These States Offer College Scholarships, Financial Aid to Former Foster Youth
Credit: damircudic / Getty Images- Most states have extensive financial aid programs for former foster youth.
- In more than half of U.S. states, students with experience in foster care don’t have to pay tuition.
- Many states, however, have strict requirements students must meet to qualify for aid.
- Financial aid is especially important for these students, as they often don’t have generational wealth to fall back on.
Financial aid is available for most students with experience in foster care (SEFC), but the amount of aid varies by state.
In more than half of U.S. states (31), SEFC can qualify for tuition waivers. The waivers allow these students to earn an associate degree, bachelor’s degree, or certificate without having to pay tuition or fees, as long as students complete their program within a set time frame.
Whether students qualify, however, often depends on at what age they were in foster care and for how long.
Nine states have scholarship or grant options to help lessen the need for student loans.
Ten states, meanwhile, offer no state support for SEFC. Instead, these students must rely on federal scholarships for former foster youth like the John H. Chafee Foster Care Program.
Financial aid is incredibly valuable for SEFC. A BestColleges report on the challenges this demographic of students faces found that SEFC often feel like an invisible part of higher education.
The system is not designed to accommodate these students. However, tuition waivers and scholarships can go a long way toward ensuring they are not only able to enroll in college but they finish their program with a degree or certificate.
Here are the states with waivers, scholarships, and grants for SEFC:
Scholarship:Alabama Fostering Hope Scholarship
Amount: Tuition and fees
Details: This scholarship program covers tuition and required fees for students pursuing a degree, certificate, or completion of an eligible job-training program. The Fostering Hope Scholarship only applies to students attending a public community college, technical college, or four-year college or university. It cannot be used for attendance at a private institution.
Students must complete at least 100 hours of paid work or community service each year to maintain the tuition waiver.
Alabama’s waiver can be utilized for a maximum of 72 credit hours for an associate program and 144 credit hours for a bachelor’s degree program.
Who qualifies: You may qualify if you were in the foster care system when you earned a high school diploma or GED certificate, or if you were in the States Kinship-Guardianship program or adopted from Alabama foster care after the age of 14. You must have net personal assets worth less than $30,000.
You may apply for this scholarship until your 26th birthday. You can receive funds for one semester after turning 26, but then you’ll lose eligibility.
Amount: Tuition and fees
Details: Alaska awards up to 10 tuition waiver scholarships each year to students at any University of Alaska campus, as well as some community colleges. Due to the limited number of scholarships available, SEFC must fill out an application for this award. That application must include a copy of transcripts, two letters of recommendation, a personal essay, and proof that you have applied to other scholarships.
The scholarship is valid for five years.
Who qualifies: You must be an Alaska resident to qualify and have already earned a high school diploma or GED certificate. You must also have been in the custody of the Office of Children’s Services on or after your 16th birthday.
Only students who apply for at least two other scholarships qualify.
Scholarship:Arizona Tuition Waiver
Amount: Tuition and fees
Details: The Arizona Tuition Waiver covers all remaining tuition and mandatory fees for SEFC after all other public financial aid has been applied. It can only be used to attend public colleges and universities in the state, including community colleges. A recipient will see their tuition and fees waived if they are pursuing an associate degree, bachelor’s degree, or certificate.
Who qualifies: You can qualify for the Arizona Tuition Waiver if you are under 23 years old and were in foster care at any point on or after your 14th birthday. Students must also have personal assets — not including financial aid — under $10,000.
The Arizona Tuition Waiver requires 30 hours of volunteer service each year to retain the scholarship.
Scholarship:Fostering Success Scholarship
Amount: Up to $9,000 per year
Details: This University of Arkansas scholarship can be renewed for up to four years, or five years for architecture students. Students cannot be enrolled in more than 30 credit hours each academic year.
Students selected as Fostering Success Scholars must also participate in the university’s peer and faculty mentoring program.
Who qualifies: You must have been in the foster care system in Arizona for at least one year to qualify for the Fostering Success Scholarship. You must also fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form as an independent student.
To retain the scholarship, you must maintain a minimum 2.75 GPA.
