More than 200 College of the Canyons students who are illegal immigrants can receive some state financial aid as part of the recently approved and controversial Dream Act, officials said Monday.

Under the legislation signed by Gov. Jerry Brown on Saturday, the children of parents who are in the country illegally can apply for state scholarships and financial aid at public universities and community colleges starting in January 2013.

The students would receive Cal Grant money only after legal residents have applied and been funded, and only if they meet certain qualifications.

Previously, such students were banned from applying for COC’s Board of Governors Fee Waiver, a popular form of financial aid for community-college students who qualify based on income or special services.

A state law passed in 2001 allows illegal-immigrant students who have graduated from a California high school and can prove they’re on the path to legalize their immigration status to pay resident tuition rates.

During the fall of 2010, 262 COC students qualified under that law,  said Eric Harnish, COC’s director of external relations.

That amounts to 1 percent of total enrollment of the nearly 23,000 students, he said.

Twelve other states, including Texas, New York and Washington, have passed similar legislation allowing illegal-immigrant students to apply for in-state tuition.

The state Department of Finance estimates the cost of the Dream Act when it takes effect will be $14.5 million of a $1.4 billion program, or 1 percent of all Cal Grant funds.

Santa Clarita Community College District board President Michele Jenkins is in favor of the Dream Act because it gives students a chance to access education and will lead to an educated citizenry.

“I think realistically we have a population there that this will service,” Jenkins said Monday. “I’m glad to see it happen.”

But Brown’s decision to sign the Dream Act was met with criticism from some Santa Clarita Valley leaders.

Assemblyman Cameron Smyth, R-Santa Clarita, voted against the Dream Act, saying it will strain the state’s limited resources of financial aid.

Even if illegal immigrants earn a higher education, they are banned from working in the state, he said.

“They can’t get a job in California legally,” he said Monday.

Others shared his viewpoint.

“In a time with skyrocketing costs of education here in California, it seems to me to be a bit unequal to give a discount to nationals of another country when our own local students are having a hard time paying for college,” said Kevin Korenthal, a local conservative activist.

Rather than giving undocumented students financial aid, Korenthal said, the money should be used to give additional financial aid to students here legally.

“America is the land of opportunity and built on the addition of immigrants to this country, but unlike previous generations, the government regulated the flow of immigrants to this country in a legal manner,” Korenthal said.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.