Gaby Pacheco
Since its founding in 2014, the organization has provided more than 11,000 college scholarships to undocumented students attending nearly 80 partner colleges in 20 states and Washington, D.C. The report, titled "From Dreams to Destinations: A Decade of Immigrant Achievements and the Future Ahead," details how these students have excelled academically and professionally despite facing substantial barriers.
"In our wildest dreams, we could not have imagined the outcome," write co-founders Don Graham, Henry Muñoz, and Carlos Gutierrez in the report. "TheDream.US has enrolled 11,000 students in close to 80 Partner Colleges. 76% of those who chose four-year colleges have graduated."
The organization's scholars have consistently outperformed national averages, with a 92% first-year persistence rate and a 76% graduation rate for National Scholarship recipients, compared to the 88% and 72% national averages, respectively. Even more impressive, Opportunity Scholarship recipients, who must relocate to attend one of five partner colleges in states that offer in-state tuition, achieve an 85% graduation rate.
Most of TheDream.US scholars arrived in the United States at a very young age – the median age of arrival is just 4 years old. They come from more than 120 countries, with 86% from Latin America, and pursue degrees primarily in high-demand fields: 28% in science, math and technology; 23% in business; 19% in social sciences; and 16% in health and medicine.
The report highlights a concerning shift in the immigration landscape over the past decade. When TheDream.US launched, most scholarship recipients had protection under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. Today, 75% of scholars are fully undocumented without work authorization, as court decisions have ended new DACA enrollments.
