Undocumented Students
Does Northwestern accept applications from undocumented students?
Yes. Northwestern accepts first-year and transfer applications from undocumented students.
Is it necessary for undocumented students to have Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival (DACA) status in order to be considered for admission?
No.
Is there any advantage in the admissions process for undocumented students who have DACA versus those who do not?
No.
Are DACA/undocumented students considered in the "domestic pool" of applicants? If not, are they considered in the "international pool" or a separate "undocumented pool"?
All applicants are considered in the same highly selective admission pool.
Do DACA/undocumented students have the same rate of acceptance as domestic students?
We do not separate and publish statistics for any individual population of students.
Does financial need impact admission for DACA/undocumented students?
For the vast majority of our applicants, including DACA/undocumented students, we review their candidacies without regard to how much financial aid they may need, and we can admit any student regardless of how high their demonstrated need.
Does Northwestern meet the full financial need of admitted DACA/undocumented students?
Northwestern conducts a holistic review of each student’s economic situation. Students do not have to commit to Northwestern without seeing their aid decision as long as they file the appropriate applications in a timely fashion. There are some cases where the families might be expected to make up for federal and state aid.
For more information on applying for aid, please see our Undergraduate Financial Aid website.
What resources does Northwestern have for DACA/undocumented students?
Northwestern welcomes students who identify as undocumented or who have DACA status. For more information on how Northwestern supports students, head to the Student Enrichment Services page for DACA and undocumented students.