If you are a U.S. citizen but your parents are undocumented, you might wonder if their immigration status prevents you from submitting a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form. The good news is that your parents’ immigration status does not impact your ability to submit a FAFSA or your eligibility for federal student aid. In fact, if you meet certain FAFSA requirements, you may qualify for college financial aid, despite having undocumented parents.
Dependent students must include information for at least one parent on the FAFSA. If your parent is a noncitizen, there are certain steps you can take to successfully complete your FAFSA. Read on to learn more about federal aid eligibility, and what to put on the FAFSA if your parents are undocumented.
Key Points
• Parents’ immigration status does not affect a student’s eligibility for federal financial aid.
• Borrowers with scores above 700 (prime) can secure lower rates, sometimes below 5.00%, while subprime borrowers (scores below 600) may see rates over 10.00%.
• Undocumented parents can provide necessary information on the FAFSA without a Social Security number. The FAFSA does not ask about immigration status.
• In addition to federal aid, alternative student financial aid options include state-specific aid, scholarships and grants, and private student loans.
• Students with undocumented parents can seek additional resources and support from high school counselors, their college’s financial aid office, and the Federal Student Aid Information Center if needed.
Understanding FAFSA and Immigration Status
The FAFSA form is used by your school and other entities to determine whether you qualify for different sources of financial aid, including federal student aid, state-based aid, and potentially, aid from your college. Private student loans do not require you to fill out the FAFSA.
Because FAFSA delays for the 2024-2025 school year complicated the FAFSA process for many students and families, it’s wise to learn how to fill out a FAFSA with undocumented parents now so you’ll be ready when the time comes. Normally available in October, the form for 2025-2026 is currently expected to launch by December 1, 2024.
Your parent’s citizenship status, and whether they’re in the U.S. legally or illegally, has no bearing on your eligibility for federal aid. Instead, as a student applicant, you must satisfy certain FAFSA requirements for federal student aid.
Eligibility for Federal Student Aid
How college financial aid works is that to qualify for federal aid you will need to fulfill the following:
• Provide proof of academic qualification. You must have a high school diploma, General Education Development (GED) certificate, or an equivalent academic credential to qualify for higher education or career school.
• Be a U.S. citizen or eligible noncitizen. Eligible noncitizens include individuals with U.S. national status, those who are legal permanent residents, and students with a Citizenship and Immigration Services Arrival-Departure Record with a qualifying designation.
• Have a Social Security number. Students filling out a FAFSA must have a valid Social Security number (SSN) to create a StudentAid.gov account and complete the form. Undocumented students who don’t have a Social Security number won’t be able to submit and sign a FAFSA, and they are ineligible for federal financial aid. Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) students who have been issued an SSN can complete a FAFSA form, but DACA students do not qualify for federal aid.
• Meet enrollment criteria. The student must be accepted or enrolled in an eligible degree or certificate program at a school.
• Demonstrate financial need. This applies to need-based federal student aid like the federal Pell Grant Program.
• Consent to a federal tax return transfer. You must agree to have your federal tax return data transferred from the IRS into your online FAFSA form.
• Sign and certify the certification statement on your FAFSA. Your signature is acknowledgment that you don’t owe the Department of Education money from past aid, like defaulting on a federal student loan or a grant that needs repayment, and that you’ll use the federal aid for educational purposes.
Recommended: Can DACA Recipients Apply for Student Loans?
Rights and Protections for Students
Whether you’re a student who’s a U.S. citizen with undocumented parents or an eligible noncitizen with parents who are undocumented, you have certain protections by law.
The DACA Program temporarily protects eligible students, called “Dreamers,” who arrived in the U.S. when they were children. The program provides deferred action from deportation on a renewable two-year basis so that Dreamers can follow their desired educational and professional pursuits.
On a broader scale, federal law prohibits schools from discriminating against students or denying enrollment on the basis of citizenship or immigration status. The federal government is generally limited in its ability to perform immigration enforcement — including interviews, surveillance, and arrests — on a school campus.
The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) also generally requires schools to safeguard students’ private information, including that of undocumented students. An exception is if a court subpoenas the school to release your student records. If this occurs, in most cases, the school must notify you.
Preparing to Fill Out the FAFSA
One of the top FAFSA tips is to fill out the form online if you can, since this is typically the quickest and easiest way to submit your application. First, you must request your Federal Student Aid (FSA) ID. This will allow you to create a StudentAid.gov account to fill out the FAFSA form.
You must provide your personal information on the FAFSA form. You’ll also need to give your marital status, citizenship status, enrollment level, income details, and provide tax information. (If you’re submitting an online FAFSA, you must consent to a federal tax data transfer). You’ll need to list the names of the schools you’d like to receive your FAFSA, including their addresses and federal school codes.
If you’re married, your spouse must complete the designated spousal section. They will also need an FSA ID to create an account to fill out their portion of the FAFSA. They’ll have to provide their personal and contact information, federal tax return details, and income on the form.