Scholarship: Fostering Futures (Part of the Middle Class Scholarship)
Amount: Tuition and fees
Details: Gov. Gavin Newsom signed into law the Fostering Futures program in mid-2023. The program covers all tuition and fees for SEFC attending any University of California (UC) school, public community college, or California State University (CSU) institution. It can be applied to degree or certificate programs, but students may only draw on funds from this program after all other aid has been applied.
The Student Success Completion Grant awards up to $5,250 per semester to SEFC attending any of the state’s community colleges.
Who qualifies: It remains unclear, potentially due to the newness of this program, which students qualify.
Scholarship:FosterEd
Amount: Tuition, fees, and other costs
Details: This program pays the total cost of attendance at any state public institution, local district college, or area technical college in Colorado. While the scholarship is only applied after all other financial aid has been awarded, it applies to the total cost of attendance, which includes tuition, fees, “reasonable” living expenses (on and off campus), books, and other expenses.
Colorado Sen. Rachel Zenzinger, who introduced the proposal for this tuition waiver, previously spoke with BestColleges about the process of getting her bill passed.
Who qualifies: You can qualify for this tuition waiver if you are a Colorado resident and you were in the foster care system at any point on or after your 13th birthday. You must complete the FAFSA or Colorado Application for State Financial Aid (CASFA), plus the Education and Training Voucher (ETV) application.
This program has no age limit. FosterEd covers up to 132 semester credit hours or 198 quarter credit hours.
Scholarship:Post-Secondary Education Assistance
Amount: Tuition, fees, and housing
Details: The Connecticut Department of Children and Families (DCF) will cover tuition, fees, and housing expenses equal to the cost of tuition, fees, and housing at Central Connecticut State University (CCSU). The cost of off-campus housing can’t exceed the cost of room and board at CCSU. This scholarship is applied only after all other financial aid has been applied to a student’s studies.
Students must contribute at least $500 to educational costs each year to keep eligibility. Students must also be enrolled for at least 12 credits per semester and maintain a minimum 2.0 GPA.
Who qualifies: You can apply for this scholarship if you were adopted from the state’s foster care system before your 18th birthday. You have until your 21st birthday to begin receiving this scholarship, and you’ll become ineligible after you turn 23.
Your adoption must have taken place after Dec. 31, 2004.
Scholarship:Ivyane D.F. Davis Memorial Scholarship Fund
Amount: Tuition, fees, and other “direct” costs
Details: The Ivyane D.F. Davis Memorial Scholarship covers costs like tuition, fees, books, meal plans, and on-campus housing for SEFC. The state encourages students to also apply for the Chafee Education and Training Vouchers (ETV) programs.
The waiver can be used at any college or university in the state, including trade schools.
Who qualifies: You must have had experience in Delaware’s foster care system to qualify and be a Delaware resident. You must also complete an application for this scholarship, which includes both an essay and an interview.
You can only qualify for up to five years of awards through this scholarship.
Scholarship:Postsecondary Tuition and Fee Exemption
Amount: Tuition and fees
Details: SEFC in Florida can have all tuition and fees waived to attend any of the state’s public universities, colleges in the Florida College System, or vocational schools. The waiver is valid until the student turns 28 years old. It does not cover additional expenses such as books or housing.
There is no limit on how long a student can utilize this program until their 28th birthday, meaning they can conceivably take advantage of it for an entire decade. Similarly, there is no restriction on the type of degree SEFC can use it to attain, meaning students can use it for an undergraduate and graduate degree (including a law degree or doctorate).
Most state tuition waivers cannot be utilized for graduate school, making Florida’s program an outlier.
Who qualifies: You can qualify for this waiver if you turn 18 while still in foster care or group care in the state. It also applies to students who were placed into guardianship or who were adopted from care after May 5, 1997.
You may qualify even if you reunified with a parent if you spent at least 18 months in out-of-home care after your 14th birthday.
Scholarship:State of Georgia Post-Secondary Tuition Waiver
Amount: Tuition, fees, housing, and meals
Details: Georgia’s tuition waiver program covers most expenses related to SEFC’s college journey. The waiver applies to students enrolled in any Technical College System of Georgia institution.
