Massachusetts DCF Foster Child Tuition Waiver and Fee Assistance

This Massachusetts program waives 100% of resident tuition and provides fee assistance for state-supported courses at Massachusetts public colleges for young people who were in state custody before 18 and were not adopted or returned home, or whose guardianship was sponsored by DCF through age 18. Students must be 24 or younger at the start of the academic year, have not earned a bachelor's degree, file the FAFSA or equivalent, and keep satisfactory progress; full-time, part-time and non-credit study all qualify. Eligibility documentation comes from the Department of Children and Families (subsidy.unit@mass.gov), and the college's financial aid office applies the waiver. It is subject to the state budget.

Other deadlines near this one

• 802 Opportunity Grant
  Due June 30, 2027 · Full tuition and the $100 administrative fee at CCV (last-dollar)
• Alaska Education Grant
  Due June 30, 2027 · $500-$4,000/yr based on need and enrollment level
• Alaska Performance Scholarship
  Due June 30, 2027 · $3,500-$7,000/yr depending on tier

How hard is the Massachusetts DCF Foster Child Tuition Waiver and Fee Assistance 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.

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 Massachusetts 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 Massachusetts DCF Foster Child Tuition Waiver and Fee Assistance?

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 Massachusetts
• ✓Must attend a college in Massachusetts (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

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. Request the DCF eligibility checklist in senior year so the waiver is ready for the first bill.

Applications close

June 30, 2027 (estimated)

Common questions about the Massachusetts DCF Foster Child Tuition Waiver and Fee Assistance

More state grants & programs

• Massachusetts Foster Child Grant
  Up to $6,000 per year · due June 30, 2027
• Michigan Achievement Scholarship
  Up to $5,500/yr x 5 years ($27,500 max), or tuition-free community college · due June 30, 2027
• Michigan Police Officer's and Fire Fighter's Survivor Tuition Grant
  Tuition waiver at Michigan public colleges · due June 30, 2027
• Michigan Tuition Incentive Program (TIP)
  Tuition assistance through an associate degree, then into a bachelor’s degree · due June 30, 2027
• Minnesota State Grant
  Varies by need and sector; recent averages ~$1,400 (2-yr public) to ~$6,400 (U of M / private 4-yr) · due September 30, 2027
• Mississippi Eminent Scholars Grant (MESG)
  Up to $2,500/yr (cannot exceed tuition and required fees) · due September 15, 2027

Lists this award appears on

• Massachusetts Scholarships and State Grants
• No-Essay Scholarships
• Renewable Scholarships (Multi-Year Awards)
• Scholarships With June Deadlines