Handling Parent Information on the FAFSA
Once you’ve started your online FAFSA form, you can invite one or both of your parents to provide their information as a contributor to your application. Including your parents’ information is only necessary if you’re a dependent student. You’ll need their name, date of birth, email address, and Social Security number if they have one to send them an invitation to contribute to the FAFSA.
Your parents must first create a StudentAid.gov account to add their information to your online FAFSA and sign their section. In the past, a Social Security number was required for parents to create a StudentAid.gov account and get an FSA ID. However, effective December 2023, the Department of Education made it easier for undocumented parents to complete this step. Now, undocumented parents can sign up for a StudentAid.gov account without being required to enter an SSN to complete their section of the FAFSA form.
After gaining access to your online FAFSA, your parents will provide the same information that’s required of a spouse. This includes consenting to a federal tax information transfer directly into the FAFSA regardless of whether they filed taxes, and signing their section.
Recommended: Guide to FAFSA Income Limits
Special Considerations for Undocumented Parents
It’s understandable for undocumented parents who are participating in your FAFSA to feel uneasy about the process. Students can help alleviate their parents’ worry by talking them through how their information will be used for verification.
First, it’s important for them to know that the FAFSA does not ask about parents’ immigration status. And the FAFSA Privacy Act Statement stipulates the rights and protections of all contributors on the FAFSA, including parents. Any information provided on the FAFSA is only used to determine federal, state, and school financial aid eligibility and how much money you can get with the FAFSA.
Alternative Options for Financial Aid
Whether you are a DACA recipient, an undocumented student who is ineligible for federal student aid, or a U.S. citizen with undocumented parents who didn’t receive enough federal aid to cover the cost of college, there are financial aid alternatives you can explore. These include:
• State-specific aid programs. Some states offer their own student aid programs for resident students. For example, California’s Nonresident Tuition Exemption helps undocumented students avoid higher nonresident tuition fees at qualifying colleges, if the student meets certain requirements.
• School-sponsored support. Your school might offer financial aid, like merit-based scholarships, grants, and student loans you may be eligible for. Speak to your financial aid administrator to learn more.
• Private scholarships. You can also search for scholarship programs that aren’t affiliated with the government or your school. Use SoFi’s scholarship search tool to start exploring opportunities.
• Private student loans: These loans are offered by banks, credit unions, and private lenders. Private student loans have fixed or variable rates, and the rate you may qualify for depends on your credit history, among other factors. In order to be approved for private student loans, a student may need a student loan cosigner who agrees to repay the loan if the borrower is unable to repay it. And keep in mind that, as a borrower, you could choose to refinance student loans in the future to get a lower rate or better terms if you’re eligible.
Additional Resources and Support
If, as a student with undocumented parents, you need additional help with completing the FAFSA, there are individuals and organizations you can turn to. Reach out to your high school counselor or the financial aid office at your college for assistance. You can also contact the Federal Student Aid Information Center at StudentAid.gov.
DACA students can find resources that may help them on the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services website.
The Takeaway
You can fill out the FAFSA if your parents are undocumented to help you potentially secure valuable financial aid. The 2025-2026 FAFSA application, expected to launch by December 1, 2024, will make it more straightforward for students to complete and submit a FAFSA despite their parents’ immigration status, and even if they don’t have a Social Security number, just like the 2024-2025 form did.
If, after you submit the FAFSA, you still need funds to help pay for school, you might want to consider private student loans. There’s also the possibility to refinance your private loans after graduation for better rates and terms, if you choose to.
Looking to lower your monthly student loan payment? Refinancing may be one way to do it — by extending your loan term, getting a lower interest rate than what you currently have, or both. (Please note that refinancing federal loans makes them ineligible for federal forgiveness and protections. Also, lengthening your loan term may mean paying more in interest over the life of the loan.) SoFi student loan refinancing offers flexible terms that fit your budget.
FAQ
How do I report parental information if my parents are undocumented?
On the FAFSA, undocumented parents can give their personal and financial information without a Social Security number (SSN). They must have a studentaid.gov login to complete their portion of the FAFSA, but no SSN is required for the log-in or to fill out the form.
Will filling out the FAFSA affect my undocumented parents’ status?
The information on your FAFSA, including your parent’s information, is typically confidential. The FAFSA does not even ask about parents’ immigration status. And your parents don’t need a Social Security number to fill out the FAFSA.,
What alternative financial aid options exist for students with undocumented parents?
If you’re a student with undocumented parents, there are other sources of financial aid that can help you pay for school. Ask your college or university if it offers merit-based scholarships or grants, and check into state-specific student aid programs. In addition, you can explore the many scholarship and grant programs available from states, businesses, and organizations. You can also consider taking out private student loans to help you afford college.
photocredit: iStock/Richard Stephen
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