PA Fostering Independence Tuition Waiver (FosterEd)

Pennsylvania's Fostering Independence Tuition Waiver, called FosterEd, requires colleges in the state to waive tuition and mandatory fees for young people who are or were in foster care. Created by Act 16 of 2019, it is run by PHEAA with the state departments of Education, Human Services, and Labor and Industry. The waiver covers whatever tuition and fees remain after federal, state and other grants are applied, at most Pennsylvania postsecondary institutions. Students qualify if they experienced foster care at 16 or older, or left care after 16 for adoption or permanent legal custodianship, are eligible for Pennsylvania's Chafee program, have finished high school, and have not turned 26 by July 1 of the award year. They must enroll at least half time, show need as judged by the college and keep satisfactory progress, for up to five years. To apply, students file the FAFSA and PA State Grant items and submit the Chafee ETG application, due May 1, 2027 for this year. Every college has a designated point of contact to help.

Other deadlines near this one

How hard is the PA Fostering Independence Tuition Waiver (FosterEd) to win?

A large applicant pool chases this award. Apply if the student is a genuinely strong fit, but build the plan around better-odds awards first. The provider does not publish applicant or winner counts, so Solyo shows no odds figure for this award.

Odds: not published by the provider
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 Pennsylvania residents
Fewer rivalsRequires a specific life circumstance
Fewer rivalsOpen to a single grade level only

How Solyo estimates this: We model the applicant field from how narrow the eligibility rules are, then divide the awards available by that field. Requirements such as essays and recommendation letters improve a serious applicant’s odds, because most browsers never complete them. 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 PA Fostering Independence Tuition Waiver (FosterEd)?

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 Pennsylvania
Must attend a college in Pennsylvania (the award does not travel out of state)
Open to high school seniors
For current or former foster youth
Age 25 or younger

Confirm these before applying

Must have experienced foster care at 16 or older, or left care after 16 for adoption or permanent legal custodianship
Must not have turned 26 by July 1 of the award year

Good to know

Must enroll at least half time at a participating Pennsylvania institution

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 May 1, 2027. This award runs on an annual cycle, with deadlines around May 1 each year. Applications open October 1 (FAFSA opens). Contact the college's FosterEd point of contact before enrolling; colleges must post that person's name on their website.

2027-28 FAFSA opens: October 1, 2026
Chafee ETG application (also triggers the FosterEd waiver) for 2026-27: May 1, 2027

Remind me before May 1 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 PA Fostering Independence Tuition Waiver (FosterEd)

How much is the PA Fostering Independence Tuition Waiver (FosterEd) worth?

The PA Fostering Independence Tuition Waiver (FosterEd) awards remaining tuition and mandatory fees after other grants and is renewable in later years.

When is the PA Fostering Independence Tuition Waiver (FosterEd) deadline?

The current deadline is May 1, 2027. This award runs on an annual cycle, with deadlines around May 1 each year. Applications open October 1 (FAFSA opens). Contact the college's FosterEd point of contact before enrolling; colleges must post that person's name on their website.

When do PA Fostering Independence Tuition Waiver (FosterEd) applications open?

Applications open October 1 (FAFSA opens), and close May 1, 2027. Contact the college's FosterEd point of contact before enrolling; colleges must post that person's name on their website.

Who is eligible for the PA Fostering Independence Tuition Waiver (FosterEd)?

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

Does the PA Fostering Independence Tuition Waiver (FosterEd) 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 PA Fostering Independence Tuition Waiver (FosterEd)?

A large applicant pool chases this award. Apply if the student is a genuinely strong fit, but build the plan around better-odds awards first. The provider does not publish applicant or winner counts, so Solyo shows no odds figure for this award. What is known: open only to Pennsylvania residents and requires a specific life circumstance. Plan on about 2 hrs of work.

Is the PA Fostering Independence Tuition Waiver (FosterEd) free to apply?

Yes. The PA Fostering Independence Tuition Waiver (FosterEd) is free to apply. Legitimate scholarships never charge an application fee, and Solyo verifies every listed award against its official page.