photo of flower bed in front of building D, the bed has rocks and bushes with white blooms.

You're welcome here!

This page provides information and resources for undocumented students and their families regarding Carl Sandburg College. Sandburg does not discriminate in the admission or financial aid process based on a student's citizenship, residency or immigration status. We are open to and welcome all students. 

Questions? 

If you have questions about the application or enrollment process, please email the Welcome Center or call 309.345.3500, Monday through Friday between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., or between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. during summer hours.

Carl Sandburg College recognizes national holidays, and our campus will be closed:

  • Martin Luther King Jr. Day
  • Friday before Easter
  • Memorial Day
  • Independence Day
  • Labor Day
  • Thanksgiving & the Friday after Thanksgiving
  • Holiday break: December 24 through January 1

How to apply

  • Undocumented students should follow the same application process and procedure as all other students.
  • Sandburg does not require a Social Security number or proof of residency to enroll. Students who do not select that they are a United States citizen or United States permanent resident will not be asked for a Social Security number.
  • When reporting citizenship, students should report their country of citizenship and should not select that they are a United States permanent resident.
  • On the International Supplement page of the application, students should select "No" when asked whether they have or plan to have a valid passport from another country prior to enrollment and will they be in need of a student visa, and answer "No" when asked if they are currently in the United States with a visa.

Alternative Application for Illinois Financial Aid

While undocumented students are not eligible for federal financial aid, in the state of Illinois eligible undocumented students and transgender students may submit the Alternative Application for Illinois Financial Aid to qualify for the Monetary Award Program (MAP) grant. The MAP grant is the state's largest need-based grant program for low-income college students and is disbursed by the Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC). 

You may be eligible to apply for the ISAC's programs if you meet all of the criteria below, based on Illinois statute regarding in-state tuition eligibility:

  • You resided with your parent or guardian while attending an Illinois public or private high school.
  • You graduated from a public or private high school or received the equivalent of a high school diploma in Illinois.
  • You attended school in Illinois for at least three years as of the date you graduated from high school or received the equivalent of a high school diploma.
  • You provide an affidavit stating you will file an application to become a permanent resident of the United States at the earliest opportunity you're eligible to do so.
  • You have not established a residence outside of Illinois.
  • Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA)/DACAmented/Dreamers: A United States policy that allows some individuals who entered the country before their 16th birthday and before June 2007 to receive a work permit and exemption from deportation. DACA students are not eligible for federal financial aid.

  • International: Carl Sandburg College considers a student to be international if they require a visa in order to attend.

  • Residency status: At Carl Sandburg College, there are three residency statuses students are categorized by:
  • Retention of Illinois Students and Equity (RISE) Act: An Illinois policy that allows eligible undocumented students and transgender students who are disqualified from federal financial aid to qualify for the Monetary Award Program (MAP) grant.

  • Undocumented: Refers to students who are not United States citizens or permanent residents of the United States, who do not hold a visa to reside in the United States, and who have not applied for legal residency or are not eligible to do so.