Increasing College Access and Retention Rates of Foster Youth: An Analysis of the Impact of 23 State Tuition Waivers

Background and Purpose: Youth with histories of foster care have faced great educational disparities in terms of college access, retention, and graduation.  For example, as many as 70% of young people preparing to exit care report a desire to pursue a college degree (Tzawa-Hayden, 2004), only 18% ever enroll (Courtney, 2009), and of those only between 3 and 11% will graduate (Davis, 2006; Pecora, et al., 2006; Courtney et al., 2011).  In order to address these postsecondary education deficits, 23 states have developed tuition waiver programs that target current and former foster care youth.  Tuition waivers are state programs designed to increase access to higher education by waiving tuition and fees at colleges and vocational schools under certain conditions. 

Methods: Information on these waiver programs were collected through internet searches of databases including EBSCO, ERIC, LexisNexis, and Google and verified through phone calls and emails to state education and child welfare leaders responsible for program implementation (16 child welfare, 4 education, 1 other).  Information was analyzed using content analysis and then coded for similarities and differences between programs. 

Results:  The 23 tuition waiver programs ranged from implementation times of 28 years (Florida, 1988) to less than one year (New Mexico, 2015).  Key similarities include student eligibility focused on the youth’s age upon entrance to foster care (Ex., must have been in care on or after 16th birthday), time of university academic admission (Ex., must apply before age 21 ), and academic standing requirements (must maintain good academic standing, make satisfactory academic progress, maintain minimum GPA, be enrolled full time). Waiver programs differ greatly in terms of the type of educational expenses covered (tuition, fees, room and board, off campus housing, books), time limits on use (ranges between up to age 21 to no end date), and nonacademic requirements (Ex., community service).  Very few states are tracking student participation and cost. The 23 tuition waiver programs referenced are: Alaska, Arizona, Connecticut, Florida, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Carolina, Texas, Utah, Virginia and West Virginia.

Conclusions and Implications: This study supports the need to develop policies and practices to ensure foster youth who are eligible for tuition waivers have the opportunity to participate.  Specifically, there is a need for U.S. Departments of Health and Human Services and Education to collaborate and develop guidelines for best practice statutes and policy for easier implementation and outcome tracking.  Also, it is essential that eligibility criteria be expanded to all youth who were in foster care on or after age 14, and should be covered by tuition waivers through at least age 28.   Finally, it is necessary to train child welfare workers and student support personnel employed in higher education institutions on post-secondary education opportunities for foster youth.