SEFC must complete the FAFSA and apply separately for this waiver. Students must also apply for the waiver within three years of earning their high school diploma or GED certificate.
Who qualifies: You must be under the age of 28 to qualify for this waiver. You must have experienced foster care at any point after your 14th birthday and spent at least six months in care. If you were adopted, you must have been placed for adoption following your 14th birthday.
Hawaii does not have a statewide scholarship program for SEFC. Still, students can apply for an Education and Training Voucher (ETV) to receive up to $5,000 per year. The state’s Higher Education Board allowance also provides $529 per month for college students’ living expenses.
Geist Foundation scholarships are also available to SEFC. This scholarship awards $1,000 per semester, but students must reapply with a personal statement and letter from a social worker each year.
Idaho does not have a statewide scholarship program for SEFC. Still, students can apply for an Education and Training Voucher (ETV) to receive up to $5,000 per year.
Scholarship:Illinois Tuition and Fee Waiver Program
Amount: Tuition and some fees
Details: SEFC attending any Illinois public college or university can qualify for this tuition waiver. It is applied to tuition and fees, but only after all Pell Grants and Illinois Monetary Award Program (MAP) grants have been applied.
The waiver is available to students for up to five consecutive years.
Who qualifies: You must be enrolled in a qualifying college program before you turn 26. You must also have aged out of the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) at age 18 or older to qualify, or for DCFS to have had guardianship over you at some point before 18.
Scholarship:21st Century Scholarship
Amount: Tuition
Details: Indiana’s 21st Century Scholarship isn’t designed solely for SEFC, but they do get automatic eligibility. This scholarship pays four years of college tuition at any of the state’s public colleges. Students can qualify for part of their tuition to be covered by this scholarship at some private or independent colleges.
Who qualifies: The 21st Century Scholarship traditionally applies to families below a set income threshold, but a student in foster care does not need to meet this requirement. Additionally, SEFC may apply at any point in high school, whereas other students must apply in eighth grade.
Scholarship:All Iowa Opportunity Foster Care Grant
Amount: Varies, maximum award of $5,198 per year
Details: This state-funded scholarship provides SEFC assistance in paying for their college education. The actual size of each grant, however, varies. Students must submit a FAFSA application, which will help the state determine how much aid they qualify for through this program.
It applies to “eligible” Iowa colleges and universities, but the state does not clarify which institutions are eligible. Presumably, SEFC attending public colleges and universities in the state will qualify.
Who qualifies: You must be under the age of 23 by the time your college program starts to qualify.
You must currently be or have been in foster care within 30 days of your 18th birthday or have been placed under a juvenile court order to live with a relative or other person within 30 days of your 18th birthday. You may also qualify if you were in foster care and were adopted after the age of 16.
Scholarship:Foster Child Education Assistance Program
Amount: Tuition and fees
Details: Kansas’ tuition waiver can be applied to any of the state’s public colleges and universities, as well as its technical schools. However, it only applies to necessary fees, meaning students must pay all voluntary fees out of pocket. It also doesn’t apply to indirect costs like books and housing.
The waiver only applies to a student’s undergraduate studies.
Who qualifies: You can qualify for this scholarship if you aged out of the Kansas foster care system at 18, or if you already graduated from high school while still in foster care. You can also qualify if you were adopted or placed into guardianship after your 16th birthday.
You become ineligible for this waiver after you turn 23.
Amount: Tuition and mandatory fees
Details: Kentucky’s tuition waiver is available to SEFC who are attending any of the state’s public colleges and universities, or any institutions that are part of the Kentucky Community and Technical College System. It maxes out, however, after 150 credit hours of study.
SEFC can be part-time or full-time students and qualify for this waiver, and it may also be used for graduate school. Students must, however, start college within four years of graduating high school or earning an equivalency diploma.
Who qualifies: You must have aged out of Kentucky’s foster care system or still be in the system to qualify for this award. You can also be eligible if you were in an independent living program funded by the state’s Cabinet for Health and Family Services, or if you were adopted out of the Kentucky foster care system.
You lose eligibility after you turn 28, unless you served time in:
- Armed Forces
- Commissioned Corps of the United States Public Health Service
- Peace Corps
- Americorps
Louisiana does not have a statewide scholarship program for SEFC. Still, students can apply for an Education and Training Voucher (ETV) to receive up to $5,000 per year.
Scholarship:Maine Tuition Waiver Program (Foster Care)
Amount: Tuition
Details: Maine’s tuition waiver can be used to attend any University of Maine school, any Maine community college, or the Maine Maritime Academy. SEFC can take advantage of this award for up to five years or until they receive a bachelor’s degree; whichever comes first.
SEFC can use this waiver for any amount of credits during spring and fall semesters. However, students must be full-time students to use the waiver during summer semesters.
Who qualifies: If you aged out of the foster care system at 18, you qualify for a tuition waiver. You may also qualify if you were adopted from the Maine foster care system and an adoptive parent received a subsidy from the Maine Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), or if you were a minor ward of a permanency guardian that received a subsidy from DHHS.
Amount: Tuition and mandatory fees
Details: Maryland’s tuition waiver applies to SEFC who pursue an associate degree, bachelor’s degree, or vocational certificate from any public college or university in the state. It can be used to waive all tuition and mandatory fees, including registration fees. If the student receives another scholarship or grant, the scholarship or grant may not be applied to the school’s tuition.
Students can use this waiver for up to 10 years or until they receive a bachelor’s degree; whichever comes first.
Who qualifies: You must have been placed into foster care by the Maryland Department of Human Services to qualify for this waiver.
You may qualify if you are either still in foster care or if you aged out of foster care at 18 or graduated high school while still in foster care. You can also qualify if you were in foster care for at least one year on or after your 13th birthday. Younger siblings of people who meet these qualifications may also be eligible if they were in the same guardianship or adopted by the same family as their older sibling.
Scholarship:Department of Children and Families Foster Child Tuition Waiver and Fee Assistance Program
Amount: Tuition and fees
Details: The Massachusetts tuition waiver can be applied to any of the state’s undergraduate degree programs at public colleges and universities. It may also be used for certificate programs, including short-term certificate programs. SEFC can be enrolled full time, half time, or part time and be eligible for this waiver.
The waiver is equal to 100% of the resident tuition rate, but is “subject to budgetary appropriations,” according to the state.
Who qualifies: You can qualify for this tuition waiver if you were in the custody of the state at any point before you turned 18. You can also qualify if your guardianship was sponsored by the state through the age of 18.
You lose eligibility once you earn a bachelor’s degree or after you turn 24, whichever comes first.
Scholarship:Fostering Futures Scholarship
Amount: Varies, $3,000 per year maximum
Details: The Fostering Futures Scholarship applies to undergraduate students pursuing a degree from any community college or public university in the state, as well as some private, nonprofit colleges. Students must be enrolled at least half time to qualify.
Awards are determined based on financial need. Amounts are restricted based on tuition and fees, as well as other indirect costs like books, supplies, and housing.
Who qualifies: You must have been in Michigan foster care “due to abuse or neglect” at any point on or after your 13th birthday to qualify. Additionally, you must be a Michigan resident since July 1 of the previous calendar year when you apply for this scholarship.
There is no maximum age restriction.
Scholarship:Fostering Independence Higher Education Grant
Amount: Varies, based on financial need
Details: Minnesota’s Fostering Independence Higher Education Grant is a last-dollar financial aid program, meaning it’s only applied after all other financial aid is considered. The program will consider whatever costs remain after other aid is applied and also consider the student’s financial need.
The grant can be used to attend both public and private institutions in the state, although the calculation for the size of the award is dependent on the type of institution a student attends. Essentially, it acts as a tuition waiver for public institutions and a scholarship for private schools.
Who qualifies: If you were in the Minnesota foster care system at any point after your 13th birthday, you may qualify for the state’s grant program. You must also be under the age of 27 and be a current Minnesota resident.
You will lose eligibility once you earn a bachelor’s degree or after five years of receiving this grant.
Scholarship:FAITH Scholarship
Amount: Total cost of attendance
Details: Mississippi’s FAITH scholarship — created in 2022 — applies to SEFC attending any public college or university in the state, as well as seven private institutions.
