Education Support
Education For All!
At Juntos we believe that education, at all levels, is a human right and should be equally accessed by everyone, regardless of status. All of us as human beings have the drive and desire to learn and grow, either through personal experiences or through a formal education process. When you break down just who the “everyone” is that deserves an education, however, you will find out that poor and working immigrants (documented and undocumented) are often left out of the conversation. Immigrant youth do have access to public education, but only until the 12th grade, if they even make it that far. Unfortunately, a large number of our youth do not even graduate from high school. (In Philadelphia, the overall high school dropout percentage is 44%; Latino males make up 57% of that number.) In fact, youth in our community are not all getting access to college, let alone the necessary information to attain a higher education. The issue of immigration status makes college access much more difficult. In addition, college is expensive. If you are a young person who does manage to graduate from high school, one of the major hurdles you will face is whether or not you can afford to go to college. When you add this to that the fact that financial aid is not an option for undocumented youth, college almost seems out of reach.
Interactive Maps of Schools in or around Philadelphia
High Schools In Philly
Looking for Schools in Philadelphia? Take a look around our interactive map and find facts about High Schools in Philadelphia.
Colleges Near Philly
Looking for a University, Community College, or Extra Educational Institutions in, or around Philadelphia? Click around our interactive map of institutions near or in the city, and find quick facts about the costs, and specialties of each!
College Timeline
Getting ready for college is a scary experience for most people, especially if you do not know where to start. Luckily you can use our College Prep Timeline below as a starting point! Make sure to do your own research and talk to your high school counselors as well because they may have even more information.
College Access for Undocumented Youth
In 2012-2013, Juntos joined forces with the Mayor’s Office of Education in Philadelphia to create a comprehensive guide for undocumented students in the city. After months of work, together we created this guide, which dismisses the myths about the process of accessing a college education and helps undocumented students through the process of applying to college.
General Resources
Navigating Finances
College Access for Undocumented Students
Scholarships for Immigrant Youth (DACA & Undocumented)
It can be difficult to think about college when you see the price tag of some schools. Although it is difficult for many undocumented students to receive financial aid from their educational institutions, it is still possible to afford school with other outside scholarships.
Here you will find a list of scholarships that do not inquire about immigration status or ask for a social security number.
Remember that although one scholarship may not seem like a lot on its own, a lot of small scholarships together can add up! Information here is collected from various scholarship websites, which are not guaranteed to be up to date, so please make sure to check on the details yourself.
Here are a couple of websites with lists more extensive than ours. Many of the scholarships we list will be on their lists as well, but their lists also include scholarships that are not available to undocumented students as well as scholarships for folks living in regions outside of Pennsylvania.
Davis Putter Scholarship Fund
The Davis-Putter Scholarship Fund aids people active in movements for social and economic justice. These need-based scholarships are awarded to students who are able to do academic work at the college or university level or are enrolled in a trade or technical program and who are active in the progressive movement.
$15,000 per year
Recipients must reapply each year support is sought. Applications must be submitted no later than April 1. Applicants will be informed of decisions in July.
Deadline for applications March 31st
Is US citizenship required?
No, but applicants must have participated in activities in the United States and be planning to enroll in an accredited program in the US in order to apply. There is a strong preference to award grants to students who are planning on staying in the United States and building the progressive movement here.
The Dream.US Opportunity Scholarship Program
The Dream US Opportunity Scholarship program is a National Scholarship.
The National Scholarship Award will cover your tuition and fees up to a maximum of $16,500 for an associate degree and $33,000 for a bachelor’s degree, at one of our Partner Colleges. Please note, some Scholars may be eligible for an additional stipend of up to $4,000 (or $1,000 per year) for books, supplies, and transportation.
Deadline for application Feb 25, 2021
NAHJ Scholarships
For more than thirty years, NAHJ has been awarding scholarships, totaling more than $1.72 million for nearly 800 students. NAHJ scholarship opportunities are open to college-bound high school seniors, college undergraduates, and graduate students pursuing careers in English or Spanish-language print, broadcast, digital, or photojournalism. Students attending four-year colleges and community colleges in the United States and Puerto Rico with a GPA of 3.0 or better are eligible for the scholarships, with amounts ranging from $1,500 – $10,000.
HSF General College Scholarship
Eligibility: Hispanic students who are enrolled or planning to enroll in a four-year institution the following fall.
