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The Dream US Scholarship offers life-changing financial assistance to students from underrepresented groups. These students do not have access to federal aid and state aid. Also, they sometimes face the harsh reality of paying costly out-of-state tuition. However, the Dream US Scholarship plays a vital role in helping undocumented students make their dreams come true.
The generous scholarship is an initiative of TheDream.Us that provides opportunities for highly motivated students to build their American dreams. The organization receives assistance from more than 70 partner colleges that strive to support students through their higher education.
In particular, these students are young immigrants who came to the United States at a very young age without documentation. To put it another way, TheDream.Us specifically provides scholarships for dreamers who have DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) and TPS (Temporary Protected Status). Thanks to the Dream US Scholarship, they can live and legally pursue their degrees at US universities, community colleges, and four-year universities.
Are you also a dreamer looking for a profound scholarship specifically available for DACA students? Then, look no further! This Dream US Scholarship is for you. Below, we’ve rounded up everything you need to know about this prestigious program. Without further ado, let’s dive right into it.
About the Dream US Scholarship
A Dream US Scholarship is a program designed and administered by TheDream.Us to help undocumented students study at four-year universities and community colleges throughout the United States. The scholarships are for highly motivated students who dream of nothing more than to pursue a college education.
Basically, TheDream.US offers two versions of a Dream US Scholarship: the National Scholarship and the Opportunity Scholarship. You can read the details and spot the differences between the two in the following explanation:
The National Scholarship
A National Dream US Scholarship is for school and community college graduates. The scholarship will cover your tuition and fees up to a maximum of $16,500 for an associate degree and $33,000 for a bachelor’s degree at one of the foundation’s partner schools.
It is also available for an online college option. Each year, you can renew the award. All you have to do is meet the continuing eligibility requirements. However, please note that some recipients may be entitled to an additional stipend of up to $4,000 for four years. If you receive this fund, you can use it to cover your books, supplies, and transportation costs.
The Opportunity Scholarship
On the other hand, TheDream.US creates the Opportunity Scholarships for DACA students living in states where they do not have college access. It may be due to various reasons; it’s either because they face paying out-of-state tuition or because their state will simply not admit them to their universities. You may be eligible for the scholarship if you live in one of the following locked-out states:
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arkansas
- Georgia
- Idaho
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Massachusetts
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- New Hampshire
- North Carolina and North Dakota
- Ohio
- South Carolina and South Dakota
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
Specifically, the Opportunity Scholarship will cover your tuition, fees, on-campus housing, and meals at one of TheDream.Us’ partner colleges. The award amounts to up to $80,000 for a bachelor’s degree. Since it is a renewable scholarship, you may have the chance to obtain it the following year. However, you will have to meet the eligibility requirements for renewal.
Additionally, you can use the Dream US Opportunity Scholarship to attend one of the following TheDream.Us partner colleges if you are eligible for the award:
- Christian Brothers University
- Delaware State University
- Dominican University
- Eastern Connecticut State University
- Trinity Washington University (Women’s College)
The Dream US Scholarship Eligibility Requirements
To qualify for a Dream US Scholarship, please carefully read the following criteria first:
The National Dream US Scholarship Eligibility Requirements
To be eligible for a National Scholarship as a high school graduate, you must:
- Have DACA or TPS.
- Come to the United States before the age of 16.
- Be financially constrained.
- Have graduated or will graduate from a United States high school by the end of the current academic year.
- Be eligible for in-state tuition at the partner college you want to attend.
- Have graduated or will graduate with a GPA of 2.5 or better on a 4.0 scale.
- Intend to enroll full-time in an associate or bachelor’s degree program no later than the following academic year.
- Have not earned more than 21 credits in a community college or a four-year college or university before the fall semester of the current academic year.
On the flip side, please fulfill the following criteria to apply for the scholarship as a community college graduate:
- Have DACA or TPS.
- Come to the United States before the age of 16.
- Be financially constrained.
- Have or will have an associate degree by the end of the current academic year.
- Be eligible for in-state tuition at the partner college you want to attend.
- Have graduated or will graduate with a community college GPA of 3 or better on a 4.0 scale.
- Intend to enroll full-time in a bachelor’s degree program no later than the following academic year.
- Have not earned more than 21 credits in a community college or a four-year college or university before the fall semester of the current academic year.
The Dream US Opportunity Scholarship Eligibility Requirements
You may qualify for this scholarship if you meet the following criteria:
- Have DACA or TPS.
- Came to the United States before the age of 16.
- Have unmet financial need.
- Live in and have graduated or will graduate from high school in a locked out-state by the end of the current academic year.
- Have graduated or will graduate with a GPA of 2.8 or better on a 4.0 scale.
- Intend to relocate to and enroll full-time in a bachelor’s degree program at a partner college in the fall term of the following academic year.
- Have taken the SAT or ACT.
- Earned more than 21 credits at a four-year college or university before the fall term of the following academic year.
The Dream US Scholarship Application
Since the application process for the Dream US Scholarship is relatively straightforward, it should not be difficult for you to navigate it alone. However, we are happy to share with you a step-by-step guide to applying to your chosen Dream US Scholarship:
- First, visit one of these Dream US Scholarship webpages: The Opportunity Scholarship or The National Scholarship.
- Then, click the “APPLY FOR SCHOLARSHIP” button. You will be directed to the application page.
- Create an account or log in to your account to start your scholarship application.
- Next, complete your application by providing some of your personal information, academic information, and transcripts.
- If you are a dependent student, you must submit your financial information and that of your parents. However, if you are an independent student, TheDream.Us only needs your financial information.
- Also, please upload two essays about your career and educational goals and overcoming adversity with each paper not exceeding 750 words.
- Finally, you will see a “COMPLETE” status when all required forms and documents have been received and verified.
TheDream.Us will notify you by email in late April of the following year about whether or not you receive the scholarship. If you receive the scholarship, your next step is to accept the award. Yet, if you decide not to take the prize, please indicate this on the acceptance form and explain why.
Closing Date
Upload all required documents and complete your application by February 28 at 23:59 PST. A good piece of advice is to never miss the deadline. If you do, TheDream.Us cannot consider your application. The same rule also applies to incomplete submissions.
Contact Details
If you encounter any technical difficulties in completing the application, feel free to reach out to scholarship management provider TheDream.Us, ISTS, on any existing channels. You can either email TheDream.US@applyISTS.com or call 1(855) 376-7076.
The Dream US Scholarship Official Website
All in all, apply to or find out more about Dream US Scholarships by TheDream.Us at www.thedream.us. Alternatively, you can always try your luck on other scholarships for DACA students, including the Golden Door Scholarship and many more.
