Massachusetts Foster Child Grant

The Massachusetts Foster Child Grant gives up to $6,000 a year toward college for young people placed in the custody of the Department of Children and Families through a Care and Protection petition. Unlike most state aid, it can be used at accredited public, private nonprofit or for-profit colleges anywhere in the continental United States, for up to five consecutive years. Students must be under 25 at the start of the academic year, enroll full time, file the FAFSA or MASFA, keep satisfactory academic progress, and sign a voluntary agreement with DCF. To apply, students contact their DCF social worker or the Office of Student Financial Assistance at (617) 391-6070.

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 Foster Child Grant to win?

This is not a competition, but the funding is rationed: eligible students are routinely turned away once the money runs out, so filing date decides the outcome.

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 Foster Child Grant?

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
• ✓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. Talk with your DCF social worker in junior or senior year so the agreement is in place before college starts.

Applications close

June 30, 2027 (estimated)

Common questions about the Massachusetts Foster Child Grant

More state grants & programs

• 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
• Mississippi FAITH Scholarship
  Up to full cost of attendance minus other grants · 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