Are there student financial aid programs for students in foster care?
There are many financial aid programs for students who are or were in foster care.
The first step to get this aid is to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form. Colleges and career schools use your FAFSA form to determine how much financial aid you can get from grants, scholarships, work-study funds, and loans.
If you have been a foster child at any time since you turned 13, be sure to answer YES to question 49 on the FAFSA form (the question number may change). Answering yes makes you eligible for the maximum student aid available. You'll need to provide proof you are or were in State care. Contact your caseworker or lawyer for this information if you don’t have it.
Most students who are adopted or received foster care are considered “independent students” and may qualify for more need-based grants. These include the Pell Grant and Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG).
Ask your high school counselor about local scholarships and state and federal student financial aid.
Visit these web pages to learn about more programs:
- Connecticut Adoption Assistance Program: includes programs for students who were or are in foster care
- Foster Care to Success
- Foster Care Scholarships: this includes scholarships for adopted and orphaned students