The California Dream Act of 2011 allows students who meet AB540 criteria to apply for and receive certain state and institutional financial aid, if eligible.
Apply for the California Dream Act TODAY!
About the California Dream Act and AB 540
Assembly Bills 130 & 131, known as the California
Dream Act of 2011, are laws that increase access to financial aid for
undocumented students who attend a public university, community college or
private college in California. In order to qualify, students must meet the
requirements of AB 540 and not be eligible to apply for the FAFSA.
AB 130 allows eligible AB 540 students to apply for
and receive scholarships derived from nonstate funds at all California public
colleges and universities. These include scholarships funded through private
donors, alumni contributions and individual departmental efforts. Students must
apply and compete for available awards as determined by their respective
college or university. This bill went into effect on January 1, 2012.
AB 131 allows eligible AB 540 students to access
state-funded financial aid programs such as Cal Grants, university grants and
Board of Governor’s Fee Waivers. The California Student Aid Commission (CSAC)
developed the California Dream Act Application, a FAFSA-like application, to
determine the financial need of students who are not citizens, legal permanent
residents or eligible non-citizens. Students may complete a Dream Act Application
online at www.caldreamact.org in order to determine eligibility to receive
state financial aid.
Who is Eligible to Apply?
- Student must have attended a high school (public or
private) in California for three or more years, OR Attained credits earned in
California from a California high school equivalent to three or more years of
full-time high school work and attended a combination of elementary, middle
and/or high schools in California for a total of three or more years.
- Must have or will graduate from a California High School
or have attained a G.E.D.; or received a passing mark on the California High
School Proficiency Exam (CHSPE).
- Must register or is currently enrolled at an accredited
institution of public higher education in California.
- In the case of a person without lawful immigration
status, the student must file or will file an affidavit as required by the
college (available in the Admissions office) stating that the student has filed
an application to legalize his or her immigration status or will file an
application as soon as he or she is eligible to do so (student information
obtained in the implementation of this section is confidential).
- Must not hold a valid non-immigrant visa (F, J, H, L, A,
E etc.). Students eligible for the AB 540 program must submit the California
Nonresident Tuition Exemption form to the Admissions and Records Office the college
where you are enrolled, or intend to enroll.
For complete information on AB 540 and Non Resident Tuition Waivers or to complete an AB 540 Application, please visit the Admissions and Records page by clicking
HERE.
Types of Aid Available to Eligible Dream Applicants
For more information on the types of financial aid available to eliglble Dream Applicants, please click
here.
Apply EARLY!
- The California Dream Act Application opens on October 1st each year for the upcoming Academic Year.
- Complete the California Dream Act Application no later than March 2nd every year. Even if you completed the Dream Act Application a year ago, you need to complete it again during the current filing period to be eligible for aid.
- In order to be considered for a Cal Grant, students
must submit a Non-SSN GPA Verification Form in addition to the online Dream Act
Application.
Already Applied?
Click the links below for information on how your California Dream Application is processed:
Need Help Applying?
Student Financial Services staff is available to assist during FAFSA and Dream Application Workshops. FAFSA and Dream Application Workshops are held every Tuesday from 4 to 6 pm in the Welcome Center located in the Dr. Charles A. Kane Student Services Building.
The following link contains useful information from the state of California for students interested in applying for the Dream Application, including help with applying for California State aid, Frequently Asked Questions, and much more:
Resources for Undocumented Students
The following site is provided by the California Community Colleges Chancellor's Office, and is intended to provide important information and resources for undocumented students attending RCC.
Immigrants Rising
Immigrants Rising is a relationship based community that works for undocumentated students and focuses on getting them the right resources that they need to transform their lives. A welcoming community that embraces the unique qualities of every person, adaptively handling any situation, responding to whatever may come. Taking a long term point of view to not only help you but future generations of undocumented students to reach their educational and personal goals. For more information please click here.