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The Maryland Tuition Waiver for Foster Care Recipients is available to foster care youth who are enrolled as a candidate for an associate, bachelor’s degree, or vocational certificate at a Maryland Public institution of higher education. The purpose of the Tuition Waiver for Foster Care Recipients is to provide financial assistance to foster care youth. |
WHO MAY APPLY
Students under the age of 25 who have resided in an out-of-home placement in Maryland and who are attending a Maryland public college or university.
HOW TO APPLY
If you believe you may be eligible, you must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) at https://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsa or the MHEC One App at http://mdcaps.mhec.state.md.us/ and contact the financial aid office at the college or university that you plan to attend.
Please note that a list of students who are eligible is provided by the Maryland Department of Human Services and made available to Maryland public colleges and universities.
ELIGIBLE MAJORS
All majors are eligible to apply, both credit-bearing and non-credit-bearing courses.
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS
Students under the age of 25 who are or were in an out-of-home placement in Maryland by the MD Department of Human Services and who are attending a Maryland public college or university are eligible to apply.
You must have:
1. Been placed in an out-of-home placement by the Maryland Department of Human Services and;
a. Resided in an out-of-home placement in the State at the time the individual graduated from high school or successfully completed a general equivalency development examination (GED) or;
b. Resided in an out-of-home placement in the State on the individual's 13th birthday and was placed into guardianship or adopted out of an out-of-home placement after the individual's 13th birthday or;
c. Are a younger sibling of an individual described in a or b of this section and concurrently placed into guardianship or adopted out of an out-of-home placement by the same guardianship or adoptive family.
ADDITIONAL CRITERIA
The youth must:
- Complete and file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or the Maryland State Financial Aid Application (MSFAA) each year.
- Be enrolled on or before he or she reaches the age of 25.
Continue to be exempt from paying tuition and fees until the earlier of ten (10) years after first enrolling as a candidate for an associates, bachelors, or
vocational certificate at a Maryland public institution of higher education; or
the date that the foster care recipient or unaccompanied homeless youth is
awarded a bachelors degree.
- Be enrolled full time or part time for an associate, bachelor's, or vocational certificate at a Maryland public institution of higher education (Non-credit courses taken to earn a vocational certificate also qualify for the tuition waiver).
Students are eligible to receive the Foster Care Tuition Waiver for the following semesters:
A. Fall
B. Winter
C. Spring
D. Summer
AWARD AMOUNT
You are exempt from paying tuition and mandatory fees at a public college in Maryland. The tuition waiver only applies to tuition and fees. This also includes all fees for credit-bearing and noncredit courses required as a condition of enrollment.
If a foster care recipient receives a scholarship or grant, the scholarship or grant may not be applied to the tuition for the foster care recipient.
Tuition is determined by the individual public institution of higher education and includes the cost for tuition, registration fees, as well as all fees that are required as a condition of enrollment. Tuition does not include room, board, books, and transportation.
RENEWING AN AWARD
You must file the FAFSA or MHEC One App to receive the waiver for up to an additional nine years or until your bachelor’s degree is awarded, whichever occurs first. You must remain enrolled in an eligible academic program.
The Tuition Waiver for Foster Care Recipients regulations have been published online under the Code of Maryland Regulations (COMAR).
