Quick Answer
Yes — undocumented and ITIN students in California can apply for state financial aid through the California Dream Act Application (CADAA) — no SSN required. To qualify under AB 540, you generally must:
- Have attended a California high school for 3 or more years.
- Have graduated from a California high school or earned a California GED.
- Be enrolled or plan to enroll at a California college, university, or community college.
Eligible students can receive Cal Grants, the California College Promise Grant (which waives community college enrollment fees), and institutional aid. Apply at dream.csac.ca.gov — the 2027–28 application opened October 1, 2026, and the Cal Grant deadline is March 2, 2027. The California Student Aid Commission says CADAA information is used only for state aid and isn't shared with federal immigration agencies.
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Application | California Dream Act Application (CADAA) at dream.csac.ca.gov |
| 2027–28 application opened | October 1, 2026 |
| Cal Grant deadline | March 2, 2027 |
| Who qualifies | AB 540 (expanded by SB 68) — for example, 3+ years at a California high school plus a California diploma or GED |
| SSN needed? | No — an ITIN or SSN is optional for students; parents with neither enter 000-00-0000 |
| Aid you can get | Cal Grants, the California College Promise Grant (waives community college enrollment fees), the Middle Class Scholarship and college aid |
| Immigration status | Not asked; CSAC says CADAA information is used only for state aid |
If you grew up in California but can't file the FAFSA because of your immigration status, you are not shut out of college aid. California built a separate path — the California Dream Act — so that undocumented students, DACA recipients, and others without an SSN can still apply for state and university financial aid. This guide explains who qualifies, what aid is available, how your ITIN fits in, and how to apply.
What Is the California Dream Act?
The California Dream Act is a pair of state laws — AB 130 and AB 131, passed in 2011 — that open California financial aid to students who cannot file the federal FAFSA. Instead of the FAFSA, you file the California Dream Act Application (CADAA) at dream.csac.ca.gov by the March 2 priority deadline.
The CADAA is for:
- Undocumented students
- DACA recipients — whether DACA is currently valid or has expired
- Students with a U visa or Temporary Protected Status (TPS)
- U.S. citizens or permanent residents in mixed-status families who prefer not to file a FAFSA
It is administered by the California Student Aid Commission (CSAC), the same agency that runs the Cal Grant program for FAFSA filers.
Who Qualifies? AB 540 and SB 68 Requirements
To receive California state aid through the Dream Act, you must meet the AB 540 non-resident tuition exemption. AB 540 — later expanded by SB 68 — looks at where you went to school, not your immigration status:
- ✓ Attendance in CaliforniaThree or more years of full-time attendance, or the equivalent in credits. SB 68 lets you count time and credits from California adult schools and community colleges, not just high school.
- ✓ Completion in CaliforniaGraduate from a California high school, earn a GED or California High School Proficiency Exam, or complete an associate degree or the minimum transfer requirements at a California community college.
- ✓ Enroll at a California collegeYou must be enrolled, or about to enroll, at an accredited California college or university.
- ✓ File an AB 540 affidavitUndocumented students sign an affidavit with their college stating they have filed or will file for legal status as soon as they are eligible.
You file the AB 540 affidavit directly with your college's admissions or financial aid office — it is separate from the CADAA itself.
Do You Need an SSN or ITIN to Apply?
No — you do not need a Social Security number to file the CADAA. Entering an ITIN or SSN on the application is optional for students, and leaving the field blank does not affect eligibility. The program has worked this way since the laws passed in 2011, and it is the question that stops the most families from applying.
- Students: Entering an ITIN or SSN on the CADAA is optional. If you have an ITIN, you can enter it; if you don't have one, you can leave the field blank.
- Parents: If your parents don't have an SSN, they enter their ITIN. If they have neither an SSN nor an ITIN, they enter 000-00-0000.
- Immigration status: The CADAA does not ask about your or your parents' immigration status, and that status is never used in any financial aid decision.
Your information is protected
The California Student Aid Commission says CADAA information is used only to determine state financial aid and isn't shared with federal immigration agencies. The application exists specifically to serve students who can't file the FAFSA.
