.
• The John and Abigail Adams Scholarship: DACA students who are Massachusetts residents are eligible for the John and Abigail Adams Scholarship.

UMass Lowell has two campus opportunities for you to search / apply for scholarships.

1. UMass Lowell Riverhawk Scholarship Portal: Through the generosity of alumni, friends and supporters the University has over $1million in endowed scholarship funds for students to apply for. You must be a currently enrolled student to apply for these scholarships. The scholarships each have specific criteria. View the web link for more details.
2. Private Scholarships: We understand students need additional financial support that is why we compile a list of outside scholarship opportunities. These are scholarships from private companies and not affiliated with UMass Lowell. Check this website often for updates.