The 2025-26 FAFSA and CADAA applications are now open


We understand that students and their families may have concerns about privacy as they complete their financial aid applications. As a California student, here's what you need to know about each type of financial aid application.  

CA Dream Act Application (CADAA)

 

Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) 

 

Who owns your submitted application data? 

California Student Aid Commission

 

Federal Student Aid, Department of Education 

 

Who can file? 
  • Undocumented students 
  • DACA recipients (valid or expired)
  • U-Visa holders
  • TPS holders
  • Mixed-status families* 
  • U.S Citizens
  • Eligible noncitizens
  • Mixed status families* 

 

What kind of aid can I receive?
  • Cal Grant
  • Middle Class Scholarship 
  • UC Grant
  • Other State/University Gift Aid 

Same as CADAA plus: 

  • Pell Grant
  • Other federal grants 
  • Federal Student Loans 

 

*You are a member of a mixed-status family if you are a student who is either a U.S. citizen or a Permanent Resident and you have undocumented family members. 

Remember, FAFSA data is limited to use for financial aid purposes under current law. The California Student Aid Commission (CSAC) has reaffirmed its commitment to protecting student data, and they assure students that information provided on the CADAA is not shared with federal immigration authorities. 

Choosing the right financial aid application for mixed-status families

 

Every student and family has different circumstances that factor into how they choose to pursue financial aid. We strongly recommend that you and your family discuss the best pathway forward for your situation.

If you are part of a mixed-status family—if you are a student who is either a U.S. citizen or a Permanent Resident and you have undocumented family members—it's important to consider the potential risks and benefits of completing the FAFSA. While the Higher Education Act prohibits the use of FAFSA data for immigration enforcement, you may still have concerns about privacy.

Here are some factors to consider when weighing the potential privacy risk of completing a FAFSA:

  • Federal Tax Returns: If an undocumented family member has filed federal taxes, then the federal government has access to their information.

  • Previous FAFSA Submissions: Past FAFSA submissions may be accessible to federal authorities.

  • Immigration History: Any history of deportation or DACA applications contain data that can be used to identify undocumented immigrants.

If your family has submitted this information in the past, it may continue to be accessible to those same government agencies. Submission of a FAFSA, in this case, may not increase the amount of information about your family that is already accessible to the federal government. However, if your family has not had any data exchanged in these or other spaces, then submission of a FAFSA may present new information on the status of your family.

Students from mixed-status families that choose to complete a CADAA will be evaluated for all state and UC-funded aid. Students from mixed-status families may choose to complete a FAFSA to be evaluated for all federal, state, and UC-funded aid.