Maryland Maryland Higher Education Commission

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Tuition Waiver for Foster Care Recipients



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The Maryland Tuition Waiver for Foster Care Recipients provides financial assistance to eligible foster care youth pursuing higher education. This waiver is available to individuals who have been in foster care and are enrolled in an associate degree, bachelor's degree, or vocational certificate program at a Maryland public institution of higher education.





WHO MAY APPLY

Individuals under the age of 25 who have been placed in an out-of-home placement by the Maryland Department of Human Services (DHS) and are enrolled at a Maryland public college or university.​

​Maryland Institutions Higher Education - Liaison List.pdf

​HOW TO APPLY

1. Contact the financial aid office at the Maryland public institution you are currently attending or plan to attend.​​

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS
To be eligible for the Maryland Tuition Waiver for Foster Care Recipients program, a youth must have:
  • Be enrolled full time or part time for an associate, bachelors, or a vocational certificate at a Maryland public institution of higher education on or before he or she reaches the age of 25.
  • ​Been placed in an out-of-home placement by the Maryland Department of Human Resources and either;
    • Resided in an out of home placement in Maryland at the time they graduated from high school or successfully completed a general equivalency development examination (GED);
    • Resided in an out of home placement in Maryland at the time of their 18th birthday; or
    • Resided in an out-of-home placement on their 13th birthday and was placed into guardianship or adopted out of an out-of-home placement after their 13th birthday; or
    • ​​Resided in an out-of-home placement in the State for at least 1 year on or after their 13th birthday and returned to live with their parents after the out-of-home placement ended.

This also includes the younger sibling of an eligible foster care recipient if the younger sibling is concurrently placed into guardianship or adopted out of an out-of-home placement by the same guardianship or adoptive family.


​​​​​Note: 
  • ​Eligibility information is provided to Maryland public colleges and universities by the Maryland Department of Human Services.  
  • ​​Eligible applicants are encouraged to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) at https://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsa, or the Maryland State Financial Aid Application (MSFAA) via the MHEC One App at http://mdcaps.mhec.state.md.us/. 
  • “Undocumented” applicants who do not qualify to complete the Maryland MHEC One-App should consult with the financial aid office at the Maryland public institution you plan to attend.
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ELIGIBLE MAJORS
All academic majors are eligible, including both credit-bearing and non-credit-bearing vocational certificate programs.
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SEMESTER ELIGIBILITY 

​The waiver applies to the following terms:​

  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Spring
  • Summer

​AWARD AMOUNT

The waiver exempts you from paying tuition and mandatory fees at any Maryland public institution of higher education. This includes:
  • ​Tuition
  • Registration fees
  • Other mandatory fees required for enrollment
Important:
  • Tuition is determined by the individual public institution of higher education
  • The waiver does not cover room, board, books, or transportation
  • Scholarships or grants awarded to a foster care recipient may not be applied to tuition, as it is already waived

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​Maryland Education Code § 15-106.1 outlines the eligibility criteria and provisions for the tuition waiver and is governed by the Code of Maryland Regulations (COMAR) 07.02.11.12 and 13B.02.02.23​.