FAITH scholarships cover the remaining total cost of attendance after all other financial aid has been applied. SEFC attending a private institution will receive an award equal to the average undergraduate cost of attendance for public colleges and universities in the state.
Cost of attendance takes into account costs associated with room and board during holiday breaks, as this can be a pain point for many students.
Scholarships are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis.
Who qualifies: You must be a Mississippi resident for at least one year prior to applying for this scholarship. Additionally, you must have been in the legal custody of the Mississippi Department of Child Protection Services at any point at or after the age of 13, or have lived in a “qualified residential living facility” at or after the age of 13.
You lose eligibility for this scholarship after five calendar years of utilizing it. FAITH scholarships pay for no more than 72 credit hours at a community college or 144 credit hours at a four-year college or university.
Scholarship:Missouri Reach
Amount: Tuition and fees
Details: Missouri Reach is a tuition waiver program for SEFC enrolled in public colleges and universities in the state. The waiver is applied only after all other grants and scholarships have been taken into account by the institution.
Missouri Reach includes a unique community service requirement. Students must complete at least 100 hours of community service each year they participate in Missouri Reach. The Missouri Department of Higher Education and Workforce Development determines what community service activities adequately meet this requirement.
Who qualifies: You must be a Missouri resident to benefit from Missouri Reach. You must have been in foster care either the day before you turned 18, the day you graduated high school, or the day you turned 14 to qualify.
You must also apply and be accepted into an institution within three years of aging out of foster care or graduating from high school. You also lose eligibility once you turn 21.
Priority is given to students who already have 30 college credits when applying.
Montana does not have a statewide scholarship program for SEFC. Still, students can apply for an Education and Training Voucher (ETV) to receive up to $5,000 per year.
The state lists a handful of private scholarships that SEFC may qualify for.
Nebraska does not have a statewide scholarship program for SEFC. Still, students can apply for an Education and Training Voucher (ETV) to receive up to $5,000 per year.
The nonprofit Nebraska Foster and Adoptive Parent Association (NFAPA) offers a $250 scholarship for SEFC.
Scholarship:NSHE Fostering Success Initiative
Amount: Tuition and fees
Details: Nevada’s waiver can be used by SEFC to attend any institution that’s part of the Nevada State Higher Education (NSHE) system. It covers all fees associated with enrolling in courses at these institutions. It only applies to undergraduate studies.
Nevada’s waiver is not a last-dollar scholarship. That means SEFC may potentially benefit from both this waiver and other scholarships and grants, including Pell Grants. In practice, it will depend on the order in which financial aid is distributed by various programs.
Who qualifies: You can qualify for the NSHE Fostering Success Initiative if you were in foster care at any point on or after your 13th birthday. You must also have a high school diploma or GED certificate, and you must complete the FAFSA each year you want to utilize this waiver.
You lose eligibility once you turn 26.
Scholarship:Tuition Waiver for Foster Children Program
Amount: Tuition and fees
Details: New Hampshire’s tuition waiver program allows SEFC to attend any public college or university in the state without paying tuition or fees. It can be used to earn a certificate, associate degree, or bachelor’s degree. Students can enroll part time or full time to take advantage of the waiver.
New Hampshire awards just 35 tuition waivers per year, so the state recommends that students apply early.
Who qualifies: You may qualify for this waiver if you were in state foster care for the six-month period leading up to your 18th birthday or if you were in a state-sponsored guardianship on your 18th birthday. You also qualify if you were adopted from foster care in the state.
You must be younger than 26 years old as of May 1 of the academic year you plan to utilize the waiver.
Scholarship:New Jersey Foster Care Scholars Program
Amount: Tuition and fees
Details: SEFC can qualify for up to five years of tuition-and-fee-free education through New Jersey’s tuition waiver program, established in 2003. It’s a last-dollar scholarship, meaning it only gets utilized after all other federal and state financial aid has been applied.
The waiver only applies to undergraduate studies at a public college or university. Students may also use the waiver to attend a county vocational school.
Who qualifies: You must first apply for the tuition waiver between the ages of 16 and 23 to qualify. You also need a high school diploma or GED certificate to be eligible.
