Undocu-Transfers

A photo of a graduation cap, which reads, "Gracias Dios y mi familia." Translation: "Thank you God and my family."

Undocu-friendly colleges and universities are institutions that provide academic, emotional, career and other resource-based support to undocumented and immigrant students. Some of these campuses have Dream Centers or Undocumented Resource Centers, strong financial aid packages, or have dedicated staff that provide direct support to Dreamers.

Transfer Counseling

It's never too early to begin thinking about your transfer goals. This page provides limited information about the transfer process that is specific to undocumented students. For more comprehensive guidance on the transfer process contact the Miramar College Transfer Center.

Undocu-Guides for Transfer Students

Our friends at Immigrants Rising have put together two quick-reference guides for undocumented students applying to the University of California and the California State University systems as first-time freshmen or as transfer students from a CA Community College. Check them out by clicking the buttons below!

The CSU and UC transfer application deadline is November 30, 2023!

Note: The above guides are up to date for the 2023 application cycle for fall enrollment in 2024.

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Undocu-Friendly Universities

Our staff has reviewed many universities in the Southern California region that accept transfer students to identify those institutions that have undocumented student resource centers or offer substantive programs and services to support immigrant communities.

Below, we have listed institutions in the Southern California region that meet our standard for being an Undocu-Friendly transfer university. Click the name of the university undocumented resource that you are interested in learning more about to be redirected to their website.

Universities followed by a star icon (⭐) are located in the immediate San Diego metropolitan area.

California State University

University of California

Private Universities

Note About Private Universities

Almost all private colleges and universities classify undocumented students as international students for admissions purposes and determining tuition. As a result, undocumented students compete with students from every country in the world for a handful of enrollment slots. These schools consider an undocumented student’s ability to fund their entire four years of college in admissions decisions. The cost of attending a private college for four years can range anywhere from $80,000 to $200,000.

Because of these policies, thousands of qualified and competitive undocumented students are denied admission to private colleges every year. Source: Immigrants Rising Educational Resource Binder.

Out-of-State Universities

California has historically been a very progressive state regarding immigrants and undocumented students in particular. The California state legislature and governor have generally promoted and passed laws that are friendly to the undocumented and immigrant communities. However, this is not a given in many other states. Some states have very conservative views about immigrants going so far as to pass laws that are harmful to undocumented students and immigrant communities in general.

Prohibitive Enrollment

States that explicitly bar (ban) undocumented students from attending public colleges and universities:

  • Alabama
  • Georgia
  • South Carolina

Restrictive Enrollment

States that restrict undocumented students from attending public colleges and universities:

  • Indiana
  • Missouri
  • New Hampshire
  • North Carolina
  • Tennessee
  • Wisconsin

Many other states place limits on undocumented students' ability to attend public colleges and universities and/or access state-funded financial aid. Learn more using the Higher Ed Immigration Portal.

We strongly encourage you to contact our office if you are considering an out-of-state transfer so we can work with the Miramar College Transfer Center to identify the best options for you with respect to your immigration status.