College Access for Undocumented Students Toolkit

Undocumented students face unique challenges when applying for college. Some colleges and universities view undocumented students as out-of-state or international students, and charge higher tuition rates than for other residents of Pennsylvania. Many scholarships and types of financial aid are not open to undocumented students. For many students, this means putting a hold on or ending to dreams of attending college. PICC is committed to advocating for policy changes that will level the playing field, and allow undocumented students to qualify for the same tuition rates and local scholarships available to other residents of Pennsylvania. While we work to enact these policies, this toolkit contains tips and resources to help undocumented students navigate the sometimes complicated work of applying for college and financial aid.

DISCLAIMER: The information in this toolkit is based on personal experience of students, educators and members of PICC across Pennsylvania and has been compiled by our staff. We want this resource guide to be as comprehensive and useful as possible. We update this toolkit twice a year. If you know of any resources not listed in here or outdated, please let us know! Contact Maria Sotomayor at mariasotomayor@paimmigrant.org or 215-832-3482 if you have any feedback, suggestions, or edits.