Prospective Students & Families
William & Mary offers a number of resources for prospective students with special immigration status.
W&M Admissions
- Undergraduate Admission: See DACA & Undocumented Applicants for details on how to apply as a student with special immigration status. The page provides tips on what to enter in the Common App.
- Graduate Admissions: Admission to graduate and professional programs is handled by each program. Contact the program director for more information.
Financial Aid
- Undergraduate Applicants: Students with DACA are encouraged to fill out the FAFSA and CSS Profile to be considered for need-based financial aid. W&M has a long-standing commitment to affordability for in-state Virginia residents. The Office of Financial Aid handles undergraduate financial aid related questions.
- Graduate Applicants: Graduate financial aid is handled by the respective school or program. Applicants are eligible for graduate assistantships and scholarships.
Domicile (In-State Tuition)
- Students with DACA may qualify for in-state tuition. In-state versus out-of-state tuition rates are determined by domicile under the University Registrar’s Office. To be eligible for in-state rates, an individual (or the parent, legal guardian, or spouse who provides financial support) must demonstrate residence in Virginia and an intent to remain in Virginia indefinitely to establish domicile in Virginia, then maintain domicile in Virginia for at least 12 months preceding the first day of classes. Under special circumstances Virginia domicile code allows us to consider a dependent student’s domicile separately from that of the parents when appropriate.
- The University Registrar handles domicile (in-state tuition) questions and applications.
- Any questions about domicile eligibility should be directed to the Registrar's Office at [[domicile] or 757-221-2800.
William & Mary Support
- Center for Student Diversity - The Center for Student Diversity serves as a vital link where students from diverse backgrounds can find a sense of community and everyone can learn about the diversity of our community.
- WMFIRE - WMFIRE addresses obstacles faced by immigrant, migrant, and undocumented community members through education, empowerment and action.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does W&M support students with Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) status?Applicants who have DACA status may be admitted to W&M for undergraduate or graduate study through standard admissions processes and under Virginia law. Those who meet domicile requirements may be granted in-state tuition rates consistent with guidance from the Virginia Attorney General's Office. Students at W&M are eligible for all campus services, regardless of immigration status. These include academic support through the Office of Undergraduate Academic Affairs and confidential counseling through the W&M Counseling Center. With regard to the release of any information about students, William & Mary safeguards information consistent with state and federal law, most notably the Federal Educational Records Privacy Act (FERPA). Accordingly, information regarding a student’s citizenship or immigration status is not released to any person, organization or government agency, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), except as required by law. This means that such information will not be disclosed in the absence of a state or federal law requiring the university to provide such information; a valid subpoena; or a court-issued warrant for that specific information. |
How do laws like FERPA restrict W&M’s ability to divulge information on DACA students?The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) is a federal law that protects the disclosure of education records of all students to outside parties, including federal agents, without permission from the student, unless there is a valid judicial warrant, subpoena, court order or other legal requirement to do so. All William & Mary employees are required by law to abide by FERPA. Education records, under FERPA, are documents, files, and other materials that contain information directly related to a student and are maintained by the university. Information protected under FERPA includes a student’s class schedules, information on family members, information on citizenship or immigration status, and other such information. The protections under FERPA apply to all students who are or have been in attendance at W&M, regardless of citizenship or immigration status. This includes students with DACA status. FERPA does permit the disclosure of information deemed by the university to be "Directory Information" without written consent. At William & Mary, directory information does not include citizenship or immigration status. However, students may prohibit the release of directory information by completing the Request for Confidentiality Form (pdf). This request will remain on file indefinitely until written notice is submitted by the student to remove the confidentiality request. Like nearly all public institutions in the country – including all state universities in Virginia – William & Mary has not declared itself a “Sanctuary Campus.” As a state institution, if there are changes to federal policy regarding DACA, the university will look to Virginia’s Attorney General for guidance. William & Mary will continue provide students who have special immigration status with appropriate supports. *Note: For students in F-1 or J-1 non-immigrant status (i.e. on “student visas”), the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 (IIRIRA) requires that certain information be provided to the Department of Homeland Security. Students agree to this disclosure of information when they sign their I-20 or DS-2019 Form (visa eligibility certificates). This exemption to FERPA only allows the disclosure of certain information for students in F-1 and J-1 status to the Department of Homeland Security. It does not apply to students in any other status, including DACA status. Their information is protected by FERPA in the same manner as a student who is a U.S. citizen or U.S. permanent resident. |