Florida Foster Care Tuition and Fee Exemption
Offered by Florida Department of Children and Families with Florida public institutions · Free to apply
Florida waives all tuition and fees, including lab fees, at its state universities, Florida College System institutions and district workforce education programmes for young people who came through the child welfare system. The reach is wider than most families and even many caseworkers realise: it covers students who were in out-of-home care at eighteen, students placed with relative or nonrelative caregivers, students adopted from the Department of Children and Families after May 1997, court guardianships after time in custody, and some students reunified with their parents after long stretches in care. It runs until age twenty-eight, which makes it one of the longest-lived benefits in the state. There is no award to win and no fund to run out: it is a statutory exemption claimed with a one-page departmental form each year.
How hard is the Florida Foster Care Tuition and Fee Exemption to win?
This is not a competition. Aid is allocated by a published formula, so meeting the criteria and filing on time is what determines whether the money arrives.
- Estimated odds
- qualifying students generally receive it
- Paperwork
- ~1 hr to file
What drives the odds here
Odds on a scholarship are mostly a question of how many students can enter. Each rule below changes the size of that field.
- Fewer rivalsOpen only to Florida residents
- Fewer rivalsRequires a specific life circumstance
How Solyo estimates this: State programs that allocate by published formula are modelled on qualification and filing, not on competition, because there is no selection committee choosing between applicants. These are estimates derived from each award's published structure, not reported acceptance rates, which almost no scholarship provider discloses. Treat them as a way to rank where the hours go, not as a guarantee.
Who can apply for the Florida Foster Care Tuition and Fee Exemption?
These are the eligibility rules Solyo verified against the official award page, translated into plain English. Your student must meet each one.
- Must be a resident of Florida
- Open to high school seniors, current college students, transfer students, and adult learners
- For current or former foster youth
- Qualifying routes include: in out-of-home care at age 18; in relative or nonrelative caregiver custody at 18; court guardianship after six months in custody past age 16; adopted from DCF after May 5, 1997; permanent guardianship placements; and reunification with parents after age 14 following 18 or more months in care (this last route also requires Pell eligibility, verified by the institution).
- Valid until age 28, at Florida public institutions only. It waives tuition and fees, not books or housing.
- Claim it with DCF form CF-FSP 5220, signed by a DCF or community-based care lead agency representative, submitted to the institution each year by the payment deadline. The DCF Office of Continuing Care (1-850-300-4673) helps when paperwork stalls.
What the application takes
No essay, recommendation letters, or transcript are required. This is one of the lighter applications in the directory.
Deadline and application cycle
The current deadline is August 31, 2027. This award runs on an annual cycle, with deadlines around August 31 each year.
- Applications close
- August 31, 2027
Does your student actually qualify?
See if your student qualifies in 30 seconds. Solyo checks 20+ criteria against their real profile: GPA, state, grade level, intended major, and more, across every award in this directory at once.
Common questions about the Florida Foster Care Tuition and Fee Exemption
How much is the Florida Foster Care Tuition and Fee Exemption worth?
The Florida Foster Care Tuition and Fee Exemption awards all tuition and fees waived, including lab fees, at Florida public institutions and is renewable in later years.
When is the Florida Foster Care Tuition and Fee Exemption deadline?
The current deadline is August 31, 2027. This award runs on an annual cycle, with deadlines around August 31 each year.
Who is eligible for the Florida Foster Care Tuition and Fee Exemption?
Key requirements: Must be a resident of Florida; Open to high school seniors, current college students, transfer students, and adult learners; For current or former foster youth.
Does the Florida Foster Care Tuition and Fee Exemption require an essay?
No essay is required. The application is light on requirements. Expect to spend about 1 hour on it.
How hard is it to win the Florida Foster Care Tuition and Fee Exemption?
This is not a competition. Aid is allocated by a published formula, so meeting the criteria and filing on time is what determines whether the money arrives. Solyo classifies this award as formula-based, meaning qualifying students generally receive it. Plan on about 1 hr of paperwork.
Is the Florida Foster Care Tuition and Fee Exemption free to apply?
Yes. The Florida Foster Care Tuition and Fee Exemption is free to apply. Legitimate scholarships never charge an application fee, and Solyo verifies every listed award against its official page.
More state grants & programs
- 802 Opportunity GrantFull tuition and the $100 administrative fee at CCV (last-dollar)
- Access Missouri Financial Assistance ProgramVaries by SAI and school type per statutory table (amounts prorated if funding is short)
- Alabama Student Grant ProgramUp to $3,000/yr ($1,500 per semester; actual amount depends on state funding)
- Alaska Education Grant$500-$4,000/yr based on need and enrollment level
- Alaska Performance Scholarship$3,500-$7,000/yr depending on tier
- Arizona Promise ProgramFull tuition & mandatory fees at Arizona public universities (last-dollar)
Lists this award appears on
Award details are curated by Solyo and verified against the official scholarship page. Deadlines and requirements can change between cycles, so always confirm on the provider's site before applying.