Often, when students grow up in the foster care system, they don’t have the financial support or guidance from a trusted adult to pursue higher eduction. According to the National Working Group on Foster Care and Education, approximately 50% of US foster youth graduate from high school, and less than 10% obtain a bachelor’s degree. A number of institutions are dedicating programs and funding to support these students to and through their higher education journey. These programs are giving students the opportunity to change the narrative and work towards a better future.
List is organized alphabetically by institution name. Find Part 2 here.
Aquinas College: Fostering Success Scholarship Initiative
Eligibility: In Michigan, foster care system on 18th birthday or when they graduate from high school.
Students receive grants covering room and board, tuition, and book costs.
Arizona State University (Downtown Phoenix, Polytechnic, Tempe, or West): Bridging Success:
Eligibility: Experience in the foster care system
Students benefit from assistance in the admission process (completing application, filling out FAFSA form, identifying scholarships), personal coaching, pre-professional workshops, an optional Early Start summer bridge program, and more.
Ball State University: Guardian Scholars
Eligibility: Experience in the foster care system
Students benefit from assistance in the admission process (completing application, applying for financial aid, applying for housing), mentoring, referrals to community organizations, and more.
Boise State University: Impact Scholars Program
Eligibility: Experience in foster care system
Students benefit from financial planning advice, mentoring, networking opportunities, scholarships, and more.
Pepperdine University: Horizon Scholars Program
Eligibility: Experience in the foster care system
Students benefit from counseling and support, student employment, a scholarship, housing resources, and more.
Central Michigan University: Pathways to Academic Student Success
Eligibility: In foster care on or after 14th birthday. Financial need.
Students benefit from financial aid, year-round housing, peer mentoring, access to internships, and more.
Cleveland State University: The Sullivan–Deckard and Helen Packer Scholarship Opportunity Program
Eligibility: Experience in the foster care system
Students benefit from support to meet academic, social, and financial need, as well as help with transitioning to independent living.
College of St. Joseph: STEPS (Students Take an Effective Path to Success): College Program for Vermont Foster Youth
Eligibility: Experience in the foster care system
Students benefit from counseling and guidance, year-round housing and meal service, career and personal counseling, extensive financial aid, and more.
Colorado State University: Fostering Success Program
Eligibility: Self-identifying “independent youth”. Between the ages of 13 and 23, student must have experienced foster care, been a dependent or ward of the court, been under legal guardianship or kinship care, been at risk of homelessness, or been an unaccompanied homeless youth.
Students benefit from food assistance, emergency housing assistance, career advising, program specific scholarships, and more.
Eastern Michigan University: Mentorship Access Guidance in College (MAGIC)
Eligibility: In foster care on or after 14th birthday
Students benefit from emergency financial assistance, employment opportunities, monthly life skills workshops, connection with a mentor, and more.
Ferris State University: Ferris Youth Initiative
Eligibility: Experience in the foster care system
Students benefit from specialized mentoring, program-specific scholarships, academic guidance and support, life skills development, and more.
Florida International University: Fostering Panther Pride (FPP)
Eligibility: Experience in the foster care system or with homelessness
Students benefit from Success Coaches, a staff or alumni mentor, assistance in securing off-campus housing, homeless tuition exemption, and more.
Florida State University: Unconquered Scholars Program
Eligibility: Experience with the foster care system, relative care, homelessness, or ward of the state status
Students benefit from one-on-one advising, a transitional summer bridge program, academic advising, financial aid assistance and advocacy, mental health counseling services, and more.
Grand Valley State University: Fostering Laker Success
Eligibility: Experienced foster care after 14th birthday. Under the age of 23
Students benefit from health services and coaching focused on finances and employment, physical and mental health, cultural and personal identity, and more.
Johnson C. Smith University: Guardian Scholars
Eligibility: Experience in the foster care system
Students benefit from intensive academic coaching, year-round housing, increased financial aid, career counseling, and more.
Kennesaw State University: Campus Awareness, Resources, and Empowerment (CARE) Services
Eligibility: Experience in the foster care system, dealing with homelessness or food insecurity, or at risk of becoming homeless
Students benefit from one-on-one counseling, campus food pantry services, emergency temporary housing, scholarships, and more
Lake Michigan College: Start to Finish
Eligibility: Experience in the foster care system
Students benefit from one-on-one coaching, academic support/tutoring, internship/job referrals, a laptop loan program, and more.
Loyola Marymount University: Guardian Scholars Program
Eligibility: Experience in the foster care system, emancipated, homeless, or otherwise independent
Students benefit from bi-weekly events, one-on-one meetings with an advisor, and more.
Metropolitan State University of Denver: EPIC Scholars Program
Eligibility: Students who have experience in the foster care system, kinship care, legal guardianship, division of youth services, status as unaccompanied youth, emancipated minors, or independent students as determined by the financial aid office.
Students benefit from individualized academic coaching, emotional support, scholarships, referrals for essentials (housing, food, clothing, health, etc), and more
Michigan State University: Fostering Academic Mentoring Excellence (FAME) Program
Eligibility: Students who have experience in the foster care system, kinship care, homelessness, or who are otherwise independent
Students benefit from mentoring, monthly life skills trainings, the FAME care closet, finals week survival kits, and more.
Middle Tennessee State University: Next Step
Eligibility: Students who have experience with the foster care system, homelessness, or who are independent minors
Students benefit from financial aid, CUSTOMS (a new student orientation program in the summer), year-round housing, academic advising, emergency food assistance, and more.
Northern Arizona University: Next Step
Eligibility: Experience in the foster care system
Students benefit from scholarships, year-round housing, academic guidance, mentorship, and more
Northwestern Michigan College: Your NMC
Eligibility: Experience in the foster care system. Under the age of 24
Students benefit from mentoring, financial assistance, academic and personal support, and more
Portland State University: Project FUTURES (Fostering Unity Towards Uplifting Resilience, Education and Success)
Eligibility: Students who are in the foster care system or have experienced significant mental health challenges and are under the age of 26
Students benefit from upper-class peer mentors, participation in a College Success course for credit, workshops, support from faculty members across campus departments, and more.
Rutgers University: Summer Housing and Internship Program
Eligibility: Students who have experienced the foster care system
Students benefit from a twelve-week program during the summer in which housing and a paid internship are provided, along with weekly counseling, a three-credit course, and more.
Saginaw Valley State University: Fostering an Academic Successful Transition (FAST)
Eligibility: Students who have experienced the foster care system on or after their 14th birthday, or who were adopted after the age of 16.
Students benefit from individualized life skills coaching, scholarship application assistance, emergency assistance funds, peer-to-peer support and mentoring, and more.
Sam Houston State University: FORWARD Program
Eligibility: Students who have experienced the foster care system or homelessness, wards of the court, or orphans.
Students benefit from financial aid guidance, scholarship opportunities, year-round housing, employment preparation and opportunities, and more.
Seattle University: Fostering Scholars
Eligibility: Students who have experienced the foster care system
Students benefit from access to a scholarship that, if awarded, provides full tuition, year-round housing and meals, health insurance, and more. Students in the program also benefit from academic advising, learning assistance workshops, check-ins with staff, and more.