Texas Foster Care Tuition and Fee Exemption
Offered by Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board with Texas DFPS · Free to apply
Texas exempts current and former foster youth from tuition and fees at Texas public colleges, universities and vocational schools. It is a statutory entitlement with two unusual features: there is no financial need test, and there is no Texas residency requirement at the point of award so long as the DFPS programme requirements are met. The principal route is having been in DFPS conservatorship the day before the eighteenth birthday, with enrollment beginning before age 25. Students adopted under an adoption assistance agreement face no age limit at all. Verification runs through DFPS Form 1810, and requesting that form is essentially the whole action.
How hard is the Texas Foster Care Tuition and Fee Exemption 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 Texas 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 Texas Foster Care Tuition and Fee Exemption?
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 Texas
- Open to high school seniors, current college students, and transfer students
- For current or former foster youth
- Age 25 or younger
- Principal route: you were in DFPS conservatorship the day before your 18th birthday and enroll at an eligible Texas institution before age 25. Other qualifying routes exist, including adoption from DFPS conservatorship.
- Verification is by DFPS Form 1810, processed by DFPS Adoption Eligibility or Preparation for Adult Living staff. Requesting that form is the whole action.
- IMPORTANT for undocumented and DACA students: Texas in-state tuition on the residency-affidavit route was blocked by a federal court in 2025 and the case is still being litigated. Campuses are applying this inconsistently, especially for DACA recipients. Do not assume you qualify or that you do not. Get your residency classification in writing from the specific institution before relying on any Texas state aid.
- Students adopted under an adoption assistance agreement may enroll at ANY age. The age 25 limit does not apply to them.
- You must ENROLL before 25. You are not required to have received the exemption before 25.
- There is no financial need test and no Texas residency requirement at award, provided the DFPS programme requirements are met.
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 August 31, 2027. This award runs on an annual cycle, with deadlines around August 31 each year. Request DFPS Form 1810 during senior year. Nothing else gates this benefit.
- Applications close
- August 31, 2027
Does your student actually qualify?
See if your student qualifies in 30 seconds. Solyo checks 20+ criteria against their real profile: GPA, state, grade level, intended major, and more, across every award in this directory at once.
Common questions about the Texas Foster Care Tuition and Fee Exemption
How much is the Texas Foster Care Tuition and Fee Exemption worth?
The Texas Foster Care Tuition and Fee Exemption awards exempts tuition and fees at Texas public colleges, universities and vocational schools and is renewable in later years.
When is the Texas Foster Care Tuition and Fee Exemption deadline?
The current deadline is August 31, 2027. This award runs on an annual cycle, with deadlines around August 31 each year. Request DFPS Form 1810 during senior year. Nothing else gates this benefit.
Who is eligible for the Texas Foster Care Tuition and Fee Exemption?
Key requirements: Must be a resident of Texas; Open to high school seniors, current college students, and transfer students; For current or former foster youth; Age 25 or younger.
Does the Texas Foster Care Tuition and Fee Exemption 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 Texas Foster Care Tuition and Fee Exemption?
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 formula-based, meaning qualifying students generally receive it. Plan on about 2 hrs of paperwork.
Is the Texas Foster Care Tuition and Fee Exemption free to apply?
Yes. The Texas Foster Care Tuition and Fee Exemption 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
- 802 Opportunity GrantFull tuition and the $100 administrative fee at CCV (last-dollar)
- Access Missouri Financial Assistance ProgramVaries by SAI and school type per statutory table (amounts prorated if funding is short)
- Alabama Student Grant ProgramUp to $3,000/yr ($1,500 per semester; actual amount depends on state funding)
- Alaska Education Grant$500-$4,000/yr based on need and enrollment level
- Alaska Performance Scholarship$3,500-$7,000/yr depending on tier
- Arizona Promise ProgramFull tuition & mandatory fees at Arizona public universities (last-dollar)
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.