Student
Application

Applications for the Spring 2025 program are open, and close on December 15, 2024.

Who We Are

Freedom University is a safe educational space for young people, age 17-25, who identify as undocumented immigrants. We welcome students with Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) or Temporary Protected Status (TPS), undocumented students ineligible for DACA, and survivors of human trafficking. We do not charge tuition of any kind and do not discriminate on the basis of race, national or ethnic origin, economic background, religion, disability, sexual orientation, or gender identity. We accept up to 25 students each semester based on a written application and video-conference interview, and require that our students commit to attending all weekly classes, supporting one another, and never giving up on their dream of attending college. Please see our list of courses from previous semesters.

When We Meet

Before the pandemic, we met in a confidential location in central Atlanta on Sunday afternoons. Since March 2020, we met on group video conferencing on Zoom to observe CDC social distancing guidelines. We teach using a hybrid model, with in-person classes on Saturdays and online classes on Sundays.

On Saturdays, we hold in-person mental health and arts courses, and monthly community leadership trainings called “Encuentros.” On Sundays, we hold online courses in human rights, college preparation, and STEM. Due to the low access to health insurance in the undocumented community, and the high percentage of students living in multi-generational homes with elders and unvaccinated children vulnerable to infection, all staff, students, and faculty must provide proof of COVID-19 vaccination and wear masks to participate in our courses, college tours, and community engagement programs.

Our Spring 2025 courses will take place on Saturdays and Sundays from January 18 - May 18, 2025.

Spring 2025 Course Schedule (January 18 - May 18, 2025)

January 18: Welcome Day and Orientation, 2:00-5:00pm

Sundays (Online, starting January 19)

1:00-2:15pm: STEM Course

2:15-2:30pm: Break

2:30-3:45pm: Human Rights

3:45-4:00pm: Break

4:00-5:15pm: College Prep: Academic and Creative Writing

Saturdays (In-Person, starting January 25)

1:00-2:00pm: In-Person Office Hours

2:00-3:00pm: Mental Health

3:00-3:30pm: Break

3:30-5:00pm: Arts

5:00-7:00pm: Monthly “Encuentro” Community Leadership Trainings (February 15, March 15, April 19)

(If you need a ride to class, please contact our Student Coordinator, Gabriela Solis)

*All information submitted is confidential and will only be seen by two Freedom University staff members. Please include your mailing address, as we will deliver books and materials to students prior to the first day of class.

What To Expect

Freedom University is an underground school that balances the liberatory goals of a freedom school with the tangible goals of a college preparation program. While students do not receive college credit for their coursework at Freedom University, students do take CLEP courses that prepare them for the College Board CLEP exams, which grant college credits that can be transferred to a future college. In addition, we assist students navigate the complex college application process as first-generation undocumented youth, prepare them to succeed in rigorous college environments, and provide them with a welcoming and supportive community of mentors, professors, and undocumented peers.

As the only school for undocumented youth, we are considered the one true sanctuary campus in the United States. Most importantly, our human rights curriculum seeks to restore students’ sense of individual dignity and collective power. By centering students’ cultural identities and deepening their political consciousness, we empower them with the knowledge and tools they need to actively participate in the positive transformation of the world.

As a student applicant, you will receive a phone call from a staff member the week of December 22 to confirm your application and eligibility. If you meet the enrollment requirements, you will be invited to participate in a video conference interview, which will take place January 4 and 5, 2025. Students are accepted based on their character, the alignment of their personal goals with our mission, their agreement to the principles in the Student Code of Conduct, and their commitment to the collective good of the Freedom University community. Students will receive notice of their acceptance to our Spring 2025 Program by January 7, 2025.