Undocumented Students

Monarch butterfly with Migration is Beautiful tagline

At 51�Թ��, justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion are core values shaping every aspect of the community. These principles are embedded in the heart and soul of our institution and guide our commitment to providing access to education for all students, regardless of immigration status.

Below are several ways to help you fund your education at 51�Թ�� State. Explore these opportunities, and if you have questions, please contact , Assistant Director of the Student Navigation Center (SNC), who is here to support you and answer any questions. We want you to succeed and invite you to reach out anytime.

Below are several ways to help you fund your education at 51�Թ�� State. Explore these opportunities, and if you have questions, , assistant director of our Student Navigation Center (SNC), is here to support you and answer any questions. We want you to succeed and invite you to reach out anytime.

Massachusetts High School Completer Tuition Equity Program

Undocumented, non-U.S. citizens may be eligible to pay the in-state tuition and fee rate at 51�Թ�� State through the .

Eligibility Requirements

To be eligible, students must meet the following criteria:

Are an undocumented, non-U.S. citizen
Attended a Massachusetts high school for at least three (3) years
Graduated from a Massachusetts high school or earned the equivalent, such as a GED or HiSET in Massachusetts
All males (citizen or non-citizen) ages 18-25 are required to .

51�Թ�� State's Reclassification Process

If you believe you meet the eligibility requirements for the Tuition Equity Program and would like to be reclassified as an in-state student to pay in-state tuition, please email your completed to navcenter@salemstate.edu for verification. The SNC team will process the document and contact you about changes to your student account and the next steps (if any).

Retroactive reclassifications for Massachusetts state financial aid decisions are limited to the beginning of the semester when final reclassification decisions are made.

TheDream.US National Scholarship

51�Թ�� State is a proud partner of . This scholarship could provide up to $33,000 to highly motivated undocumented students who are eligible for in-state tuition in their home state but still have significant, unmet financial needs to earn their bachelor's degree. Some students may receive an additional stipend for books, supplies, and transportation for up to $6,000.

The National Scholarship application opens annually on November 1! The 2026-2027 aid year application deadline is February 28, 2026.

podría darte hasta $39.000 para matrícula, tarifas, libros y materiales para que logres obtener tu licenciatura en la Universidad Estatal de 51�Թ��—¡pueden solicitar tanto estudiantes actuales como nuevos y transferidos!

A pode lhe dar até $39.000 para matrícula, taxas, livros e materiais para obter seu título na Universidad Estadual de 51�Թ��—podem aplicar tanto alunos atuais como novos e transferidos!

Students with a Family Household Income of $75,000 or Less

The Remarkable 51�Թ�� State Difference is a new financial aid initiative that ensures free tuition and mandatory fees for in-state undergraduate day students with a family household income of $75,000 or less and who have demonstrated financial need.

51�Թ�� State will cover the full cost of tuition and mandatory fees only for eligible students through a combination of state and institutional aid, including:

State programs like and Expansion
Institutional aid and scholarships from 51�Թ�� State

Students do not need to complete additional forms to be considered for funds from The Remarkable 51�Թ�� State Difference initiative; eligibility is determined during the financial aid process.

Undocumented students must complete the as an alternative to the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) by May 1, 2026, to be considered for funds from The Remarkable 51�Թ�� State Difference initiative.

Costs such as housing, books, or travel are not included. Additional financial resources may be available to help with these costs.

Eligibility Requirements

To be eligible, students must meet the following criteria:

Be a first-time or transfer student pursuing their first bachelor's degree
Applies to undergraduate day students starting or transferring in the Fall 2026 term
Massachusetts resident for at least one year
Household income of $75,000 or less
Full-time undergraduate day student (12-18 credits)
MAFSA for undocumented students completed by May 1, 2026
Demonstrated financial need

Under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1947 (FERPA), a student’s personally identifiable information is protected from being shared with third parties. This means that the university generally cannot share any information that is considered an “education record” without your permission. FERPA protections are, however, subject to some limited exemptions, such as information requested through a subpoena or court order. Another exemption includes information that is considered by the university to be “directory information.”

In addition, Institutions are expected to refrain from unnecessarily obtaining information about a student’s immigration or citizenship status without a reason and only to the extent needed to determine tuition and financial aid eligibility. Institutions also train all faculty and staff on privacy policies.

This guide serves as a comprehensive resource for undocumented students and their families considering applying to colleges and universities in Massachusetts.

Are you a current 51�Թ�� State student, faculty, or staff member looking for information or community resources?

51�Թ�� State's Inclusive Excellence office has created an interactive and engaging Canvas dashboard exclusively for our community to provide accessible and reliable support.

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