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Financial Aid

TASFA (Texas Application for State Financial Aid)

Under no circumstances can a DACAmented or Undocumented student fill out a FAFSA (Federal Application for Student Financial Aid) application. Fortunately, in addition to in-state tuition, Texas has established state based financial aid for certain undocumented immigrants called TASFA (Texas Application for State Financial Aid). Students who are classified as Texas Residents who cannot apply for FAFSA are encouraged to complete the TASFA. TASFA applications opens Oct 1. The state financial aid priority deadline for many institutions will vary. It’s important to submit the TASFA application along with the required documents before this date.

  1. Access the TASFA application
    • TASFA has traditionally been a paper application. Students must send each college a separate TASFA application along with required paperwork.
    • In 2023 TASFA will become available in an electronic format
  2. Male students must complete the Selective Service acknowledgment
  3. Income information (student, parent or spouse)
    This information is also strictly confidential.
    • Signed IRS Form 1040 or request an IRS Tax Return Transcript from two years prior to start term
      • Can be obtained online or by making an appointment with the County Tax Office
    • W-2s from employer or Form 1099 (for self-employed).
    • Self-employed- Schedule C or C-EZ and/or form 8903 is applicable
    • Tax non-filer statement
      • This provides proof that the IRS has no record of filed taxes

Any questions? If at any point, you have questions about the required documents or TASFA form, please reach out to our financial aid office. Our financial aid literacy coaches are always happy to help and you can schedule a meeting with them across all seven campuses.

Foundation Scholarships

Scholarships can also prove to be difficult to come by since many of them have residency requirements. Below is a list of scholarships and programs that do not have residency requirements or that cater specifically to the DACA/ Undocumented student population.

  • Attend scholarship workshops.
  • Keep track of deadlines and the materials needed to complete scholarship applications.
  • Apply for both large and small scholarships. They all add up.
  • Apply to all scholarships that you qualify for, not just one or two.
  • Read the eligibility criteria for each scholarship.
  • Follow the instructions carefully.
  • Open the application and look for additional instructions or help text.
  • Search other databases for external scholarships.
  • Participate in extracurricular and community activities.
  • When you are offered a scholarship read and follow the instructions carefully to complete all required steps by the deadline.
  • Keep track of the scholarships you receive and know if it is for one, two, or more semesters.
  • If the scholarship is renewed, what are the eligibility criteria required to receive the renewal?

It is important that you approach answering the essay question on your scholarship application as you would if you were writing an essay for an English 1301 or 1302 class.

  • Read through the question, and make sure you understand it.
  • Be sure to respond to each part of the question.
  • Be as specific as you can to support what you say about your qualifications and life experiences. Try to think of examples that will show the reader what you mean.
  • Check your punctuation and grammar. Proofread carefully.
  • If time allows, leave your response for a short time, then go back and proofread it again before submitting it.

Important: When asking a Dallas College employee for a recommendation, please use their new email address which includes @dallascollege.edu

  1. Choose a person the scholarship criteria tell you to ask and/or is familiar with your work. Read the scholarship description and criteria, some scholarships ask for a specific person to provide the recommendation.
  2. Contact the person (in person, by phone, or email) with your request before entering their name on your application. Be respectful (you are asking a favor) and be polite, show them that you appreciate the time they are giving you.
  3. Provide the name of the scholarship, what the scholarship is for (i.e. Nursing, Accounting, Teaching, etc.), and the scholarship deadline.
  4. Provide what type of skills should be highlighted in the letter for the specific scholarship (you may find this information by reading the scholarship description and the eligibility criteria).
  5. Ask far enough in advance for the recommendation to allow time to write the recommendation. Allow for 15-30 days or more.
  6. Once you have requested the recommendation, and hopefully receive it, don't forget to send a personal thank you to everyone that provided a recommendation on your behalf.

  1. ScholarShot Program
    • Scholars are assigned Academic Managers to help degree planning and personal support. Scholars receive up to $6000 per year in financial support. ScholarShot also has a mentoring program for students.
    • Geared towards helping first-generation, low-income students. There are no residency requirements or GPA requirements.
  2. Golden Door Scholars
    • Open to high school graduates, currently enrolled undergraduate and transfer students
    • Must have DACA, TPS or be undocumented
  3. Hispanic Scholarship Fund
    • Must be of Hispanic Heritage and have DACA
    • Minimum of 3.0 GPA for high school students and 2.5 GPA for college students
  4. TheDream.US
    • National Scholarship
      • Open to immigrant students with or without DACA or TPS and qualify to in-state tuition at one of their Partner Colleges
    • Opportunity Scholarship
      • Open to immigrant students with or without DACA or TPS and be admitted to one of their partner colleges
  5. Dallas College Foundation
    • Contains list of scholarships available to Dallas College students
    • Many of the listed opportunities do not require residency requirements
  6. Dallas County Promise
    • Last-dollar scholarship that covers tuition at partner colleges
    • Students must have graduated from a Dallas County high school
    • All students regardless of legal status can qualify