Quick Answer
Yes — many private scholarships require no Social Security number and no immigration status. TheDream.US pays up to $36,000 in tuition and fees for a bachelor's degree, plus up to $6,000 for books, to students with or without DACA; its 2027–28 round opens November 1, 2026. Federal aid — Pell Grants and federal loans — is closed to undocumented and DACA students.
Can You Apply for Scholarships Without a Social Security Number?
Yes. Most private and institutional scholarships never ask for a Social Security number or proof of immigration status — they judge grades, essays, and financial need. MALDEF publishes a free Scholarship Resource Guide listing dozens of scholarships with no SSN requirement, and the largest, TheDream.US, funds undocumented students directly.
The distinction that matters is the money's source. Federal aid — Pell Grants and federal loans — is filed through the FAFSA and requires citizenship or an eligible noncitizen status, so it is closed to undocumented students. Private scholarships (from nonprofits, companies, and community groups) and institutional aid (from a college's own funds) set their own rules, and most do not require citizenship or an SSN. You can browse a large, regularly updated list in MALDEF's free Scholarship Resource Guide, which flags the awards with no Social Security number requirement.
Do You Need an ITIN to Apply for Scholarships?
No. An ITIN is a tax-processing number issued on Form W-7 for people who file taxes without a Social Security number — it is not a scholarship credential. Scholarship applications ask for academic and financial information, not a taxpayer ID. Having an ITIN neither helps nor blocks a scholarship application.
Where an ITIN can matter is after you win. Scholarship money spent on tuition and required fees is generally tax-free, but amounts used for room, board, or living costs can be taxable and may need to be reported. A student who files a tax return can use an ITIN to do so. For the award itself, though, no SSN or ITIN is required to apply or to receive the funds, which are usually paid straight to your school.
How Do Scholarships Differ by Immigration Status?
Scholarships fall into three tiers by status requirement. Tier one asks nothing about immigration status — TheDream.US funds undocumented students directly, and many awards in MALDEF's guide do too. Tier two requires DACA, TPS, or lawful status, like the Hispanic Scholarship Fund. Tier three is federal aid, which requires citizenship or eligible noncitizen status. The table compares the largest programs.
| Scholarship | Status required | Maximum award | Applications |
|---|---|---|---|
| TheDream.US National | None — undocumented OK (with or without DACA/TPS) | Up to $36,000 tuition + $6,000 books (bachelor's) | Nov 1, 2026 – Feb 28, 2027 |
| TheDream.US Opportunity | None — for graduates of 14 listed states | Up to $100,000 (bachelor's) | Nov 1, 2026 – Jan 31, 2027 |
| Hispanic Scholarship Fund | U.S. citizen, permanent resident, or DACA | $500–$5,000 | Last round Jan 5 – Feb 15, 2026; FAFSA required |
Which Scholarships Accept Students With No Immigration Status?
TheDream.US is the largest program open to students with no immigration status. Its National Scholarship pays up to $36,000 in tuition and fees for a bachelor's degree, plus up to $6,000 for books, and its Opportunity Scholarship pays up to $100,000 for students from 14 states. Both 2027–28 rounds open November 1, 2026.
- TheDream.US National Scholarship — up to $36,000 in tuition and fees toward a bachelor's degree (up to $18,000 for an associate degree), plus up to $6,000 for books and supplies. Open to first-generation immigrant students with or without DACA or TPS who came to the U.S. before age 16 and before November 1, 2021, have, or will have by fall 2027, a high school diploma or GED with at least a 2.5 GPA, aren't eligible for federal aid, and attend a partner college. The 2027–28 round runs November 1, 2026, to February 28, 2027.
- TheDream.US Opportunity Scholarship — up to $100,000 toward a bachelor's degree for students who graduated high school in one of 14 states: Alabama, Arkansas, Indiana, Iowa, Louisiana, Maine, Mississippi, Missouri, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Ohio, South Carolina, West Virginia, or Wisconsin. It covers tuition, fees, on-campus housing, and meals at a partner college in another state, and needs a 2.5 GPA. The 2027–28 round runs November 1, 2026, to January 31, 2027.
- QuestBridge National College Match — full four-year scholarships at partner colleges for high-achieving, low-income seniors at U.S. high schools. Partner colleges such as Amherst, Swarthmore, and Boston College say they consider undocumented applicants; check each partner's rules before you rank it.
- MALDEF-listed scholarships — dozens of smaller private and community scholarships that require no SSN, compiled in MALDEF's free guide. Award sizes range from a few hundred to several thousand dollars.
Which Scholarships Require DACA, TPS, or Legal Status?
