Undocumented/DACA Students

NIACC welcomes all students, regardless of immigration status.
We accept new certificate, diploma and degree-seeking students each semester—fall, spring and summer. You may submit your online application at any time. If you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact us. NIACC Enrollment Advisors can answer your questions about applying, Accuplacer & ALEKS placement testing, transcripts, residency and more. Our dedicated staff is available to help you through the entire admissions process.
If you have questions about applying, you can visit us on campus in the Admissions office or you can email Valeria Gonzalez, Bilingual Enrollment Advisor & Success Coach for Diverse Populations, or call us at 1-888-GO NIACC
Common Questions
I am an undocumented/DACA student. Can I attend North Iowa Area Community College?
Yes, absolutely! NIACC welcomes all students, regardless of immigration status.
I am an undocumented/DACA student. How do I qualify for in-state tuition at NIACC?
If you attended a high school in the state of Iowa and meet the eligibility criteria below, you are eligible to pay in-state tuition rates at NIACC
- Attended and graduated from an Iowa high school, and submit an official high school transcript providing evidence of high school attendance and have lived in Iowa for the last 90 days.
I am an undocumented/DACA student and interested in attending NIACC. How do I apply for admission?
Regardless of your immigration status, all students should apply for admission to NIACC through our online Application of Admission.
If you have questions about applying, you can visit us on campus in the Admissions Office, in Hampton @ the NIACC Center One office (5 1st ST. SE, Hampton, IA 50441), by emailing us at Valeria.Gonzalez@niacc.edu or you may call us at 1-888-GO NIACC or 641-422-4075.
I am an undocumented/DACA student and have already completed my NIACC application. Who should I talk to about in-state tuition?
When completing the online application for Admission, please select that you are an undocumented or DACA status student in the application and your information will be sent directly to Valeria Gonzalez, Bilingual Enrollment Advisor & Success Coach for Diverse Populations, who will contact you and provide you more information. If you have met the residency criteria, you will automatically be given in-state tuition. If there are any questions, you may contact Valeria Gonzalez, Valeria.Gonzalez@niacc.edu 641-422-4075 or contact the NIACC Admissions office at 641-422-4245.
I am an undocumented/DACA student – am I eligible for financial aid?
No. Undocumented students, including DACA students and Dreamers, are not eligible for federal student aid. However, you may be eligible for NIACC Admissions Scholarships, NIACC Foundation Scholarships or NIACC’s Dream Scholar Award. Most states and colleges use information collected on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to determine whether you are eligible for aid. If you have a Social Security number, you may complete the FAFSA, and we encourage you to do so at www.fafsa.gov. However, we first recommend that you check with an Enrollment Advisor to see what types of financial aid you may be eligible to receive and whether completing the FAFSA is the way to apply for that aid. NIACC’s scholarships do not require you to complete the FAFSA, but obtaining your Student Aid Report by completing the FAFSA is helpful when applying to National Scholarships available to undocumented or DACA students.
I am an undocumented/DACA student – are there any scholarships available for me?
While many scholarships do require applicants to be U.S. citizens, several scholarships are available to students who are undocumented/DACA:
NIACC Foundation
The NIACC Foundation offers hundreds of scholarships to help with the cost of tuition, books and fees. Scholarships are another type of financial assistance. Students do not need to qualify for financial aid to apply. All NIACC students who are certificate, diploma or degree-seeking are encouraged to apply. For more information, including the online scholarship application, please visit www.niacc.edu/admissions/tuition-and-aid/scholarships/.
NIACC’s Dream Scholar Award
Empowering and supporting DACAmented Youth to gain the education they need to walk through the door of opportunity when it is opened. NIACC’s Dream Scholar Award provides scholarship opportunities to DACA status students who wish to study at NIACC and who are enrolled in a diploma or degree seeking program. Visit our webpage for more information www.niacc.edu/admissions/tuition-and-aid/scholarships/dream-scholar-award/
NIACC Promise Scholarship
The NIACC Promise is a new scholarship that will provide free tuition for qualifying Area 2 (NIACC Service Area) high school and home school graduates to help them realize their dream of attending and completing college. The scholarship will be available to current Area 2 graduates who meet the eligibility criteria including undocumented/DACA students. As you are unable to complete the FAFSA requirement, the FAFSAforecaster will be completed with financial information and additional documentation and verification may be required. Current NIACC students may also qualify if they meet the second year participation criteria.
The NIACC Promise scholarship is a last-dollar award; it will be applied to a student’s account after all other federal, state, outside and other NIACC aid/scholarships is applied. It is renewable for up to 4 semesters. Eligibility criteria for the program includes graduation from a NIACC district high school or homeschool within the service area, an Expected Family Contribution of $15,000 or less as determined by the Free Application for Financial Aid, full-time enrollment (minimum 12 credits per semester) at NIACC, and the completion of four hours of community service each semester. More information at: www.niacc.edu/admissions/tuition-and-aid/scholarships/niacc-promise/
For undocumented and DACAmented students who are unable to complete the FAFSA (as you are not eligible to receive federal funding), you will need to complete the FAFSA4caster, which is an electronic worksheet that will calculate an estimated EFC to help determine eligibility and you will be required to provide proof of income, paystubs, W2’s, copy of tax returns, etc. Contact Valeria.Gonzalez@niacc.edu for help with the process.
The steps required to apply for the NIACC Promise scholarship must be completed by March 1. To learn more about eligibility criteria visit the NIACC website at www.niacc.edu/niaccpromise or contact Bilingual Enrollment Advisor Valeria Gonzalez at Valeria.Gonzalez@niacc.edu, or 641-422-4075, with any questions.
Many scholarships have their own applications, deadlines and eligibility requirements. Please visit the following websites for more information on the scholarship application process.
Barten Law Firm Scholarship for DACA students in Iowa
www.immigrationiowa.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/DACA-Scholarship-Application-2-1.pdf
College Green Light
blog.collegegreenlight.com/blog/updated-for-2016-scholarships-for-undocumented-students/#sthash.wG99HR3T.H9TdFTB1.dpbs
Educators for Fair Consideration (E4FC)
www.e4fc.org/scholarshiplists.html
Latino Heritage Festival of Iowa Scholarship
www.latinoheritagefestival.org
Latinos Unidos of Iowa
form.jotform.com/latinosunidosofiowa/latinos-unidos-of-iowa-scholarship-
Proteus
www.proteusinc.net/programs/national-farmworker-jobs-program/educational-services/
Mary E. Campos Scholarship
www.facebook.com/MECScholarship/
Migrant Farmworker Scholarships
https://migrant.net/scholarships/
Qué Llueva Café Scholarship
www.ca-core.org/que_llueva_cafe_scholarship_program
Univisión’s “Es El Momento” Scholarship
univision.hsfts.net/#/
Vamos a la Universidad
www.facebook.com/vamosuniversidad
Resources
A Guide to College for Undocumented Students
study.com/resources/undocumented-students-college-guide
Undocumented College Student Guide and Resources
www.affordablecollegesonline.org/college-resource-center/undocumented-college-student-resources/
Multiculturalism and Diversity on Campus
www.affordablecollegesonline.org/college-resource-center/multiculturalism-and-diversity-on-campus/
Financial Aid for Minorities
www.affordablecollegesonline.org/financial-aid-for-minorities/
Scholarships for Minority Students
www.accreditedschoolsonline.org/resources/college-scholarships-for-minority-students/
DACA and Undocumented Students Guide
www.affordablecollegesonline.org/college-resource-center/daca-and-undocumented-students/