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

You are 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. If you have further questions, the contact information for each office is listed below.

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 in order 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 following page (International Supplement), 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 "No" when asked if they are currently in the United States with a visa.

Questions? 

  • If you have questions about the application or enrollment process, please contact the Welcome Center at 309.345.3500 or welcomecenter@sandburg.edu.
  • The Welcome Center is open Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. (Summer hours Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.).
  • Carl Sandburg College recognizes national holidays campus will be closed: Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, and the Friday after Thanksgiving. Additionally, we are closed each year from December 24 - January 1, as well as the Friday before Easter.

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 in order 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). 

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

  • The individual resided with his or her parent or guardian while attending an Illinois public or private high school;
  • The individual graduated from a public or private high school or received the equivalent of a high school diploma in Illinois;
  • The individual attended school in Illinois for at least 3 years as of the date the individual graduated from high school or received the equivalent of a high school diploma;
  • The individual provides an affidavit stating that the individual will file an application to become a permanent resident of the United States at the earliest opportunity the individual is eligible to do so; and
  • The individual has not established a residence outside of Illinois.

Questions? 

  • If you have questions about the application or enrollment process, please contact the Financial Aid Office at 309.341.5283 or finaid@sandburg.edu.
  • The Financial Aid Office is open Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. (Summer hours Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.).
  • Carl Sandburg College recognizes national holidays campus will be closed: Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, and the Friday after Thanksgiving. Additionally, we are closed each year from December 24 - January 1, as well as the Friday before Easter.
  • Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA)/DACAmented/Dreamers: A United States policy that allows some individuals who entered the country before their sixteenth birthday and before June 2007 to receive a work permit and exemption from deportation. Note, 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 that students are categorized by In-district, out-of-district, and international. In-district means that the student resides within the Carl Sandburg College District #518, out-of-district means that the student resides outside of the Carl Sandburg College District #518 borders, international is defined above.
  • 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.