Some well-funded scholarships do require lawful status. The Hispanic Scholarship Fund accepts only U.S. citizens, permanent residents, or DACA recipients — students with no status do not qualify — and it requires a 3.0 high-school GPA plus a filed FAFSA. Because the FAFSA needs an SSN, these programs are effectively closed without one.
The Hispanic Scholarship Fund (HSF) is the clearest example: its eligibility is limited to citizens, permanent residents, and DACA recipients, applicants need a 3.0 high-school or 2.5 college GPA, and completing the FAFSA is mandatory. Many merit scholarships tied to a specific college or state program carry similar status or FAFSA conditions. If you have DACA, your options widen significantly; if you have no status, concentrate on the tier-one programs above and the community scholarships in MALDEF's guide.
Can Undocumented Students Get Federal Aid or FAFSA?
No. Federal student aid — Pell Grants, work-study, and federal loans — requires U.S. citizenship or an eligible noncitizen status, so undocumented students can't get it. DACA recipients have an SSN and can file the FAFSA, but they still receive no federal grants or loans; states and colleges may use it to award their own aid.
The U.S. Department of Education confirms the FAFSA rules at studentaid.gov. The practical takeaway: federal aid is not the path for undocumented students, but several states run their own aid programs that are open regardless of status. For the full picture of state aid as of October 2026 — California's CADAA, New Jersey, New York, Washington, Oregon, and others — see our guide to financial aid for undocumented immigrants and the California Dream Act.
How Do You Apply for No-SSN Scholarships?
Start by finding scholarships that match your status tier, then apply broadly before deadlines. The MALDEF Scholarship Resource Guide and TheDream.US are the two best starting points for no-SSN awards. Most applications need transcripts, your GPA, and one or two essays. TheDream.US's 2027–28 round opens November 1, 2026.
- Find the awards you qualify for. Start with MALDEF's free guide and TheDream.US. Note which programs require no status (TheDream.US and many awards in MALDEF's guide) versus DACA or lawful status (HSF).
- Confirm your tier. If you have no immigration status, focus on tier-one programs. If you have DACA, you also qualify for HSF and many college-specific awards.
- Gather your materials. Most applications ask for high-school transcripts, your GPA, a personal essay, and sometimes a recommendation letter. No SSN or ITIN is required to apply.
- Track deadlines. Many national deadlines cluster in the fall and winter — TheDream.US's 2027–28 round opens November 1, 2026. Build a calendar so you don't miss cycles.
- Apply broadly. Submit to several scholarships, not just one. Small community awards add up and are often less competitive than national programs.
Once you're enrolled and funded, plan for the costs a scholarship doesn't cover. See how families save ahead with 529 college savings plans, and how graduates handle repayment with our student loan payoff strategy.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do scholarships check your immigration status?
Most private scholarships do not. They evaluate grades, essays, and financial need, and never ask for a Social Security number or proof of status. A minority — including the Hispanic Scholarship Fund — do require DACA or lawful status, so always read each program's eligibility rules before applying.
Can I apply for TheDream.US without DACA?
Yes. TheDream.US funds first-generation immigrant students with or without DACA or TPS. Its National Scholarship requires that you came to the U.S. before age 16 and before November 1, 2021, have, or will have by fall 2027, a high school diploma or GED with at least a 2.5 GPA, aren't eligible for federal aid, and enroll at a partner college. The 2027–28 round runs November 1, 2026, to February 28, 2027.
What is TheDream.US Opportunity Scholarship?
It's TheDream.US award for students who graduated high school in one of 14 states, including Alabama, Indiana, North Carolina, Ohio, South Carolina, and Wisconsin. It pays up to $100,000 toward a bachelor's degree at an out-of-state partner college, covering tuition, fees, housing, and meals. The 2027–28 round runs November 1, 2026, to January 31, 2027.
Is the Hispanic Scholarship Fund open to undocumented students?
Only partly. The Hispanic Scholarship Fund accepts U.S. citizens, permanent residents, and DACA recipients, but not students with no immigration status. Applicants also need a 3.0 high-school (or 2.5 college) GPA and must file the FAFSA, which requires a Social Security number. Undocumented students without DACA should focus on TheDream.US and the no-status awards in MALDEF's guide.
Do I need an SSN or ITIN to accept scholarship money?
No Social Security number is required to apply for or accept most private scholarships; the funds are usually paid directly to your school. An ITIN is a tax number, not a scholarship requirement. Large taxable scholarship awards may need to be reported at tax time, where an ITIN can be used to file.
Where can I find a free list of no-SSN scholarships?
MALDEF publishes a free Scholarship Resource Guide that lists dozens of scholarships open to students regardless of immigration status, flagging which ones require no Social Security number. TheDream.US is the largest program for undocumented students. Update your list each fall, since deadlines cluster around November.