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Support for Undocumented Students

We provide staff support for advocacy, resource referral, and social programming for Undocumented Students, Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival recipients and Temporary Protective status recipients.

Our goal is to have students who are navigating the college experience with any of these identities to find community and spaces to feel supported throughout their college experience.  For questions about services or to seek assistance and referrals, we encourage students to schedule appointment.

Financial Aid and Scholarships

NJ FINANCIAL AID FOR DREAMERS - The New Jersey Alternative Financial Aid Application allows undocumented students in eligible New Jersey colleges and universities to apply for state financial aid. For more information on eligibility and application process, Higher Education Student Assistance Authority (HESAA):

Scholarships

Scholarships are a type of financial aid that may be awarded based on criteria such as academic performance, community involvement, leadership skills, talents, cultural identify, or immigration status. Many national scholarship programs are available to students, regardless of citizenship status.  Some university scholarship listings can be found Resources | Resources for Student Success. For information about national scholarships offered outside of the university, please submit an inquiry or schedule an appointment, https://studentsupport.rutgers.edu/requesting-assistance 

Scarlet Guarantee and Garden State Guarantee Eligibility

Undocumented students may be eligible for the Scarlet Guarantee & Garden State Guarantee. Financial eligibility is determined by the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) or NJAFAA (New Jersey Alternative Aid Application.  Students who are not eligible to complete the FAFSA, should explore eligibility for NJAFAA (sometimes referred to as HESAA Application).

The Scarlet Guarantee is for First Year students & Sophomores, while the Garden State Guarantee is for Juniors & Seniors. 

MORE INFORMATION: SCARLET GUARANTEE AT RUTGERS

MORE INFORMATION: GARDEN STATE GUARANTEE AT RUTGERS

Internships

Rutgers Scarlet Service in Washington, DC (RSS-DC) 

What is RSS-DC? The Rutgers Scarlet Service in Washington, DC (RSS-DC) program provides meaningful summer internship experiences to Rutgers University undergraduate students at government offices and public service-orientated nonprofit organizations while expanding their knowledge and skills to be engaged citizens. The program will offer students a variety of professional development opportunities while fostering an appreciation for public service.

Undocumented students are eligible to apply regardless of work authorization.

  • Summer Internship in Washington D.C. 

  • Free Housing

  • Free 3-Credit Course

  • $3800 Stipend provided as a Scholarship on your Term bill

TO LEARN MORE: Rutgers Scarlet Service in Washington, DC (RSS-DC) 

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Rutgers Scarlet Service Internship (RSSI) Program

What is the Rutgers Scarlet Service Internship (RSSI) Program? Rutgers Scarlet Service Internship (RSSI) Program provides select students from Rutgers-Camden, Newark, and New Brunswick with an opportunity to earn up to $5,000 while interning for a minimum of 150-hours over 10-12 weeks during the summer at a public service non-profit organization or direct-service government office. Students also participate in a concurrent virtual, asynchronous internship course designed to explore and engage with the topic of public service while building their career readiness and professionalism skills.

Who is eligible for the program:

Undocumented students are eligible to apply regardless of work authorization.

  • Sophomores and Juniors who will have 61-91 credits completed by the end of the Spring semester.
  • Cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher
  • Applicants must also be able to travel to an internship site in New Jersey, New York City, or Philadelphia region and have a passion for community engagement and/or public service. 

TO LEARN MORE: Rutgers Scarlet Service Internship (RSSI) Program

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RU-NB Dream Scholars Fellowship Program
The Fellowship Program provides experiential learning, professional development, and networking opportunities for students. The program is non-employment based and open to any Dream.us Scholar regardless of work authorization. Projects should further students’ academic interests and/or career development. They may take the form of a paper, performance, or other creative work; a research engagement; a training opportunity; or be purely experiential in nature. All projects must have a designated faculty or staff sponsor/advisor. 

Application Deadline: Applications may be submitted on a rolling basis. Fellows can conduct projects in the summer, fall, or Spring. A Scholar can participate in only 1 fellowship over the course of the program.  

Stipend Amount: Stipends can range depending on the hours agreed upon between the Scholar and the department. A typical range for a project is $800 - $2,000. Stipend amount will be determined prior to beginning your project.  

Eligibility:  

  • Must be a currently enrolled Rutgers University-New Brunswick and be a Dream.us Scholar. 
  • Have a valid Social Security Number or ITIN (Individual Taxpayer Identification Number). If you need to apply for an ITIN: https://www.irs.gov/individuals/how-do-i-apply-for-an-itin
  • Be in good academic standing – 2.5 GPA or above 

TO LEARN MORE: RU-NB Dream Scholars Fellowship Program

PAID OPPORTUNITIES SPRING 2025 - TheDream.US

Work Authorization

Students with work authorization issued by USCIS, which is available to those with immigration status or some form of deferred action (asylum, DACA, TPS, U-Visa, VAWA, permanent residence) as well as those with valid work permit (employment authorization document or EAD) or "green card“  are able to work. Log in to Career Exploration & Success - Handshake to search for on-campus as well as off-campus opportunities.

Dreamers/Undocumented students that do not have DACA are currently not allowed to work on or off-campus. You are eligible to work as an independent contractor, using an ITIN.

Resources for Undocumented Students without Work Authorization
If you do not have work authorization, you are eligible to work as an independent contractor and apply for micro-internships/projects. Check out the following resources on Income Generation for undocumented students without work authorization:

Rutgers Immigration Community Assistance Project (RICAP)

RICAP strives to foster a safe environment on campus and to remove barriers to student success by providing immigration legal services. RICAP hosts community forums, informational Immigration presentations, and Know-Your-Rights training on all Rutgers campuses.

If you're seeking an appointment or have general questions, please contact RICAP:

News & General Resources