What Financial Aid Can You Get?
Filing the CADAA can qualify you for several California aid programs at once — including the Dreamer Cal Grant, which can cover full systemwide tuition at a UC or CSU. You don't apply to each one separately: the single CADAA filed by the March 2 priority deadline is your application for all of them:
Dreamer Cal Grant
The largest award. Can cover full systemwide tuition at a UC or CSU, or provide a set award at community and private colleges. Based on financial need and your verified GPA. Dreamers can get the High School and Community College Transfer Entitlement Cal Grants and Cal Grant C, but not Competitive Cal Grants.
California College Promise Grant
Waives the per-unit enrollment fees at California community colleges for eligible students. Formerly known as the BOG Fee Waiver.
Middle Class Scholarship
Additional aid for eligible undergraduates at the UC and CSU systems, including many students whose families earn too much for a full Cal Grant.
Chafee Grant
For current and former foster youth. Helps pay for college or career training. Filing the CADAA is how Dream Act students access it.
University & State Grants
UC and CSU institutional aid — such as the UC grant and the State University Grant — that comes directly from the campus you attend.
Private Scholarships
Many California scholarship programs and campus aid offices use the CADAA to screen applicants. A large number do not require legal status at all.
AB 540 Legal Challenge — Status
As of October 22, 2026, AB 540 and the California Dream Act remain in effect while the Justice Department's November 20, 2025 lawsuit in federal court (E.D. Cal.) is pending. For the latest status here and in every other state, see our in-state tuition tracker, and check csac.ca.gov for California Student Aid Commission updates.
How Do You Complete the California Dream Act Application?
Confirm you meet AB 540
The application takes 3 steps: confirm you meet AB 540 (3+ years at a California high school plus graduation, or an SB 68 equivalent), file the CADAA at dream.csac.ca.gov, and meet the March 2 priority deadline for the Cal Grant. Start with the attendance and completion requirements above.
File the CADAA at dream.csac.ca.gov
Create an account and complete the California Dream Act Application. It opens October 1. Submit by the March 2 state priority deadline to qualify for the most aid.
Submit your verified GPA
The Cal Grant requires a verified GPA. Many California high schools and colleges upload it electronically; if yours doesn't, submit the GPA Verification Form by the deadline.
Sign the AB 540 affidavit
Complete the AB 540 affidavit with the admissions or financial aid office at the college you plan to attend. This is what grants in-state tuition and unlocks the state aid.
Review your aid offer and reapply yearly
Your college sends a financial aid offer listing the grants you qualify for. Accept your aid, and remember the CADAA must be filed again every year you're in school.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the California Dream Act?
The California Dream Act is a set of state laws (AB 130 and AB 131) that let students who cannot file the federal FAFSA — because they lack eligible immigration status — apply for California state financial aid instead. They use the California Dream Act Application (CADAA) at dream.csac.ca.gov.
Who qualifies for the California Dream Act under AB 540?
You generally qualify if you attended a California high school for three or more years (or earned equivalent credits, which SB 68 lets you count from California adult schools and community colleges), graduated from a California high school or earned a GED, enroll at a California college, and file an AB 540 affidavit. Undocumented students, DACA recipients, U visa and TPS holders can all qualify.
Do I need a Social Security number to apply for the CADAA?
No. The California Dream Act Application does not require a Social Security number. Entering your ITIN or SSN is optional. If your parents do not have an SSN, they enter their ITIN, or 000-00-0000 if they have neither. The CADAA does not ask about your or your parents' immigration status.
Can DACA recipients apply for the California Dream Act?
Yes. DACA recipients — whether their DACA is currently valid or has expired — can apply for state aid through the CADAA as long as they meet the AB 540 requirements.
What is the California Dream Act deadline?
The CADAA opens October 1 each year; the 2027–28 application opened October 1, 2026. The Cal Grant deadline is March 2, 2027 (September 2, 2027 for community college students), and most colleges use March 2 as their priority date. Some campus aid remains after that, but Cal Grants and the Middle Class Scholarship need on-time applications.