Information for Undocumented and DACA Students
USC Chan is happy to welcome all student applications to our programs, regardless of immigration or Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) status. Please review the university’s position here:
USC admission, enrollment and tuition policies are not based on your immigration or DACA status. Your admission and enrollment will not be affected if you do not have, or if you lose your, immigration or DACA status. Financial assistance is available for undocumented students who meet certain criteria. Assembly Bill 540 (AB540) eligible students may qualify for additional assistance under AB130 and AB131 (the “California Dream Act”). For more information, please visit dream.csac.ca.gov. (Information from USC Undergraduate Admission.)
Please visit the Undocumented Trojans Online Resource Center to find Campus Resources and Programs for Undocumented, DACAmented, TPS, and Immigrant Students, Faculty, Staff and the Community.
For additional help navigating the admission and financial aid process, please refer to the USC Undergraduate Student Government’s List of Scholarship Resources for Undocumented Students.
USC Chan Mentorship and Application Assistance
If you apply to USC as an undocumented student or DACA recipient, you will apply as an “international student.” This can sometimes be a confusing process to maneuver and we are here to help. Faculty members Dr. Jesús Díaz and Dr. Celso Delgado Jr. are available for undocumented and DACA students to contact any time with questions about USC Chan, our classes, our programs, or to help you through the application process. You can also contact our Director of Admissions, Dr. Arameh Anvarizadeh, with any questions or concerns. If you would like to connect with a current USC Chan student who is a first generation student, undocumented student, or DACA recipient, any of our faculty or our Student Ambassadors can facilitate that for you.
Scholarships and Student Worker Positions
Students with DACA status are eligible to apply to all USC Chan scholarships and student worker positions. You are also eligible to apply to any USC on-campus job, on either the University Park Campus or the Health Sciences Campus (e.g., gym, library, office).
Undocumented students are eligible for all division tuition scholarships, including the Vision Scholarship which was established to provide financial aid to Latinx and/or African American students who exemplify the ideals and characteristics of the American Occupational Therapy Association’s (AOTA) Vision 2025, which states “as an inclusive profession, occupational therapy maximizes health, well-being, and quality of life for all people, populations, and communities through effective solutions that facilitate participation in everyday living.”
Additional USC Resources