Undocumented Students
At Highline College, all students are welcome. As long as you are at least 18 years old, or have completed high school, you are eligible for admission to Highline. Below are some resources for Undocumented Students at Highline College.
Request to Pay Resident Tuition Rates
Residency Affidavit
Regardless of citizenship or immigration status, students can be eligible for the resident tuition rate through the Residency Affidavit, if they meet all of the following conditions:
- Earn a high school diploma, GED, or diploma equivalent before your first quarter at Highline College.
- Maintain a primary residence in Washington for at least one year (12 consecutive months) immediately prior to starting your first admitted quarter at Highline College.
- The Washington residence must be for purposes other than college. If you take any courses at another Washington college during the prior 12 months, you cannot have taken more than six credits in any given term. If you exceed that limit, you must prove that you have a Washington residence for non-college reasons.
- Sign an affidavit stating you meet the requirements.
Students who meet all of the above criteria can submit the Residency Affidavit to Admissions (residency@highline.edu) to request a change in residency status.
DACA Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals
Not all DACA students are eligible for the Affidavit; however, DACA students can establish residency and can receive college-bound funding. DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) is an official federal status. DACA involves filing fees, requires renewal and is not a path to citizenship. DACA recipients may be eligible for employment.
Washington State Supports DACA Students
- University of Washington Dream Project
- Highline College Counseling Center
- Seattle Office of Immigration and Refugee Affairs
- Northwest Immigrant Rights Project
- Immigrant Legal Resource Center
- United We Dream
- Informed Immigrant
- National Immigration Law Center
- National Immigration Law Center DACA Page
Undocumented Students and Financial Aid
Students who are undocumented do not qualify for federal student aid. However, Washington’s Real Hope Act expanded eligibility for the Washington College Grant to low-income, non-citizen students. If you are eligible, complete the WASFA (Washington Application for State Financial Aid) to be considered for State Need Grant. All typical Financial Aid deadlines apply.
Resources for Undocumented Students
- Washington State Resident Tuition eligibility
- Washington Application for State Financial Aid (WASFA)
- US Department of Education Resource Guide for Supporting Undocumented Youth