UNLV is teaming up with TheDream.US, the nation’s largest college access and success program for immigrant youth, to provide scholarships for Nevada’s immigrant youth to achieve their higher education goals.

TheDream.US opens a new round of scholarship applications for the 2022-2023 academic year on Nov. 1. The deadline to apply is Feb. 28, 2022. The organization’s eligibility criteria opens applications to DREAMers who have DACA, TPS (temporary protected status) or who came to the country before Nov. 1, 2016, before the age of 16, and otherwise meet the DACA eligibility criteria.

"At UNLV, we believe every student should be able to pursue their goals through higher education, and we’re pleased to partner with TheDream.US on this important scholarship program,” said UNLV President Keith E. Whitfield. “DACA students face incredible obstacles yet believe in the power of higher education to improve their lives, and we want to do all we can to remove financial barriers and help set them on a path to a bright future.”

The new scholarship round includes eligibility for Nevada immigrant youth to apply to TheDream.US National Scholarship to attend UNLV. The National Scholarship is for DREAMers who are first-time college students or community college graduates attending UNLV to earn a bachelor’s degree. The award covers tuition and fees of up to $33,000 total for a bachelor’s degree. TheDream.US and UNLV expect to award scholarships to about 10 eligible Nevada students for the 2022-2023 academic year.

“For many immigrant students, federal student aid is not an option, so alternate forms of aid, such as scholarships, play a vital role in helping these students achieve their full educational potential,” said Juanita P. Fain, UNLV’s vice president for student affairs and interim chief diversity officer.

In addition to this new scholarship, UNLV offers a range of support programs for immigrant students. Nayelli Rico Lopez is a resource coordinator leading the university’s Undocumented Student Program. She’s also a TheDream.US alumna.

"TheDream.US provided key support to me and other students and in a way validated our dreams and our very existence,” Rico Lopez said. “Just as it did for me, this scholarship will ensure UNLV students are able to stay enrolled and focused on achieving success.”

TheDream.US has more than 70 partner colleges in 19 states and Washington, D.C., that are committed to serving DREAMers and prepared to offer students support services to help them navigate college life, both on and off campus.

“Despite the many obstacles DREAMers face, they continue to persevere and work hard to achieve their education goals and pursue a meaningful career,” said Candy Marshall, president of TheDream.US. “We want to thank UNLV and the rest of our partner colleges across America for giving immigrant youth the opportunity to pursue their higher education and career dreams and contribute to the future of our country.”

About TheDream.US

TheDream.US is the nation’s largest college and career success program for immigrant youth, having provided more than 7,500 college scholarships to DREAMers attending 70 partner colleges in 21 states and Washington, DC. We believe that all young Americans, regardless of where they were born, should have the opportunity to get a college education and pursue a meaningful career that contributes to our country’s future.

Meet TheDream.US Graduates

TheDream.US has over 2,100 graduates who are driven, resilient, and helping move our shared country forward. They are nurses, teachers, authors, computer scientists, research scientists, business entrepreneurs, nurses, policy analysts, social justice workers – all contributing to the social and economic prosperity of this country. Their stories are ones of resilience and determination. Meet some of TheDream.US graduates and learn about their stories.