On April 16, 2020, the Presidents’ Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration partnered with New American Economy to release the first full analysis of how many undocumented students are pursuing higher education in the United States: Undocumented Students in Higher Education: How Many Students are in U.S. Colleges and Universities, and Who Are They? The new estimates show there are more than 450,000 undocumented students enrolled in postsecondary education, representing two percent of all postsecondary students–underscoring the urgency for legislative action. Of these students, 216,000 are DACA-eligible (they either hold DACA or would have been eligible for DACA). The report includes the states with the largest number of enrollments, demographic profile of undocumented students, enrollment in public vs. private institutions, and undergraduate and graduate-level enrollment.
Among the report’s top findings are:
- More than 450,000 (approximately 2% of all students) undocumented students are enrolled in higher education;
- 87% of DACA-eligible students are enrolled in undergraduate programs, and 13% of DACA-eligible students are enrolled in graduate-level programs;
- 216,0000 of these individuals hold or are eligible for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA);
- The top five states with undocumented students in higher education are California (92,000), Texas (66,000), Florida (42,000), New York (33,000), and Illinois (21,000);
- 82% of undocumented students are enrolled in public institutions while 18% attend private postsecondary institutions;
- 90% of undocumented students are enrolled in undergraduate programs, and 10% percent of students are enrolled in graduate-level programs; and
- Undocumented students are a diverse population in higher education, with Hispanic students accounting for 46% of undocumented students, compared to 25% for Asian students, and 15% for Black students.
Please see updated brief with 2019 ACS numbers.
Last Updated: April 16, 2020.
