Foster Care to Success helps connect foster youth with former foster youth to help with the transition to adulthood. The organization also offers scholarships, including Education Training Vouchers (ETVs) to help fund the youth's education. ETVs help with higher education expenses for current or former foster youth up to age 23. Click here to learn more about ETVs.
The Arizona foster care tuition waiver is awarded to youth who were in foster care after their 16th birthday. This waiver covers certain school fees and tuition not included in other grants for current or former foster youth up to age 23. To get this waiver, contact the financial aid office of the college you plan to attend. This waiver is available for most Arizona state universities and community colleges. Click here to find out if you may be eligible for the Arizona Tuition Waiver as well as how to sign up for it.
CollegeScholarships.org has some scholarships for children who are or were in foster care.
This website has some scholarships for children who are or were in foster care.
More scholarships are available through the National Foster Parent Association.
Good Call Scholarship Search Engine is a large database of scholarships.
Former foster youth in the Maricopa County Community Colleges Bridging Success Program have access to the many resources of the Maricopa Community Colleges including tutoring, academic counseling, career planning, skill development as well as additional support they may need.
Be a Leader Foundation designs programs that provide a positive learning environment and a college-focused mentality for each participant to develop their high school and college educational plan (4 plus 4 plan). They work directly with middle school and high school students in primarily inner-city schools to engage them in active development of their self-esteem, leadership skills and long term preparation of their 4 plus 4 plan. They also have a program for youth in college called Be A Leader Institute College (BLIC) that provides college students with educational and career path development support. Click here for more information.
If you are having trouble completing the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) because you are unsure who to list as your parent(s) because your parent(s) are incarcerated or otherwise not in your life, request that the college financial office review your application to see if you qualify for a waiver called a dependency override. Click here for additional information.
Federal Pell Grants are usually awarded only to undergraduate students. Students who are in foster care, aged out of foster care or were adopted out of foster care after reaching age 13 are considered automatically independent on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Often this means that such children have a zero expected family contribution (EFC), which qualifies them for a full Pell Grant. The amount of aid you can receive depends on your financial need, the cost of attendance at your school, and more. A Federal Pell Grant, unlike a loan, does not have to be repaid, except under certain circumstances. Website
The Nina Mason Pulliam Legacy Scholars program is available for young adults, ages 18 – 25, who have experienced foster care or been disconnected from their parents or primary caregiver and are responsible for their own financial support and who will be attending Maricopa Community Colleges or ASU. The Nina Scholars Program provides financial support toward the cost of attendance for up to 6 years at ASU and for up to 4 years at the participating Maricopa Community Colleges, plus it provides program staff at each school to provide coordinated services, group or “cohort” support, and tutorial and/or mentoring assistance. Website