Apply to Cañada College as an Undocumented Student
Welcome to Cañada College!
Everyone has a right to receive an education, regardless of immigration status. The steps to apply and ultimately enroll in classes at Cañada College may be confusing to first generation, undocumented, or immigrant students and to those for whom English is not their first language. That is why we have dedicated staff to support and guide you through the process. If at any point you have questions or concerns, please connect with us!
To view a more detailed and comprehensive step-by-step, please visit our admissions page linked below:
1. Apply to Cañada College
- If it is your first time attending any California Community College (CCC), start by creating an OpenCCC account.
- If you have attended a CCC, you must use the account you created. To log in, proceed to this page: Sign In to OpenCCC
1a. If you are an undocumented student and you are eligible for AB 540, submit a California Nonresident Tuition Exemption Affidavit
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- Submit “California Nonresident Tuition Exemption” affidavit form to Admissions & Records Office.
- More information about AB 540 and eligibility is found in the Pay for College page.
2. Apply to Financial Aid
- If you are eligible for the AB 540 (California Nonresident Tuition Exemption), you should complete and submit a California Dream Act Application in the California Student Aid Commission website.
- If you need assistance with your application, you can seek support from our Undocumented Community Center staff or Financial Aid Office.
3. Attend a New Student Orientation
- To register for an Orientation, call (650) 306-3452.
- Online Orientation is available, you may schedule an orientation through WebSmart.
4. Complete Placement
- The purpose of this process is to assist students in finding English, Math, and English as a Second Language courses that will maximize their success.
- It will look different for students depending on whether they studied in a California or U.S. High School or Foreign High School, so to find more information on the process, visit the Placement Services website or connect with our Welcome Center in the first floor of Building 9 or call (650) 306-3452.
5. Meet with an Academic Counselor
- An Academic Counselor will guide you in developing a Student Educational Plan (SEP) to identifying which classes to register for and figure out a timeline for your time at Cañada.
- To schedule a Counseling Appointment call (650) 306-3452 or visit BLDG 9 Welcome Center to help develop your educational plan, clear pre-requisite requirements and select classes.
- For more information, click on the Counseling Center link.
6. Register for Classes and Pay Fees
- Once you have a SEP and you know what classes to register for, head over to WebSchedule to see details for when/where the classes are being offered and WebSmart to register.
- You can refer to this page for a video with a step-by-step on how to register: Register for Classes
- After you have registered, you may have outstanding fees to pay. You can pay those in WebSmart or by visiting our Cashier's Office.
If the fees are too high and you want to find out more about how you can pay for college as an undocumented student or a student from a mixed status household, visit our other page: