Maryland Tuition Waiver for Foster Care Recipients

About this scholarship

The Maryland Tuition Waiver for Foster Care Recipients exempts eligible students from tuition, registration fees, and other mandatory enrollment fees at Maryland public institutions of higher education. It can support full-time or part-time study toward an associate degree, bachelor’s degree, or credit-bearing or noncredit vocational certificate. Every academic major is eligible, and the waiver may be used during fall, winter, spring, and summer terms. Room, board, books, and transportation are not covered. Applicants must enroll in an eligible program on or before age 25 and must have been placed in an out-of-home placement by the Maryland Department of Human Services. Qualifying histories include being in placement at high school graduation or GED completion, at age 18, or at age 13 before adoption or guardianship after that birthday. A youth who spent at least one year in an out-of-home placement on or after age 13 and later returned to a parent may also qualify. The statute also covers certain younger siblings adopted or placed into guardianship concurrently by the same family. The official application instruction is to contact the financial aid office at the Maryland public institution the student attends or plans to attend; there is no universal December 1 deadline on the current state page. The state encourages completing the FAFSA or Maryland State Financial Aid Application so other aid can be coordinated correctly.

Eligibility

• Have been placed in an out-of-home placement by the Maryland Department of Human Services
• Meet at least one of the state’s qualifying foster-care, adoption, guardianship, reunification, or sibling provisions
• Enroll in an eligible program on or before turning 25
• Attend a Maryland public institution of higher education
• Pursue an associate degree, bachelor’s degree, or eligible vocational certificate
• Contact the institution’s financial aid office to request and document the waiver
• Complete the FAFSA or Maryland State Financial Aid Application when eligible
• Follow the institution’s term-specific financial aid procedures and provide requested records