Financial Resources for Undocumented Students

Student Financial Support is dedicated to providing information about financial resources available to our undocumented students. We encourage you to take time to review this page to learn more.

Undocumented Students Who Graduated From A Utah High School

Utah House Bill 144

HB 144 allows eligible undocumented students to pay in-state tuition if the student attends a Utah college or university. This means that an eligible undocumented student may attend Utah State University at the resident tuition rate.

HB 144 Eligibility Requirements (Effective July 1, 2002):

  • Student must have attended a UTAH high school for three (3) or more consecutive years.
  • Student must have graduated from a UTAH high school with a diploma or G.E.D.
  • Student must NOT be registered as an entering student at a Utah college or university before the fall semester 2002.
  • Student must have filed an application to legalize his or her immigration status or will file an application as soon as he or she is eligible.

If you meet all of the HB 144 requirements, submit the HB 144 Exception Affidavit. For additional assistance, please contact the USU Admissions Office.

USU Scholarships

Incoming Students

Academic Scholarships

When you submit your application for admission to USU, you will automatically be considered for Academic Scholarships. In order to be eligible and awarded an Academic Scholarship, students must meet the following requirements:

For additional assistance, please contact the USU Admissions Office.

Non-Academic Scholarships

The following scholarships require separate applications and have different application deadlines. For more information, visit the scholarship link or contact the USU Admissions Office.

  • USU Ambassador Program: Ambassadors develop leadership skills and attributes by volunteering for leadership positions within the program, taking a leadership class each fall, and by hosting various leadership trainings for high school and junior college students.
  • Involvement Scholarship: Scholarships are awarded to those students who have demonstrated qualities of leadership and have made superior contributions to their school and community
  • Legacy Awards: Awarded to first-time, undergraduate students who have at least one parent or grandparent who graduated from Utah State University.

Incoming and Continuing Students

As an admitted student at USU, your profile has already been created in the USU General Scholarship Application. Within this application, you will find:

  • Institutional (USU) scholarships
  • Private, Community, and Corporate scholarships
  • College, Department, Major and Campus specific scholarships

The Application uses your student information to match you to scholarships you meet the eligibility criteria for. This means that the search for scholarships will be done for you and you will be matched to scholarships that do not require legal status in the US. Within your scholarship profile, you will be asked to answer additional questions about your experience, employment and involvement. The more questions answered, the increased likelihood of being matched to scholarships. Once you confirm you meet the eligibility criteria for a scholarship, all you have to do is apply for the scholarship!

For additional assistance, please contact the Scholarships Team.

Additional Resources

USU Student Money Management Center

After you are admitted to USU, you can schedule a meeting with a Financial Coach in the Student Money Management Center. Financial Coaches will meet with you (and your parent/guardian if you would like) in person at USU Logan, USU Blanding or USU Eastern, or from anywhere via Zoom and help you create an earning/spending plan for your first year at college. This will help you know exactly how much you must earn, how many hours per week you must work, if any, and at what wage if you want to spend certain amounts on food, housing, transportation and entertainment.

USU Inclusion Center

Relax and be proud of who you are. Our students, staff, faculty, and alumni embrace, support, and advocate for every member of our Aggie family. The USU Inclusion Center creates an environment of acceptance, respect, and empowerment. You are valued here and your involvement with our clubs and organizations will make us even stronger.

For additional information, contact Luis Rodriguez.

Frequently Asked Questions

A student who is not a US citizen or legal permanent resident and who does not currently possess a green card, visa, or other legal documentation is considered an undocumented student. This even includes those born outside of this country who have lived in this country for a significant portion of their lives.

Your high school counselors and college advisors are equipped with valuable information and resources to help you apply for college and private scholarships. However, due to your undocumented status, notifying people about your status can be a scary and risky thing to do. If you feel more comfortable with your teachers, college recruiters, community members, etc. you can ask them for assistance in applying for college. Not everyone is familiar with the process by which undocumented students must navigate the educational system, so finding key people who know about HB 144 is important.

Undocumented and/or DACA students are NOT currently eligible for any Federal Financial Aid Programs. Undocumented and DACA students CANNOT legally receive any federally funded grants.

Some private scholarships may require students to fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) solely for the purpose of determining private aid eligibility. The FAFSA will result in a Student Aid Report (SAR) bearing the Expected Family Contribution (EFC) that is used to determine financial need. However, undocumented and/or DACA recipients will not be eligible for federal student aid and will receive a “C” code on the SAR requesting documentation of citizenship. Students who do not have Social Security numbers may be asked to submit the paper FAFSA to the financial aid office for a manual calculation of the EFC. All information submitted on the FAFSA, whether online or on paper, must be completely accurate.

No. HB 144 is a House Bill that was passed by the Utah State Legislature, which states that undocumented students who qualify for in-state tuition must attend a Utah high School for three or more consecutive years, therefore meeting Utah residency requirements.

No. While a notary public was previousely required to file the Non-resident Tuition Exemption Affidavit, it no longer is.

General Information

Senate Bill 253

In 2015, the Utah Legislature passed into law  Senate Bill 253. SB 253 exempts Utah high school graduates from needing to provide proof of U.S. lawful presence when applying to privately  funded scholarships administered through any Utah public college or university. The passing of SB 253 is critical for undocumented students because it trumps the limitations set forth in 2008 by SB 81. SB 253 has expanded the number of scholarships that undocumented students can apply for.

Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA)

DACA recipients are eligible for work authorization, which allows them to be lawfully employed in the United States; to apply for social security numbers; and, depending on the state in which they live, possibly to obtain a driver’s license.

For more information regarding DACA, please visit U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.

DACA Eligibility Guidelines

  • Under the age of 31 as of June 15, 2012;
  • Came to the United States before reaching your 16th birthday;
  • Have continuously resided in the United States since June 15, 2007, up to the present time;
  • Were physically present in the United States on June 15, 2012, and at the time of making your request for consideration of deferred action with USCIS;
  • Had no lawful status on June 15, 2012;
  • Are currently in school, have graduated or obtained a certificate of completion from high school, have obtained a general education development (GED) certificate, or are an honorably discharged veteran of the Coast Guard or Armed Forces of the United States; and
  • Have not been convicted of a felony, significant misdemeanor, or three or more other misdemeanors, and do not otherwise pose a threat to national security or public safety.

DACA Renewal

When your initial two-year grant of deferred action for childhood arrivals (DACA) is expiring, you may request a renewal.

To renew DACA, you must meet the initial DACA guidelines and you:

  • Did not depart the United States on or after Aug. 15, 2012, without advance parole;
  • Have continuously resided in the United States since you submitted your most recent DACA request that was approved; and
  • Have not been convicted of a felony, a significant misdemeanor, or three or more misdemeanors, and do not otherwise pose a threat to national security or public safety

IMPORTANT: DACA DOES NOT award lawful immigration status to recipients; this means that people in a deferred action status are not considered U.S. citizens, permanent residents or eligible non-citizens. DACA does not provide a pathway to citizenship.

On This Page