Financial Support

USF is committed to supporting your financial well-being. Below, you will find a range of resources and tools tailored to ease the financial aspects of your education. 

Financial Aid

Undocumented and DACAmented students who do not meet the FAFSA eligibility requirements should still fill out a financial aid application with either the CA Dream Act or the College Board CSS Profile.

  • The FAFSA application is for domestic students who are U.S. citizens or eligible noncitizens and meet the general eligibility requirements. 
  • The CA Dream Act application is for Undocumented and DACAmented students who are California residents and do not meet FAFSA filing requirements.

If you are having trouble deciding between filling out the FAFSA or CA Dream Act, Immigrants Rising has a FAFSA vs CA Dream Act handout you can refer to.

 

Internal Scholarships

USF and the School of Education offer a variety of funding sources available to current and incoming undocumented students. Be sure to review each funding opportunity carefully since each funding source has differing eligibility requirements. USF sources of funding include:

The USF Jesuit Community Magis Endowed Scholarship offers scholarships to both undocumented undergraduate and graduate students. The scholarship grants a maximum of $1,000 award. The deadline to apply for this scholarship is rolling, meaning that students can apply at any time.

APPLICATION

To apply for the Jesuit Community Magis Endowed Scholarship, please email Lori Prince (lprince2@usfca.edu) in Student Financial Services. Applicants will be provided with the scholarship application which requests student information and the submission of a one-page description of goals upon graduation.

The creation of the Magis Fellowship was led by the USF's L.U.N.A club, formally known as M.E.Ch.A. Funded by the ASUSF Senate and the Office of the President, the Magis Fellowship provides financial aid to provide the opportunity for USF undocumented undergraduates to attend USF. Fellowship grants are awarded based on a proposed project that fellowship students carry out (no more than $8,000 per student per academic year).

REQUIREMENTS

Enrolled as a graduate or undergraduate student
Maintain good academic standing
Develop a project that addresses specific barriers and challenges faced by the undocumented community. 

PROJECTS

Fellowship students work closely with a mentor from the Working Group to Support Undocumented Students to develop their fellowship project. Projects should address specific barriers and challenges faced by the undocumented community and can seek to educate the campus community, build support, and/or improve higher education access for the undocumented community.

Examples of projects include:

  • Planning educational presentations or workshops 
  • Publishing a blog, OP-Ed, or another piece of public scholarly writing
  • Developing an infographic, policy brief, or position paper
  • Supporting the Working Group to Support Undocumented Students 
  • Fellows receive support from their mentor to ensure the fellowship is a developmental and leadership opportunity for the student.

APPLICATION

To apply, please visit the Magis Fellowship Application page. Questions about the fellowship can be emailed directly to Ifeoma Nzerem, at diversity@usfca.edu.

The School of Education (SOE) offers the Undocumented Student Scholarship for incoming and current undocumented and DACAmented students enrolled in any School of Education program. Awards are given in the amount of up to $5,000. 

REQUIREMENTS

  • Undocumented or DACAmented student
  • Incoming or current student in any School of Education program (Hilltop Campus or additional locations)
  • Candidates with financial need will be prioritized, but all will be considered
  • Priority will be given to applicants who are actively engaged in education advocacy, immigrant rights, or other work related to supporting undocumented students

APPLICATION

Interested applicants can apply using the online SOE Undocumented Student Scholarship application. Applications are reviewed on a continuous basis. 
 

The School of Education Social Justice Scholarship is awarded to School of Education graduate students who demonstrate outstanding dedication and vision for equitable conditions in schools and communities domestically and internationally. Students are eligible to apply after they have completed their first semester at USF. Selected students can receive up to three credits of tuition.

REQUIREMENTS

  • Previous and/or current experience in community service and engagement
  • Commitment to developing partnerships with marginalized youth, schools, and/or communities
  • Personal and professional background related to issues of marginalization and social justice
  • Demonstrated financial need

APPLICATION

Students can apply using the online Social Justice Scholarship application. For additional information and deadline dates, please visit the School of Education Financial Resources page.