Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects
Date of Degree
6-2026
Document Type
Master's Capstone Project
Degree Name
Master of Arts
Program
International Migration Studies
Advisor
Philip Kasinitz
Subject Categories
Migration Studies
Abstract
This capstone project argues that financial aid policies in the United States create a system of structural inequality that systematically denies Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients’ equitable access to higher education. Drawing on peer-reviewed scholarship, federal policy data, and large-scale survey research, this paper demonstrates how the categorical exclusion from federal financial aid, inconsistent in-state tuition laws, and recurring DACA renewal fees form an interlocking barrier with profound psychological and economic consequences for a population that is deeply integrated into American society. These compounding barriers force students into a framework of constrained rationality, distorting their academic major choices toward vocational fields out of financial necessity rather than personal interest. Ultimately, this capstone concludes that these exclusionary policies are not only inequitable but economically counterproductive, suppressing the documented contributions of a population whose undocumented status was never their own choice. Targeted reforms at the federal, state, and institutional levels represent both a moral obligation and a sound public investment.
Recommended Citation
Jordan, Teresa D., "Access Denied: Financial Aid Inequalities and the Economic Impact on DACA Students" (2026). CUNY Academic Works.
https://academicworks.cuny.edu/gc_etds/6660
