Delaware State University (DSU), a historically black university, and Eastern Connecticut State University (Eastern) announced this month a partnership with TheDream.US that will provide scholarships to undocumented students who face barriers to attending college in their own states.
Numerous states charge DREAMers out-of-state tuition or have laws that prohibit them from enrolling in college, and so the TheDream.US’ Opportunity Scholarship was born. DREAMers get their name from the DREAM Act, a bill first proposed in 2001 to provide a pathway to permanent residency for undocumented immigrants enrolled in college or the military (it has since been reintroduced several times but has failed to pass). In 2012, the Obama administration temporarily shielded undocumented students under 16 from deportation with the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals policy.
Scholarship recipients can receive up to $20,000 per year for four years to earn their bachelor’s degrees. Out-of-state students at DSU can typically expect to pay about $27,000 for tuition, fees, room and board, while at Eastern, it’s about $34,000.
DSU and Eastern were selected for their capacity to admit DREAMers without “depriving CT or DE state students of the opportunity to attend” both institutions. No taxpayer funds will be used.
The goal is to give 500 out-of-state students and 100 CT and DE students the scholarship over the next five years.
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