Maryland Tuition Waiver for Foster Care Recipients

Maryland waives tuition and mandatory fees at its public colleges and universities for young people who were in foster care. Students qualify if they were in an out-of-home placement by the Maryland Department of Human Services when they finished high school or turned 18, were in placement at 13 and later adopted or placed in guardianship, or spent at least a year in placement after 13 before returning home; younger siblings adopted by the same family also qualify. The student must enroll in an associate, bachelor's or vocational certificate program at a Maryland public institution before turning 25. The waiver covers tuition and required fees in every term but not room, board, books or transportation. DHS sends eligibility to the colleges; students contact the financial aid office and file the FAFSA or MSFAA.

Other deadlines near this one

How hard is the Maryland Tuition Waiver for Foster Care Recipients 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 Maryland residents
Fewer rivalsRequires a specific life circumstance
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 Maryland Tuition Waiver for Foster Care Recipients?

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 Maryland
Must attend a college in Maryland (the award does not travel out of state)
Open to high school seniors and current college students
For current or former foster youth
Age 24 or younger

Confirm these before applying

Must have been in an out-of-home placement by Maryland DHS under one of the listed conditions
Must enroll at a Maryland public college before age 25

Good to know

Does not cover room, board, books or transportation

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. Tell the college's financial aid office at admission that you were in Maryland foster care and file the FAFSA.

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 Maryland Tuition Waiver for Foster Care Recipients

How much is the Maryland Tuition Waiver for Foster Care Recipients worth?

The Maryland Tuition Waiver for Foster Care Recipients awards full tuition and mandatory fees at Maryland public colleges and is renewable in later years.

When is the Maryland Tuition Waiver for Foster Care Recipients deadline?

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. Tell the college's financial aid office at admission that you were in Maryland foster care and file the FAFSA.

Who is eligible for the Maryland Tuition Waiver for Foster Care Recipients?

Key requirements: Must be a resident of Maryland; Must attend a college in Maryland (the award does not travel out of state); Open to high school seniors and current college students; For current or former foster youth. 1 more criteria are listed on this page.

Does the Maryland Tuition Waiver for Foster Care Recipients 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 Maryland Tuition Waiver for Foster Care Recipients?

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 1 hr of paperwork.

Is the Maryland Tuition Waiver for Foster Care Recipients free to apply?

Yes. The Maryland Tuition Waiver for Foster Care Recipients is free to apply. Legitimate scholarships never charge an application fee, and Solyo verifies every listed award against its official page.