Financial Support for Undocumented & Immigrant Students

Financial Aid

Contrary to popular belief, many immigrant students are eligible to receive financial aid. At Queens College, financial assistance may come from either the United States federal government or the New York State government. For qualified students, financial aid may include grants, scholarships, work-study opportunities, and subsidized loans.

It is important to note the eligibility requirements and qualifications to apply for federal student aid and New York State aid are different. Therefore, a student ineligible for federal student aid may be eligible to apply for New York State financial aid and vice versa.

If you are unsure if you meet the eligibility requirements to apply for financial aid, we recommend you review the guide below.

1) Federal Student Aid

When determining your eligibility for financial aid, we recommend you start by reviewing if you are eligible for federal student aid. Generally, federal student aid is available to U.S. citizens and those with select immigration statuses, such as permanent residents, refugees, and asylees. For more detailed eligibility criteria for federal student aid and resources on how to apply, please click the button below.

Undocumented students (including Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients and students with pending asylum applications) are ineligible for federal student aid. However, undocumented students, DACA recipients, those with pending asylum applications, and other students ineligible for federal student aid should refer to the section below, as they may be eligible to apply for New York State aid. 

2) New York State Student Aid

If students are ineligible for federal student aid, they may still be qualified to apply for New York State student aid. Notably, New York State aid, due to the Senator José Peralta New York State Dream Act, is more accessible to immigrant students, including undocumented students, DACA recipients, Temporary Protected Status (TPS) holders, and those with pending asylum applications. For more detailed eligibility criteria for the Senator José Peralta New York State Dream Act and resources on how to apply, please click the button below.

3) Have Questions? Need Help? Contact Us!

Update: The Immigrant Student Support Initiative is undergoing a transition, and services are currently unavailable. In the meantime, students are encouraged to contact the Queens College Financial Aid Office by making submitting a ticket through the Fresh Service Portal or scheduling an appointment through Navigate. Thank you for your continued patience and understanding. 

After reviewing this guide, if students have questions or concerns about their eligibility to apply for financial aid, we invite them to connect with our office. Current Queens College students can make an appointment with the Immigrant Student Support Initiative by clicking the button below and logging into Navigate. After logging into Navigate, students must select Student Affairs as the care unit. Then, students must select the service labeled Immigrant Support: Financial Aid Review.

Prospective Queens College students and their families may make an appointment with the Immigrant Student Support Initiative via Calendly by clicking the button below.

If students are unavailable during the provided times, they may contact us and arrange a different meeting time. Lastly, if individuals have any questions or concerns about financial aid, they may also contact our office at 718-997-3990 and ImmigrantSupport@qc.cuny.edu.