State Grants & ProgramsQualify and receive

Kentucky Tuition Waiver for Foster and Adopted Children

Offered by Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services (KRS 164.2847) · Free to apply

Kentucky law waives tuition and mandatory student fees at every Kentucky public university and Kentucky Community and Technical College System school for students who were in Kentucky foster care or adopted from it. A student qualifies if, among other routes, the family receives state-funded adoption assistance, the student is committed to the Cabinet for Health and Family Services and placed in a foster home, is in a Cabinet-funded independent living program, was adopted after being in the Cabinet's permanent custody, was in Cabinet custody on their 18th birthday, or was removed from parental custody and then adopted by a relative. Certain Department of Juvenile Justice foster youth also qualify. The waiver applies to full- or part-time study, undergraduate and graduate, as long as the student meets entrance requirements and stays academically eligible. It does not cover room and board. The college confirms eligibility with the Cabinet on the state's tuition waiver form, and students should still file the FAFSA, since the waiver works alongside other aid.

Other deadlines near this one

How hard is the Kentucky Tuition Waiver for Foster and Adopted Children 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: ~2 hrs 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 Kentucky residents
Fewer rivalsRequires a specific life circumstance
Fewer rivalsOpen to a single grade level only
More rivalsA large award draws far more applicants

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 Kentucky Tuition Waiver for Foster and Adopted Children?

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 Kentucky
Must attend a college in Kentucky (the award does not travel out of state)
Open to high school seniors
For current or former foster youth

Confirm these before applying

Must meet one of the statute's foster care, adoption assistance or Cabinet custody pathways

Good to know

Generally must enter college within four years of high school graduation; check the time limits with the college

Personalized matching

Does your student actually qualify?

Not sure your student clears every rule above? Solyo checks 20+ criteria against their real profile: GPA, state, grade level, intended major, and more, across every award in this directory at once.

Match my student to scholarships

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 next projected deadline is June 30, 2027 (estimated). The last verified deadline has passed; the next cycle is projected from this award's usual June 30 deadline. Confirm the exact date on the official site.

Applications close: June 30, 2027 (estimated)

Track the next deadline Apply on the official site

Free to apply. Legitimate scholarships never charge a fee. We use your student's information only to build their plan.

Common questions about the Kentucky Tuition Waiver for Foster and Adopted Children

How much is the Kentucky Tuition Waiver for Foster and Adopted Children worth?

The Kentucky Tuition Waiver for Foster and Adopted Children awards full tuition and mandatory fees at Kentucky public colleges and is renewable in later years.

When is the Kentucky Tuition Waiver for Foster and Adopted Children deadline?

Who is eligible for the Kentucky Tuition Waiver for Foster and Adopted Children?

Key requirements: Must be a resident of Kentucky; Must attend a college in Kentucky (the award does not travel out of state); Open to high school seniors; For current or former foster youth.

Does the Kentucky Tuition Waiver for Foster and Adopted Children require an essay?

No essay is required. The application is light on requirements. Expect to spend about 2 hours on it.

How hard is it to win the Kentucky Tuition Waiver for Foster and Adopted Children?

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 qualify and receive, meaning qualifying students generally receive it. Plan on about 2 hrs of paperwork.

Is the Kentucky Tuition Waiver for Foster and Adopted Children free to apply?

Yes. The Kentucky Tuition Waiver for Foster and Adopted Children 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

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.