Financial Aid for Undocumented or DACA Students : University of Dayton, Ohio

UD is a Welcoming Community

At the University of Dayton, we work to enrich our community by creating a welcoming and inclusive environment. Every person, no matter their faith or background, is treated with respect and openness. It is this commitment that moves us to ensure that our financial aid process provides equal access to our education for undocumented and DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) students.

Financial Aid Process for Undocumented Students or DACA Students

The University of Dayton is committed to equity in higher education. We demonstrate this commitment by providing opportunities for undocumented students or DACA status students to receive consideration for institutional scholarship, grant and loan assistance.

As an undocumented or DACA student, you will automatically be considered for a merit scholarship, once an application for admission has been submitted and you are accepted to the University of Dayton. Our Recruitment and Admission staff will work with you to make sure we have the necessary information to award you additional institutional assistance.

To be considered for financial aid assistance, additional information is required about your family's financial circumstances. This allows us to understand your family's ability to contribute to your education and determine the level of institutional assistance that we can provide.

Follow This Process for Financial Aid Assistance from UD

Step 1: Complete the Federal Student Aid Estimator online. This tool does not collect any personally identifiable information and the data you share is not stored in any way by the federal government.

To complete this process, gather the following information:
- Year end wage earnings for yourself and your parent(s)
- Asset information for yourself and your parent(s)
- Note: This tool will ask you to indicate your state of legal residence and your parent(s)' state of legal residence; to answer this question, indicate the state where you currently live

Step 2: Submit all required information in the estimator and download a PDF copy of the results from the final webpage.

Step 3: Email this PDF document to Missy Bondy Hasselback, associate director of recruitment and admission, at mbondy1@udayton.edu to request consideration for financial aid eligibility.

Contact Us for Answers to Your Questions

If you have any questions about the admission or financial aid process, you can contact us at admission@udayton.edu.

To learn more about the current student experience of undocumented and DACA students at the University of Dayton, please reach out to our Multi-Ethnic Education and Engagement Center (MEC) at mallen2@udayton.edu.

Commonly Asked Questions

As an undocumented student or DACA student, am I eligible for financial aid?

If an undocumented or DACA student is admitted to the university, and files the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid), you will be considered for university aid. Per federal regulations, students who are undocumented or DACA recipients are not eligible for federal student aid.

Does my parent(s)’ citizenship status affect my eligibility for federal student aid?

No, your parent/s' citizenship status does not affect your eligibility for financial aid.

When should I submit the Federal Student Aid Estimator?

Submit this after you have been admitted to the University of Dayton and no earlier than October 1st.

After I submit the Federal Student Aid Estimator, when will I receive a financial aid offer?

As long as all necessary information has been received, you can expect to receive a financial aid offer by February 1st. If additional information is needed, staff will contact you for follow up.

As an undocumented/DACA student, am I eligible for employment opportunities?

To pursue these employment opportunities and ultimately receive this funding, you must be able to prove your eligibility to work in the United States.