The California Dream Act Application (CADAA) allows qualifying SJSU students to apply for state and university financial
aid. This application is unrelated to the federal Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals
(DACA) program.
Who can apply? students in California who meet the requirements for the CA Non-Resident Tuition Exemption (AB 540, AB 2000, SB 68). This includes students who are undocumented with no social
security number, those with DACA, TPS, T Visa, or U Visa. Students will need to be
enrolled at least half time (6 units or more) to qualify.
CADAA- State and CSU Financial Aid Programs
Cal Grant, Chafee Grant, Middle Class Scholarship
State University Grant (SUG)
CA Dream Act Service Incentive Grant (DSIG) (requires additional application)
If you are a CA Dream Act student that was offered a Cal Grant A and met Cal Grant
B eligibility or Cal Grant B, don’t miss out on $4,500 worth of aid! Apply for The California Dream Act Service Incentive Grant (DSIG) and receive aid upon performing community or volunteer service.
Applying for DSIG:
Consult with the Financial Aid and Scholarship Office to verify that you qualify.
Identify a qualifying community or volunteer service organization.
Here you will find a list of approved organizations for DSIG
Students may also volunteer at any SJSU department that is willing to host a DSIG
volunteer.
Fill out the DSIG application and obtain the appropriate signatures.
Submit the completed form(s) to the California Student Aid Commission (CSAC). Email
the form(s) to studentsupport@csac.ca.gov
Have questions about eligibility requirements? Please reach out to the SJSU Financial
Aid and Scholarship Office or any of our UndocuAlly financial aid advisors.
The 2024-25 California Dream Act Application (CADAA) and the Free Application For
Student Aid (FAFSA) are changing! Priority application window will be from December
2023 - April 2nd, 2024. For more information on how to prepare for the upcoming changes,
check out this financial aid fact sheet [pdf].
Every year students are selected at random for tax verification. If you are selected,
SJSU will be comparing your CADAA with your (and your spouse's, if you are married)
and/or your parent's income tax return, or with W-2 forms, or other financial documents.
Selected students will be assigned to provide the required documents within their
To-Do List in MySJSU.
March 2nd*, is the priority filing deadline for most colleges and universities and
the absolute deadline for submission of your Cal Grant application (CADAA + GPA).
Students are encouraged to submit a CADAA application after the priority deadline
but there is no guarantee that funding will be available. CADAA on file could also
help students access resources or scholarships that would require income information.
* For the 24/25 AY, the priority deadline has been pushed back to April 2nd, 2024.
If a student or parents do not file taxes because they do not have a social security
number or ITIN, and/or did not earn more than the IRS threshold, then a written statement
will be required.
• Married or has dependent • 24 or older • Under 24 and homeless (with proof) • Ward of the court • Veterans of the armed forces • Have children or dependents
Not necessarily. Students are not required to have a Social Security Number to submit
the CADAA. Students without a SSN or students who have lost DACA status (or never
applied for DACA) may be eligible to receive aid.
For undergraduates, SUG is maxed out when a student has attempted to take over 150
SJSU units starting as a freshman or over 75 SJSU units as a transfer.
Graduate students cannot exceed more than 125% earned units of the required program
length.
There could be various reasons why you have not been awarded after submitting the
CA Dream Act Application. Here are some examples of common issues that students encounter with the CADAA.
Also, make sure that you have been approved for the CA Non-Resident Tuition Exemption.