The Hidden Costs of College for Asylum Seekers in California

must apply for protection upon arrival. They can remain in the U.S. while their cases await resolution, a process that can extend for years. The Trump administration’s policies have further complicated this situation, as efforts to expedite deportations have led to many cases being closed before a comprehensive hearing can occur. As of February 2026, over 2.3 million individuals nationwide are awaiting asylum hearings, with California alone having approximately 169,000 pending cases, the second-largest backlog in the country. At that point, the average wait time for an asylum hearing in California was 1,412 days. The Trump administration had halted asylum cases in November, resulting in additional delays, although some cases have since resumed for applicants from most countries. The San Francisco immigration court, favored by asylum seekers for its higher acceptance rates, has seen its number of judges dwindle from 21 to just two due to a combination of resignations and firings, leaving a backlog of nearly 119,000 immigration cases—the highest in California. Moreover, President Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill” introduced new fees for asylum applicants, adding more financial pressure to an already struggling demographic. Applicants are now required to pay a $100 application fee, an annual $100 fee while their case is pending, $550 for a work permit, and $745 annually to renew that permit. A proposed rule by the Department of Homeland Security could also eliminate the possibility for asylum seekers to obtain work permits altogether. During their wait, asylum seekers are cut off from federal aid and various state financial aid programs, including Cal Grants, as mandated by California law. One asylum seeker, referred to as Carol, shared how her ineligibility for financial aid forced her to take time off from school to work. Carol, who arrived in the U.S. at 17 and has been waiting over six years for her case to progress, testified before the Assembly Higher Education Committee in 2023, advocating for AB 888, a bill that would have expanded Cal Grant eligibility to certain asylum seekers. Unfortunately, this legislation did not pass. She recounted her experiences of having to delay her education multiple times, including switching to part-time studies and even taking a semester off to work, which led to periods of homelessness and severe financial hardship. Despite these challenges, Carol managed to graduate from Cal State Long Beach and has since worked as a caseworker with the International Rescue Committee, assisting refugees and asylum seekers. She now aspires to pursue a law degree and become an international human rights attorney. The journey to securing financial aid for asylum-seeking students is fraught with difficulties. Many arrive in California eager to continue their education but quickly encounter significant barriers. Eric Cline noted that all his clients are low-income and typically ineligible for general financial aid. The removal of financial aid options makes college nearly inaccessible. For California residents, undergraduate tuition averages $15,588 at the University of California, $6,838 at California State University, and about $1,380 for 30 units at community colleges. In contrast, non-resident students, including many asylum seekers, face tuition costs of $54,858 at UC, around $20,968 at Cal State, and between $10,140 and $13,560 for 30 units at community colleges, depending on the district. These figures exclude additional fees, housing, and living expenses. Even after establishing residency, the costs remain burdensome. As many asylum seekers arrive as adults and may not have previously attended California schools, they are often ineligible for state financial aid. AB 540, enacted in 2001, exempts undocumented students from non-resident tuition, but only if they have attended a California high school or community college for three years. Eligible students can apply for state financial aid through the California Dream Act Application, which includes Cal Grants and other state aid programs. However, the application process can be confusing for asylum seekers, as their status is not adequately reflected in the application design. For instance, while many have Social Security numbers for work authorization, disclosing this information during the financial aid pre-screening can lead to unclear eligibility outcomes. Asylum seekers often require additional guidance from financial aid counselors, who may themselves lack the knowledge to navigate the complex eligibility rules. Many students turn to undocumented student resource centers on public campuses for assistance. Kaveena Singh, director of immigration legal services at the East Bay Sanctuary Covenant, has even written letters to financial aid offices to clarify the unique circumstances of the few asylum-seeking students she has served. One asylum seeker, referred to as L., qualified for state financial aid through AB 540 but spent six years misunderstanding what aid was available to him. He chose to remain anonymous to protect his pending asylum case. Initially, college was affordable for him, but transferring to a large university dramatically increased his expenses. He frequently visited his university's financial aid office, and it was a relief when he finally completed the California Dream Act Application and received aid for his summer and fall terms. L.’s asylum case has been pending for nine years. He and his family arrived in the U.S. in 2016, fleeing political persecution in China, where his father organized political rallies and his mother faced forced abortion under the one-child policy. L. expressed a desire to return home to reconnect with family and friends, highlighting the emotional toll of living in limbo. Despite the challenges, he is committed to his studies in politics and aims to pursue a career in international relations and human rights. "As difficult as it has been, I hope that one day I’ll have a passport and a green card," L. said. "Helping others avoid similar struggles would be immensely fulfilling for me." Previous attempts to pass legislation aimed at extending financial aid eligibility to asylum-seeking students have faced challenges. In 2019, Senator Ben Allen proposed SB 296, which aimed to make Cal Grants accessible to students with pending asylum applications. The bill garnered some bipartisan support but was ultimately vetoed by Governor Gavin Newsom, who cited potential costs to the General Fund. Allen remarked on the frustration of the situation, emphasizing the lack of data on asylum seekers to accurately estimate costs. The University of California system does not disclose data on asylum-seeking students due to privacy policies, while the Cal State system reported fewer than 500 students with asylum status. In the spring of 2025, a total of 13,507 students identified as “refugee/asylee” within the California Community Colleges, though there is no specific category for asylum seekers. While students can self-report their immigration status during applications, detailed tracking of asylum seekers is absent. Four years after the failure of SB 296, Senator Sabrina Cervantes reintroduced the proposal through AB 888 in 2023, which sought to create a direct pathway for pending asylum seekers to access Cal Grant financial aid. While the bill passed the Assembly unanimously, it stalled in the Senate Appropriations Committee, effectively ending its chances for that year. Cervantes did not respond to requests for an interview but stated in a release that her bill aimed to create a new eligibility pathway for asylum seekers. Newsom’s office did not provide insight on future support for similar proposals, referencing his previous veto message and indicating concern over new expenditures. Allen noted the need for better data to inform discussions on the costs associated with such legislation. The ongoing challenges for asylum seekers in accessing higher education and financial aid underscore the importance of continued advocacy and legislative efforts to address these disparities.