To qualify for the waiver, you must have been in foster care when you turned 18 or adopted at some point after your 12th birthday. You may also qualify if you lived in an independent living arrangement operated by the state’s Department of Human Services for at least nine months following your 16th birthday. Living within a transitional living program may also allow you to qualify.
Scholarship:New Mexico Tuition Waiver
Amount: Tuition and administrative fees
Details: New Mexico’s tuition waiver program can be applied to any of the state’s public colleges and universities.
With it, SEFC won’t have to pay tuition for their undergraduate education. It also waives administrative fees, but it does not waive expenses including:
- Lab fees
- Art fees
- Books
- Food
- Housing
Who qualifies: You can qualify for this tuition waiver if you were in New Mexico’s foster care system at any point on or after your 14th birthday. You must, however, enroll in college before you turn 25, or else you lose eligibility.
The waiver also applies if you were in the legal custody of a New Mexico Indian nation, tribe or pueblo.
Scholarship:Foster Youth College Success Initiative
Amount: Varies
Details: New York’s scholarship program is designed to assist SEFC in pursuing their first associate or bachelor’s degree but does not extend to students pursuing a graduate or vocational degree.
Funds may be awarded to students attending a State University of New York (SUNY) school, a City College of New York (CUNY) school, or a private institution that hosts a Higher Education Opportunities Program (HEOP).
The availability of funds seemingly varies depending on the institution itself. CUNY, for example, promises to offer financial support for “essential expenses,” including:
- Tuition and fees
- Books
- Transportation
- On-campus housing
Who qualifies: You can qualify for New York’s scholarship program if you were in the foster care system at any point after your 13th birthday. You also qualify if you are an orphan.
If you are in or were in a guardianship, you do not qualify.
Scholarship:North Carolina Reach
Amount: Varies
Details: North Carolina Reach is a scholarship fund for SEFC attending any of the state’s public community colleges or four-year universities. It can be used for up to four years of undergraduate studies.
North Carolina’s scholarship differs from most states in that it requires applicants to create a budget plan. The state will then take that into account, as well as other financial information, to determine an award amount.
This is a last-dollar scholarship, meaning that it is only applied after all other federal and state financial aid has been awarded. Award sizes may also vary depending on how much overall Reach funds the state has in a given year.
Who qualifies: You must have been adopted from NC Division of Social Services foster care after the age of 12 to qualify or have aged out of the system after turning 18. You may also qualify if you exited foster care through a guardianship through the Kinship Guardianship Assistance Program.
You must be under the age of 26 to participate and enroll for at least six credit hours each semester.
North Dakota does not have a statewide scholarship program for SEFC. Still, students can apply for an Education and Training Voucher (ETV) to receive up to $5,000 per year.
Scholarship:Ohio Reach Scholarship
Amount: $1,000 per semester
Details: The Ohio Reach Scholarship is available to SEFC to pursue a certificate, associate degree, or bachelor’s degree from any accredited college or university in the state. Students can be enrolled either full time or part time. Students can renew the scholarship up to twice per year for up to four total years.
The scholarship requires students to submit a reference letter “from an adult who knows you.” The application also requires students to submit a personal essay outlining their educational and career goals.
Who qualifies: You can qualify for this scholarship if you were in the custody of a public children’s service agency at any point after your 13th birthday.
Scholarship:Oklahoma Foster Care Tuition Waiver
Amount: Tuition
Details: SEFC enrolled in any public college or university in Oklahoma can take advantage of the state’s tuition waiver program. It also applies to “certain” programs at technology centers in the state.
With this waiver, the state will cover the cost of in-state tuition for all courses that charge in-state tuition. The student is responsible for other fees, however, including special course fees and activity fees.
Who qualifies: You must be an Oklahoma resident who graduated high school within the past three years — or earned a GED certificate — to qualify. You lose eligibility after you turn 26.
To qualify for a waiver, you must have been in Department of Human Services (DHS) custody for at least nine months between the ages of 16 and 18. This makes Oklahoma one of the most limited waiver programs in the U.S.
Scholarship:Foster Youth Tuition and Fee Waiver
Amount: Tuition and fees
Details: Oregon’s tuition and fee waiver benefits SEFC enrolled in any public two-year or four-year institution in the state. They can continue to take advantage of the waiver for up to four years, or until they earn a bachelor’s degree — whichever comes first.
