Undocumented Students

Citizenship requirements vary between Aid Programs. Some aid programs have citizenship requirements, but others do not. Review the eligibility requirements of each aid program to determine its citizenship requirements. Most merit-based scholarships don't have citizenship requirements. Many other aid programs require students to meet the Citizenship Requirements for federal aid programs. Based on those requirements, international, undocumented, and Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) students are not eligible to receive federal grants, federal student or parent loans, or need-based grants from TU.

MHEC Aid Programs

The citizenship requirements vary for aid programs from the Maryland Higher Education Commission (MHEC).  Non-citizens who attend TU and qualify for in-state tuition via the Dream Act and DACA provisions in Maryland's tuition residency requirements are eligible to apply for the following MHEC aid programs, but must still meet all other requirements and application deadlines.  

• Educational Assistance (EA) Grants*
• Guaranteed Access (GA) Grant​​s*
• Part-Time Grants*
• Cybersecurity Public Service Scholarships
• For Delegate Scholarships, and Senatorial Scholarships​ each state delegate and senator defines his/her own selection criteria.

*To apply for the need-based EA, GA, and Part-Time Grants, EVERY YEAR you must login into MHEC's MDCAPS system and complete the MHEC One App. (If you filed a FAFSA instead, they cannot accept it. You must login into MDCAPS and submit the One App.

Grant App Deadline:  To apply these grants for Fall 2025 and Spring 2026, you must submit a 2025-2026 MHEC One-App by March 1, 2025.

To apply for the Cybersecurity Scholarships, login to MDCAPS.

For Delegate and Senatorial​ scholarship information follow these links.

Undocumented ROTC students at UMES, Bowie, Coppin, & Morgan State Universities can also apply for Richard W. Collins Leadership Scholarship​​.

To review all MHEC aid programs, see State Aid.  

In-state Tuition Status Options

Two different University System of Maryland tuition residency policies help many undocumented students qualify for in-state tuition rates.  The first policy is the Maryland Dream Act which applies to many different types of undocumented students.  The second policy only applies to students who were granted DACA status through the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program.  For more information on both programs, see tuition residency requirements.

Additional Guidance on Aid Options

• U.S. Department of Education - Federal Aid Citizenship Requirements

Private Scholarships

• Actuarial Scholarships
• AIChE (Chemical Engineering) Minority Scholarship Award
• Appraisal Institute Scholarships
• CORE's Que Llueva Café Scholarship
• Davis Putter Social & Economic Justice Scholarship
• DREAMer's RoadMap Scholarship Mobile App
• Esperanza Education Fund Scholarship
• Fontana Transport Inc. Scholars Program
• Golden Door Scholars — Golden Door Scholars is a nonprofit that provides undocumented students with college scholarships and internship/career opportunities.
• Great Minds In Stem— Applicants must be of Hispanic origin and/or must significantly participate in and promote organizations and activities in the Hispanic community.  Must be Science, Technology, Engineering or Math related majors.
• Hispanic Scholarship Fund
• International Education and Financial Aid (IEFA)
• Institute of Industrial and Systems Engineers (IISE) Scholarships
• La Unidad Latina Foundation — Educational scholarships are awarded to Hispanic students on a competitive basis and range from $250 to $1000.
• LULAC National Educational Service Centers (LNESC) Scholarships
• MAES Science & Engineering Scholarships
• MALDEF Scholarship Resources
• Maryland Hispanic Achievement Scholarship
• NSCA (Strength & Conditioning) Minority Scholarship
• Physician Assistants for Latino Health Scholarships
• PRSA (Public Relations) Scholarships
• QuestBridge National College Match — The QuestBridge National College Match is designed for high school seniors who have shown outstanding academic ability despite facing economic challenges.
• Salvadoran American Leadership & Educational Fund
• The Dream.US (DACA students only)
• The Maureen L. and Howard N. Blitman P.E., Engineering Scholarship
• United Methodist Church Scholarships