Outgoing high school seniors must have a 2.5 cumulative GPA or better; undergraduates, graduate students,a dn community college transfer students must have at least a 3.0 cumulative GPA
Award can range from $500 to $5,000 depending on the student’s academic merit and financial need
Gain access to Scholar Support Services which include career services, leadership development, and pathways
Golden Door Scholarship
Scholarship aimed at enabling undocumented students to invest in their education and future
Each student receives a scholarship empowering them to earn a bachelor’s degree and pursue a dream career -> eligible students may be high school seniors, recent high school graduates, or currently enrolled in a college pursuing an undergraduate degree
Applicants must have DACA, TPS, or be undocumented
Applicants must not be eligible for in-state tuition or federal funding
Scholars are expected to maintain at least a 3.0 GPA each semester
Jack Kent Cooke Foundation Scholarship Program
Cooke College Scholarship Program is an undergraduate scholarship program available to high-achieving seniors with financial need who seek to attend and graduate from university
Each award is intended to cover a significant share of the student’s educational experience - including tuition, living expenses, books, and required fees
Awards vary individually based on the cost of tuition as well as other grants or scholarship they may receive
Up to $40,000 per year to attend a four-year accredited undergraduate school
Ability to pursue any study
Need to be a senior planning to enroll in an accredited four-year college
GPA - 3.5 to apply
Financial need - demonstrate unmet financial need; considers applicants with a maximum annual gross income of $95,000
Los Hermanos de Stanford Scholarship
Los Hermanos de Stanford is a scholarship committed to awarding multiple scholarships ranging from $500 to $1,000 to outstanding Latinx students graduating from high school with plans to attend any 2-year or 4-year institution of higher learning (also applicable for any community college
Scholarship requires proof of enrollment and social security card or tax ID number - open for applicants of any gender and documentation status, however
Support Creativity Scholarships
Support Creativity Scholarship is for passionate creatives in specific majors who wish to develop their skills at higher education institutions in the New York area (NY, NJ, CT, PA)
$1,000 World Undergraduate Scholarship available for dreamers who major in Graphic Design, Illustration, Motion Graphics, Videography, Web Design
No GPA requirement needed
US Citizenship is not required
La Unidad Latina Foundation
Eligibility: must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.8 out of 4.0 scale
Must have current enrollment in an eligible bachelor’s program at an accredited four-year college or university
Must have completed at least one full-time year of study for undergrads…
Must reside in the US
Dr, Juan Andrade Jr. Scholarship For Young Hispanic Leaders
Seeks to recognize Hispanic students who share Dr. Andrade’s lifelong commitment to servant leadership
Applicants receive a non-renewable scholarship:
An academic scholarship ($1,000 for a 4-year institution or $500 for a 2-year institution) for undergraduate students
Students must be enrolled/accepted to enroll as a full-time undergraduate student in an accredited four-year or two-year institution in the US or US territories and demonstrate a verifiable need for financial support - at least one parent must be of Hispanic ancestry
Non-US citizens are eligible to apply (DACA or Undocumented)
Scholastic Art and Writing Awards - Alliance for Young Artists and Writers
The Herblock Award for Editorial Cartoon - Artwork on current events are eligible for $1,000 scholarships
New York Life Award - works about personal grief, loss, and bereavement are eligible for up to $1,000 scholarships
One Earth Award - works about human-caused climate change are eligible for $1,000 scholarships
Portfolio Scholarships - high school seniors submitting a portfolio of six works are eligible for scholarships of up to $10,000
Ray Bradbury Award for Science Fiction and Fantasy - Sci-fi or fantasy writing is eligible for $1,000 scholarships
Civic Expression Award - works exploring political or social issues are eligible for $1,000 scholarships
Best-in-grade - works selected as juror favorites from each grade will receive $500 scholarships
Digital Marketing Scholarship
Award the 10x digital Marketing Scholarship twice annually - we accept applications with essays for those students who are planning to be enrolled or are currently enrolled in a digital marketing, technology, communications, marketing, business, or a related field
Winner receives a - $2,000 scholarship which can be used to pay for tuition, books, or living expenses
Any high school seniors/college undergraduates can apply
Open for those planning to major in a field related to digital marketing
Must plan to take at least 10 credit hours during the fall 2021 semester
Que Llueva Café Scholarship
Scholarship open to student in all states with the attempt of providing an alleviation to the financial burden of going to college for students embroiled in the immigration system
Students evaluated on their personal story (takes into account financial need and other compelling challenges), extracurricular involvement, and academic promise
Open to students who will be a high school/GED graduate who will enroll for the first time in an accredited college or university in the US/PR