This is a last-dollar scholarship, meaning it only gets applied after all federal, state, and institutional financial aid has been applied.
Who qualifies: You qualify for this waiver if you spent at least 180 days (six months) in foster care after the age of 14 and did not leave care before your 16th birthday. You may also qualify if you spent at least 180 days (six months) in foster care and were adopted on or after Jan. 1, 2012.
You lose eligibility after you turn 25.
Scholarship:Fostering Independence Through Education Waiver
Amount: Tuition and mandatory fees
Details: SEFC can utilize the Fostering Independence Through Education Waiver to earn an undergraduate degree at public colleges and universities in the state, as well as some private institutions. Students must be enrolled at least part time to benefit from the waiver, which is valid for up to 10 semesters of undergraduate study.
This is a last-dollar scholarship, meaning it is applied after all other financial aid has been used.
Who qualifies: You qualify for this waiver if you were in foster care at any point after you turned 16, even if you exited foster care through adoption or custodianship.
You lose eligibility if you will be 26 years old by July 1 of the upcoming academic year the waiver will be applied.
Scholarship:Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) Post-Secondary Tuition Assistance Program
Amount: Varies
Details: Rhode Island’s grant program provides financial aid to SEFC attending the Community College of Rhode Island, Rhode Island College, or the University of Rhode Island. It applies only to students seeking an undergraduate degree and who are enrolled full time.
The state uses the total cost of attendance to determine how much aid each student may receive, and that cost often includes expenses like tuition, fees, and housing. However, Rhode Island clarified that due to the number of students utilizing this program, the grant likely won’t meet all the remaining financial needs of every applicant.
Who qualifies: You must have been in foster care on or after your 16th birthday and have spent at least two years in foster care prior to aging out of the system to qualify. If you have not yet turned 18, you may qualify if you are still in foster care. However, being adopted before turning 18 disqualifies you from this program.
You must also be younger than 21 before you initially apply for a grant. You can remain eligible until you turn 23.
South Carolina does not have a statewide scholarship program for SEFC. Still, students can apply for an Education and Training Voucher (ETV) to receive up to $5,000 per year.
Students may also apply for either of the state’s primary merit-based scholarships:
- Legislative Incentives for Future Excellence (LIFE)
- Palmetto Fellows
South Dakota does not have a statewide scholarship program for SEFC. Still, students can apply for an Education and Training Voucher (ETV) to receive up to $5,000 per year.
Scholarship:HOPE Foster Child Tuition Grant
Amount: Remaining cost of attendance, not to exceed the cost of tuition and mandatory fees
Details: Tennessee’s grant program for SEFC works as a tuition waiver in many ways. SEFC will see the program cover any remaining cost of attendance after all other financial aid has been applied. That includes costs like tuition, fees, housing, and books. Students cannot, however, receive a grant worth more than the cost of tuition and fees.
Students can apply the grant funds to any public college or university in the state, as well as some “independent” institutions.
The state automatically considers SEFC once they submit a FAFSA.
Who qualifies: You qualify for the Tennessee HOPE Foster Child Tuition Grant if you were in state custody at any point on or after your 13th birthday. You also qualify if you were in state custody at any time and were placed in permanent guardianship after turning 13 years old.
You must be accepted into a college or university within four years of graduating from high school or earning your GED certificate. You lose eligibility after six years.
Scholarship:Texas College Tuition Waiver
Amount: Tuition and fees
Details: SEFC can see their tuition and fees waived in Texas. Students must be attending any state-supported college or university in Texas, which refers to public institutions in the state. The waiver also applies to fees like lab fees.
The waiver can be applied to undergraduate, graduate, or doctoral studies.
Who qualifies: You qualify for Texas’ tuition waiver if you were in the state’s foster care system the day before your 18th birthday, the day of your 14th birthday (if you were eligible for adoption after), or the day you graduated from high school. You may also be eligible if you were adopted on or after Sept. 1, 2009. Lastly, you are eligible if you enrolled in a dual enrollment course while in foster care.
You must enroll in an eligible institution before your 25th birthday. There is no age restriction post-enrollment.
