In 2019, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania passed Act 16, creating the Fostering Independence Tuition Waiver (FosterEd) Program, amended by Act 91. The FosterEd Program provides tuition waivers at postsecondary institutions for eligible youth who are or have been in foster care. The program is being administered collaboratively by the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA) in conjunction with the PA Departments of Education (PDE), Human Services (DHS), and Labor & Industry (L & I).
Student Eligibility Requirements
To be eligible for a FosterEd waiver, the student must:
Be a current resident of Pennsylvania at the start and during the term for which the waiver is awarded.
Have not reached the age of 26 by July 1 of the upcoming academic year for which the FosterEd waiver is received.
Have graduated from high school or have received a Commonwealth Secondary School Diploma.
Be eligible for services under Pennsylvania’s John H. Chafee Foster Care Program for Successful
Transition to Adulthood.
Be identified as a youth who is in foster care, or was discharged from foster care on or after attaining age 16, OR has exited foster care on or after age 16 to adoption or permanent legal guardianship.
Be enrolled as an undergraduate at least half-time in a postsecondary institution that is approved by the U.S. Department of Education for Title IV student assistance programs in PA.
Have unmet cost for the PA Chafee Education and Training Grant (Chafee ETG), as determined by the postsecondary institution.
Maintain satisfactory academic progress as determined by the institution.
Not be in default on a federal student loan or owe a refund on other Title IV aid.
File a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) for the academic year for which the waiver is being requested.
File an application for Chafee ETG.
Have not previously received a waiver for five (5) years (consecutive or not), defined as ten (10) semesters or the equivalent, for undergraduate study.
If you have any questions, please contact:
Kelsey Cruz Associate Director of Financial Aid Office of Financial Aid 133 North River Street Administration Building, 1st Floor Wilkes-Barre, PA 18711 kelseycruz@kings.edu (570) 208-8434
Secondary point of contact:
Barbara Schmitt Director of Financial Aid Office of Financial Aid 133 North River Street Administration Building, 1st Floor Wilkes-Barre, PA 18711 barbaraschmitt@kings.edu 570-208-5868