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California Dream Act
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About the CA Dream Act
The California Dream Act of 2011 allows students who meet AB540 criteria to apply for and receive certain state and institutional financial assistance programs.
CSUDH School Code: 001141-00
About the Application
We recommend that all students complete their applications by March 2nd each year because this is normally the priority deadline for both the Free Application for Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and the California Dream Act Application (CADAA).
Important Update for the 2025-2026 CADAA Application: The California Student Aid Commission (CSAC) will open the CADAA on Sunday, December 1, 2024, in tandem with the FAFSA.
2025-2026 Priority Filing Period: December 1, 2024 - March 3, 2025
For students considering enrolling in Graduate or Professional Programs: We also recommend that those considering graduate or professional programs complete the financial aid application by the priority filing deadline, even if they are unsure of which institution they will attend. Completing the application is important because eligibility for financial aid resources can vary between universities.
Can I Apply?
The CA Dream Act is for
- Undocumented students who meet AB 540/AB 2000/SB 68 criteria
- U visa holders
- AB 540 eligible students who hold a Social Security Card obtained through Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA); DACA holders are not eligible noncitizens
Note: AB 540 undocumented students should fill out only one application, the California Dream Act Application, and not the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
What are the AB540 requirements?
The student meet adhere to all of the following AB540 requirements
- Attended a high school (public or private) in California for three or more years
- Graduated from a California high school or attained the equivalent prior to the start of the term (for example: passed the GED or California High School Proficiency exam)
- A student who is without lawful immigration status must file an AB540 Affidavit (California Non-Resident Tuition Exemption Request form) with the college or university stating that he or she has filed an application to legalize his or her immigration status, or will file an application as soon as he or she is eligible to do so.
Complete and submit the packet electronically to the Admission's Office via the California Nonresident Tuition Exemption Dropbox. A link for the Dropbox is located within the form.
What assistance is available to AB540 students?
AB130 (Scholarships)
- AB130 allows students who qualify under AB540 to apply for non-state funded scholarships. This law took effect on January 1, 2012. For more information on scholarships available to students visit the CSUDH scholarship page.
AB131 (Grants)
- AB 131 allows students who qualify under the AB540 to apply for and receive state-funded financial aid such as institutional grants, community college fee waivers, Cal Grant, and Chafee Grant. This law took effect on January 1, 2013.
- Students may be selected for institutional verification of their application data. This will require the student to submit verification documents, such as information on household size, number in college, income verification, selective service verification for males, etc.
Assembly Bill (AB) 2000 and Dream Act Application
- Beginning January 1, 2015, AB 2000 amended the school attendance requirement of AB 540 and designated that if a student has not attended a California high school for at least three years, that portion of the eligibility criteria may be replaced by the following:
- Attainment of three (3) years' worth of high school credits from a California high school (equivalent to 3 or more years of full-time high school coursework); and
- A total of three (3) or more years of attendance in California elementary or secondary schools, or a combination of those schools (the years do not have to be sequential)
Senate Bill (SB) 68 - Expanding Assembly Bill (AB) 540
- Beginning January 1, 2018, SB 68 further expanded the school attendance requirement, giving more students the ability to apply for financial aid through the California Dream Act Application. Students are now able to attain the requirement of three (3) or more years of credits or full-time attendance at these additional institutions based on unit completion or class hours per year:
- California adult schools established by any of the following entities:
- A county office of education
- A unified school district or high school district
- The Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation
- Campuses of the California Community Colleges
- Students who don’t graduate from a California high school may also:
- Attain an associate degree from a campus of the California Community Colleges
OR - Fulfill the minimum transfer requirements established for the University of California (UC) or the California State University (CSU) when transferring from a campus of the California Community Colleges
- Attain an associate degree from a campus of the California Community Colleges
- California adult schools established by any of the following entities:
How do I apply?
The Priority Application Filing Period for the 2025-2026 academic year will be December 1, 2024 - March 3, 2025. Apply online at dream.csac.ca.gov.
Students who wish to apply for the Cal Grant programs in addition to CSU State University and EOP Grants, should submit their application during the Priority Application Filing Period.
*State applications with deadlines that fall on a Saturday, Sunday, or holiday will be accepted on the next business day.
Notable Changes You Should Know
Application Timeline
- CADAA will be released on the same date as the FAFSA – December 1, 2024
- CADAA’s priority deadline will be March 3, 2025
Change from Expected Family Contribution (EFC) to Student Aid Index (SAI)
- The Student Aid Index (SAI) is now being used in place of the Expected Family Contribution (EFC).
Inclusion of Race/Ethnicity/Gender questions
- The questions are an option and will not impact a student’s financial aid eligibility. The information obtained will be used for CSAC research purposes only.
AB 540 Affidavit inclusion
- Following the progress of Assembly Bill 1540, CSAC will include the questions for the determination of nonresident tuition exemption (commonly referred as AB 540 Affidavit) within the CADAA and provide a way to allow institutions to collect a student’s answers to the AB 540 affidavit.
- NOTE: Colleges and universities will continue to make the final determinations of AB 540 eligibility.
Multi-year tuition increase for the CSU
On Sep 13, 2023, the California State University (CSU) Board of Trustees approved a multi-year tuition increase that began with the 2024-2025 academic year. Please note that the tuition increases apply to all 23 CSU campuses. As part of the CSU system, CSU Dominguez Hills must also manage this increase for the next academic year.
For more information, please view the Multi-Year Revenue Sustainability plan.
Benefits for Current & Prospective Students
The multi-year tuition increase will benefit current and prospective students in three important ways:
- Provide the necessary resources for each university to further the CSU’s core values of
equitable excellence and access; - Provide tuition stability and predictability for students and parents; and
- Enhance financial aid and affordability for those students with the greatest financial need.
What does this increase mean for you and your aid?
Full time undergraduate students saw a tuition increase of $342 for the 2024-2025 academic year, or $171 per term. The tuition increase took effect in the 2024-2025 academic year. Visit the Multi-Year Tuition Increase FAQ website to view the new tuition rates from academic year 2024-25 through 2028-29.
Undergraduate students eligible for California state financial aid programs such as the State University Grant (SUG) and Cal Grant (CG) saw an increase of $342 for the 2024-2025 academic year to cover the total tuition increase. Meanwhile, the Middle-Class Scholarship (MCS) covered a portion of the tuition increase. Students eligible for federal financial aid programs such as the Pell Grant and the Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG) will not see an increase in these federal aid programs to accommodate the tuition increase. Pell Grant and FSEOG are federally funded, and do not cover increases to state tuition. In addition, please note that Pell Grant and FSEOG eligibility are based on your student need and enrollment status.
What do you need to do?
We encourage you to continue to apply for financial aid by submitting the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or California Dream Act Application (CADAA) each year until you graduate with your degree.
- 2025-2026 Priority Filing Period: December 1, 2024 - March 3, 2025
Remember to always apply as soon as the applications become available so that your eligibility can be determined, and you receive the maximum amount of financial aid.