Scholarship:Utah Tuition Waiver
Amount: Tuition
Details: SEFC attending a public college or university in Utah may qualify for the state’s tuition waiver program. Utah’s waiver applies only to the tuition charges associated with courses necessary for the student’s degree or certificate program. It does not extend to mandatory fees.
The waiver can be used for a maximum of nine semesters. Students must apply for it before they turn 22.
Who qualifies: You must have been in the foster care system for 24 total months to qualify for a waiver. Those do not, however, need to be 24 consecutive months.
You lose eligibility once you earn a bachelor’s degree. You also lose eligibility after the waiver is applied to 124 semester credits.
Scholarship:Emily Lester Vermont Opportunity Scholarship
Amount: Total costs, maximum of $3,000 per year
Details: Vermont’s scholarship program for SEFC acts as a tuition waiver, but only to an extent. The state will make financial aid awards equal to the total cost of attendance — which includes tuition, fees, housing, and books — but it won’t exceed a $3,000 award. It only makes this calculation after all other financial aid has been applied.
Students must be enrolled in an undergraduate program in the state to apply. It applies to students studying at Vermont State colleges, the University of Vermont, or a Vermont independent college.
Who qualifies: You can qualify for a scholarship if you were in Vermont’s foster care system for at least six months between the ages of 16 and 18.
You must apply for the program before you turn 24.
Scholarship:Community College Tuition Grant
Amount: Tuition and fees
Details: Virginia’s tuition waiver applies to SEFC enrolled in any community college program in the state. It’s a last-dollar scholarship, meaning it is only applied after all other financial aid is applied to a student’s account.
Students must be enrolled for at least six credits to maintain the grant. Their program must also be at least one year in length, so some short-term credential programs may not qualify.
Beneficiaries of this grant may also consider the state’s Great Expectations program, which pairs SEFC with a coach at one of the state’s community colleges. This coach helps students set an educational path after high school and can even help students apply for additional grants and scholarships to cover costs like housing and transportation.
Who qualifies: You must have been in Virginia’s foster care system at the time you graduated high school, earned a GED certificate, or turned 18 in order to qualify for this grant. You must also be a Virginia resident.
You lose eligibility after five years of utilizing this waiver. You also lose eligibility after earning a bachelor’s degree.
Scholarship:Passport to College Promise
Amount: Up to $2,000 per year
Details: Washington’s Passport to College program provides financial assistance to SEFC attending colleges in the state. The grants can be utilized by students at any eligible college or university, including many private colleges and universities not operated by the state.
Students pursuing a theology degree may not utilize this scholarship. However, it does apply to many apprenticeship programs. Students must be enrolled at least part time.
Students participating in this program also gain priority for federal work-study programs on their campus.
Who qualifies: You must have been in a foster care system in the state at some point after turning 13 years old to qualify. That can include a state, federal, or tribal foster care system, but the tribe must be federally recognized.
You must enroll in your program before turning 21, or else you will lose eligibility. You also lose eligibility after earning your first bachelor’s degree.
Scholarship:Foster Care Tuition Waiver
Amount: Tuition and fees
Details: West Virginia’s tuition waiver program applies to SEFC who attend any of the state’s public colleges or universities. It can only be utilized for an undergraduate education, however.
This is a last-dollar scholarship, meaning it’s only applied after all other sources of financial aid have been exhausted. The waiver does not extend to additional costs like books and housing.
Who qualifies: You must have been in foster care when you graduated high school or passed your GED examination to qualify for this waiver. You may also qualify if you were in foster care within the past year of applying for an award.
You must enroll in college and apply for the waiver within two years of graduating high school or passing the GED exam.
Wisconsin does not have a statewide scholarship program for SEFC. Still, students can apply for an Education and Training Voucher (ETV) to receive up to $5,000 per year. It’s worth noting that Wisconsin also refers to its ETV program as Brighter Star.
Wyoming does not have a statewide scholarship program for SEFC. Still, students can apply for an Education and Training Voucher (ETV) to receive up to $5,000 per year.
SEFC from the Natrona County School District may also qualify for the Successful Transition and Academic Retention (STAR) program.