Financial Support

If you are a DACA student, an undocumented student, or a student with temporary protected status, and you’re looking for support, please contact Queena Hoang, quhoang@usc.edu. She is the Coordinator of the USC First Generation Plus Center and the point of contact for coordinating efforts and opportunities across campus that support immigrant and international students. Your conversations with her will be confidential. She can connect you with resources regarding financial aid, academic and housing issues, confidential advising, and legal support.

Financial Aid

USC appointed Financial Aid Outreach Associate Dean Diane Anchundia (213-740-5445) to help undocumented students with their financial aid needs.

A number of scholarships are available to undocumented students such as the Norman Topping Student Aid Fund, you can find them on the USC Scholarship Application System which includes a list of all currently available scholarships at USC. For a list of all Scholarships, including the ones with a past deadline, you can view them here. Additional opportunities are available at the USC Awards and Fellowships Database managed by the office of the Provost.

Here are some additional scholarships available at USC:

The USC Marshall Continuing Student Scholarship Program

The USC Latino Alumni Association Scholarship

DACA Renewal Fee

Through funding from the USC Graduate and Undergraduate Governments and private donations, DACAmented USC students can receive a DACA renewal fee scholarship. USC only covers the DACA renewal fee for USC students, but not for family members and Staff. Siblings of DACA/Undoc students can still receive legal advice and assistance with the legal aspects of DACA renewals from the USC Immigrant Legal Assistance Center. These funds are managed by the First Generation Plus Center.

Emergency Funds

The Graduate Student Government Emergency Fund

The Graduate Student Government Emergency Fund program is designed to help graduate students with unforeseen expenses arising from a crisis. The fund offers limited help as a stop-gap measure in an emergency situation. The funds are not a secondary form of college financing. The funds are provided to quickly address financial setbacks, and to help students stay focused on their coursework while progressing toward graduation. The funding limit is $700 per student per academic year.

The fund covers the following expenses:

DACA renewal fees
Sudden significant medical expenses
Loss of housing due to natural disaster
Travel expenses, or other expenses accrued, related to a recent natural disaster
Asylum legal fees for those who have faced or fear persecution based on religion or sexual orientation, among other criteria, if they return to their country of origin
Extra travel costs associated with the White House travel ban
Legal and/or health fees for victims of sexual assault and violence

Emergency Loan Fund

The Emergency Loan Fund is open to DACAmented to TPS students struggling with severe financial hardship for which they have an immediate need for financial assistance may request an emergency loan from Campus Wellness and Crisis Intervention (CWCI). CWCI may approve loans of up to $250 per student. For loans larger than $250, upper administration will review the request.

Annenberg Student Emergency Aid Fund

Student Emergency Aid Awards are distributed to students experiencing unforeseen circumstances and emergencies impacting their’ ability to pay tuition or cover everyday living expenses. Awards will be given on a first-come, first-served basis. Awards are given in the form of a one-time stipend.