Student Loans for Immigrants, DACA & Undocumented Students

Last updated: October 21, 2026
By ITINWorks Team

Can DACA or undocumented students get federal student loans?

No. DACA recipients, TPS holders, and undocumented students cannot get federal Direct Loans, because the Higher Education Act limits federal student aid to U.S. citizens, nationals, and eligible noncitizens. Deferred action is not an eligible status, even if you have a Social Security number and a work permit. The same rule also blocks Pell Grants and Federal Work-Study.

The U.S. Department of Education lists the qualifying statuses on its federal student aid page for non-U.S. citizens. Students on F-1 or J-1 visas are also ineligible. If you are not eligible for federal loans, your borrowing options are private lenders and a small number of state programs, covered below.

Being shut out of federal loans does not mean you are shut out of all aid. Several states and many colleges fund DACA and undocumented students through their own applications — see our guide to financial aid for undocumented students before you borrow anything.

Which immigrants qualify for federal student loans?

Lawful permanent residents, refugees, asylees, and people paroled into the U.S. for at least one year qualify for federal student loans under the 2026–27 Federal Student Aid Handbook. Conditional residents, Cuban-Haitian entrants, trafficking victims, and certain abused spouses or children also qualify, while DACA, TPS, and student-visa holders do not.

The full list, including the documents a school uses to confirm each status, is in the Department of Education's 2026–27 FSA Handbook chapter on eligible noncitizens. A U.S.-citizen student is eligible based on their own status, even if their parents are undocumented.

Which private lenders offer student loans to DACA recipients?

Five private lenders say on their own websites that DACA recipients can apply: Earnest, SoFi, Ascent, Sallie Mae, and MPOWER Financing. Earnest and Ascent allow qualified DACA borrowers to apply without a cosigner, while Sallie Mae requires a U.S. citizen or permanent-resident cosigner. MPOWER has paused new loans for 2026 and keeps a waitlist.

The table below reflects each lender's own published policy as of October 2026. A green badge means the lender's site names DACA recipients as eligible; an amber "Confirm" badge means the lender's site does not address DACA directly, so call before you apply. Approval always depends on credit, income, school, and state.

We left out lenders whose own sites do not include DACA borrowers. Funding U's 2026–27 eligibility FAQ, for example, lists only U.S. citizens and permanent residents. We also do not list interest rates: they change often and depend on your credit and cosigner, so check each lender's current rate disclosure when you apply.

Do DACA students need a cosigner for a private student loan?

Not always. Earnest and Ascent let DACA recipients apply on their own credit, and SoFi lists DACA recipients as eligible borrowers without naming a cosigner requirement. Sallie Mae requires every non-citizen student, including DACA students, to add a creditworthy cosigner who is a U.S. citizen or permanent resident. Students with little credit history often need a cosigner to qualify.

Applying alone works only if you have your own credit history and income. Lenders such as Earnest evaluate credit and your ability to manage the payment, which is hard for a 17- or 18-year-old with no credit file. If you plan to build credit before you borrow, our guide to building credit with an ITIN covers secured cards and credit-builder loans.

Before you add a cosigner, check the release rules. Ascent offers cosigner release only to borrowers who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents at the time of the request, so a DACA borrower's cosigner may stay on the loan until it is paid off. A cosigner is legally responsible for every missed payment.

Can undocumented students without an SSN get a student loan?

Rarely. Most private lenders verify identity and credit with a Social Security number, and Ascent requires a valid SSN for its non-cosigned credit-based loans. SoFi accepts an SSN or an ITIN, but it also requires valid immigration documents. Undocumented students without an SSN have better odds with state programs such as California's DREAM Loan and Minnesota's SELF Loan.

State programs are different because they do not check the borrower's immigration status. California's DREAM Loan is awarded through the CA Dream Act Application, and Minnesota's SELF Loan is open to students regardless of immigration status as long as a U.S. citizen or permanent-resident cosigner signs. Both are explained in the next section.

If you have an ITIN but no SSN, your best private-loan path is usually a lender that accepts an ITIN plus a cosigner with an SSN and good credit. Ask the lender, in writing, whether it accepts an ITIN from your specific status before you authorize a credit check. Our ITIN guide explains how to apply for one.

Which states offer student loans to undocumented students?

California and Minnesota run the clearest state student loan programs open to undocumented students. California's DREAM Loan lends AB 540-eligible UC undergraduates with financial need up to $4,000 a year and $20,000 in total, at the federal Direct Subsidized Loan rate. Minnesota's SELF Loan is available regardless of immigration status but requires a U.S. citizen or permanent-resident cosigner.

For the DREAM Loan, filing the CA Dream Act Application each year is what puts you in the running — there is no separate form at UC, according to the University of California. Interest does not accrue while you are enrolled at least half-time, and repayment starts after a 6-month grace period. UC Berkeley reports that AB 681 raised the graduate annual limit to up to $20,500 starting January 1, 2026, subject to funding (UC Berkeley Financial Aid). CSU details are on the CSU financial aid page for AB 540 students.

Minnesota's SELF Loan uses a separate application through your college's financial aid office; the University of Minnesota summarizes the cosigner rule for undocumented students. Most other states that support undocumented students offer grants and in-state tuition rather than loans — check your state in our in-state tuition by state guide.

What are the alternatives to private student loans?

Scholarships, state grants, in-state tuition, and school payment plans are the main alternatives to private student loans for immigrant students, and grants and scholarships never need repaying. In California, CA Dream Act Application filers can be considered for Cal Grants, and national scholarship programs such as TheDream.US fund DACA and undocumented students.

• Scholarships: many private scholarships do not require citizenship — see our list of scholarships for undocumented students.
• State and college aid: several states and many colleges fund undocumented students directly; start with our financial aid guide.
• In-state tuition: qualifying for resident tuition can cut the bill more than any loan helps.
• Tuition payment plans: most colleges let you split a term's bill into monthly installments, sometimes for a small enrollment fee.
• Community college first: two years at a community college, then a transfer, lowers the total you need to borrow.
• Income-share agreements: the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau describes ISAs as a type of credit product or private student loan that is generally covered by federal consumer financial laws, so compare one exactly as you would a loan.

How do you compare student loan offers as an immigrant?

Compare every offer on the same 5 points: the APR, fees, deferment options, cosigner release, and what happens if your immigration status changes. DACA borrowers should also check document rules — Ascent, for example, requires DACA status that does not expire within 6 months of the end of the enrollment period the loan covers.

1. APR, fixed or variable: compare the APR, not just the interest rate. A fixed rate stays the same for the life of the loan; a variable rate can rise.
2. Fees: ask about origination, late-payment, and returned-payment fees, and whether any fee is added to your balance.
3. Deferment and forbearance: check whether payments wait until after graduation, how long the grace period lasts, and what hardship pauses are offered.
4. Cosigner release: find out how many on-time payments are required and whether release is limited to citizens and permanent residents.
5. Status lapse: ask in writing what happens if your DACA or work permit expires mid-loan — whether the lender can stop future disbursements, and whether repayment terms change.
6. Final disclosure: read the lender's final loan disclosure before you accept, and compare it against your school's cost of attendance so you borrow only what you need.

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