Your state may waive tuition at its public colleges because you were in foster care, and in some states the waiver reaches fees as well. This explains how these waivers usually work, the conditions states attach to them, and the offices that can tell you what applies where you study.
What a waiver covers
A tuition waiver means the college charges you less tuition, or none, because of your time in foster care. States write these laws in different ways. Some cover only tuition, some include mandatory fees, and some apply only at community colleges or only at universities.
Many waivers are applied after federal and state grants, which means the waiver covers whatever tuition remains once those grants are counted. Others are applied first and leave your grants free for housing, food and books. The order makes a real difference to your budget, so ask the aid office which way your state does it.
Conditions states often set
Each state decides who can use its waiver, and the state higher education agency usually publishes the rules. Common conditions include an age limit, a minimum time in care, being in care on or after a certain birthday, or adoption or guardianship out of foster care after a set age. Some states also look at where you lived or finished high school.
Most waivers come with rules for keeping them. You may need to file the FAFSA every year, carry a minimum number of credits and keep up satisfactory academic progress. Read the renewal rules early, because a single term below the line can pause the waiver.
The order makes a real difference to your budget, so ask the aid office which way your state does it.
How to claim it
Claiming a waiver usually takes some paperwork. You often need proof of your time in care, typically a letter from the state child welfare agency, along with a form filed at the college. The aid office, the registrar or the bursar may handle it, depending on the school.
Start with the college's foster youth liaison or financial aid office and ask what the state requires. A caseworker or independent living worker can request the letter for you, and if you have left care, the agency's records or independent living office can help. Keep a copy of that letter, since another college may ask for it later.
Steps to take
- Look up your state's foster care tuition waiver rules
- Ask the aid office whether the waiver comes before or after grants
- Request a letter confirming your time in care
- Note the credit and progress rules for renewal
Who decides
Your college's financial aid office or foster youth liaison
A foster care tuition waiver depends on your state's rules, and the college aid office can tell you how it fits with your grants.