Dream Scholars

California Assembly Bills 130 and 131 are known as the CA Dream Act.The California Dream Act allows undocumented and nonresident documented students who meet the certain provisions to apply for and receive private scholarships funded through the public universities, state-administered financial aid, university grants, community college fee waivers, and Cal Grants.

The CA Dream Act Application is used by undocumented students who meet the eligibility requirements of AB 540. Nonresident documented students file the FAFSA. AB540 status must be confirmed prior to receiving an award. Refer to Applying for more information.

You may be granted an exemption from the non-resident tuition fee by meeting all of the following criteria:

• Attended a high school in California for three or more years*
• Graduated from a California high school (or attained the equivalent)
• Enrolled, or is in the process of enrolling, at a University of California campus after January 01, 2002
• Must not be a nonimmigrant as defined by federal immigration law
• Must complete an Application/Affidavit stating that if they do not have a lawful immigration status, they have filed an application to legalize their immigration status or will file such an application as soon as they are eligible to do so

*AB 2000 - Exemption from Nonresident Tuition: AB 2000 amends the school attendance requirement of AB 540. Under AB 2000, if a student has not attended a California High School for at least three years that portion of the eligibility criteria may be replaced by the following:

• Obtaining three years' worth of high school credits from a California High School (equivalent to 3 or more years of full-time high school coursework)
• A total of 3 or more years of attendance in California elementary or secondary schools, or a combination of those schools (the years do not have to be consecutive)

California high school students seeking an exemption under AB540 must first complete all questions on the Statement of Legal Residence (SLR) form and submit it to the Residency Deputy before they may be considered for an exemption from non-resident fees.

• To access the SLR, new students must have first submitted their Statement of Intent to Register (SIR)
• Upon submission of your SLR, a confirmation page will display with important information for you to read
• If you are eligible for AB540, the confirmation page instructions will request that you complete the Application/Affidavit (PDF) and mail it to the address listed on the page along with a copy of your high school transcript
• It will generally take a few weeks for your status to be updated
• For more information go to UCOP - AB540 Frequently Asked Questions

Cal Grant

Cal Grants are administered by the California Student Aid Commission (CSAC). Refer to Grants for more information.

UC Grants

This grant is made available by the University of California. It is awarded to undergraduate students who are considered on-time applicants and who are determined to have sufficient financial need. Refer to Grants for more information.

Blue and Gold Opportunity Plan

It is a Financial Aid Initiative for University of California undergraduate students. The goal of the new “Blue and Gold Opportunity Plan” is to ensure that UC system-wide fees do not deter the half of California households with incomes below $80,000 from aspiring to a UC education. Refer to Grants for more information.

University Scholarships

Refer to Scholarships for more information.

Private Scholarships

Refer to Scholarships for more information

UCSB Work- Study

Work-Study is a need-based form of Financial Aid that you earn through on- or off-campus employment and receive in the form of a paycheck.

Students who submitted a DREAM ACT application and are eligible to receive Work-Study can activate this award only if they obtained a social security number after the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) granted them Deferred Action Status and received an Employment Authorization Card, otherwise known as DACA recipients.

Additionally, all qualifying Work-Study recipients must maintain a minimum study load of six (6) units each quarter.

Refer to Work-Study for more information.

Middle Class Scholarship

The Middle Class Scholarship provides undergraduate students with a scholarship to attend the University of California or California State University. Families with incomes up to $150,000 and a maximum annual household asset amount of $150,000 are eligible for the Middle Class Scholarship. Refer to Scholarships for more information.

Loans

The California Dream Loan Program provides eligible undocumented AB 540 undergraduates with the option to borrow loans to help cover the cost of attending UC.
To be eligible for the CA Dream Loan students must have financial need and be enrolled at least half time at UCSB.

Through the CA Dream Loan Program applicants may receive a maximum of $4,000 per academic year, however offered amounts will be determined from year-to-year based on funding. Additionally, applicants can receive a maximum of $20,000 in CA Dream Loans at UCSB throughout the duration of their academic career. 
 
 
The CA Dream Loan's interest rate matches the Federal Direct Subsidized Stafford Loan interest rate for the given academic year. For 2016-2017 that rate is 3.76%. Interest will not accrue on the loan as long as the applicant maintains a half-time enrollment status (between 6-8.9 units). Once the applicant graduates, or ceases to be half-time, there is a 6-month "grace period" before repayment begins. For additional information regarding the CA Dream Loan Program, visit the University of California website.


How to Accept the Loan

You can start the process by accepting your CA Dream Loan through My Aid Status.

Early January

Dream Act Application becomes available. OFAS begins receiving CA Dream Application information from the California Student Aid Commission. Check your status on Tab 2 of My Aid Status.

March 2nd

• CA Dream Act Application Priority Filing Deadline
• Cal Grant GPA deadline

Mid-March

Continuing Students

Financial Aid Verification begins. We begin sending requests for required documents for students who are selected for verification. Check your status on Tab 3 of My Aid Status.

Newly Admitted Students

• Unofficial Financial Aid Award Letters available through Admissions
• Required documents will be added to Tab 3 of My Aid Status for students who are selected for verification after a Statement of Intent to Register (SIR) is submitted
• Submit Statement of Legal Residence (SLR) and begin the AB540 process with the Office of the Registrar

Early Summer

Financial Aid Award Letter (Tab 4): We will begin awarding aid for the 2015-2016 academic year once the student’s AB540 status is confirmed. This process will continue throughout the summer, as students submit required documents. This is our highest volume processing season, and you should not expect to receive an award letter for at least a month from the time you submit required documents.

Mid-August

Disbursements (Tab 7): OFAS will begin crediting funds to your UCSB BARC account. Grants and Scholarships are automatically credited.

Late September

• BARC Office begins generating refunds for the Fall term
• Fall quarter begins

Dream Scholars Resource Team

The Dream Scholars Resource Team mission is to develop an awareness and understanding of the experiences of undocumented and AB 540 eligible students and to develop campus responses and processes to address their needs related to persistence, retention, and graduation.

Visit the Student Affairs Dream Scholars page for more information.

IDEAS (Improving Dreams, Equality, Access, and Success) Student Organization

IDEAS was established in 2006 by undocumented students that felt an absence in representation on the UCSB campus and longed for a support group. IDEAS provides financial, academic, and emotional support to all of our students through scholarships, workshops, and by simply having a safe place for undocumented student to share their experiences.

Visit the IDEAS Facebook page or e-mail IDEAS for more information.