Top 43 Scholarships for Adopted Children and Foster Children in January 2026

Have you been adopted or in foster care and have plans to attend a four-year university? If so, consider applying for the Adoption STAR Academic Scholarship Program! This scholarship is open to college-bound, academically impressive high school seniors who were adopted or have been in foster care. The scholarship is offered by Adoption STAR, a non-profit adoption agency dedicated to providing adoption support for pregnant people, birth families, and children. Each year, the scholarship awards up to $1,000 to selected students to help pay for their college expenses. If you’re an adoptee or have been in foster care and are looking for some help to pay off your chosen degree, we encourage you to apply!Show Less

Calling all Ohio residents! If you have experienced foster care at some point in your life, you may qualify for the Ohio Education and Training Voucher Scholarship. In addition to being currently or formerly in foster care within the state of Ohio, applicants must be under the age of 26, have personal assets worth less than $10,000, and be enrolled in a degree, certificate, or other accredited program to qualify for the scholarship. This program was established to provide financial, academic, and human support for young adults who’ve left the foster care system and are transitioning to the next chapter of their lives. If you're an Ohio resident who was formerly or is currently in foster care, we encourage you to apply and take advantage of this amazing opportunity! Then, be sure to check out these foster care scholarships and scholarships for Ohio residents. Happy applying!Show Less

The LOSFA Chafee Educational and Training Voucher (ETV) Program awards up to $5,000 annually during the academic year to Louisiana residents who have been in the foster care system and are currently enrolled in an undergraduate and graduate program. Applicants must also be between the ages of 14 and 26, have been in or exited/aged out of the foster care system, and submit the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) to be considered for the scholarship. Bear in mind that the exact award amount will be determined by the student’s financial need. This scholarship aims to help former foster youth afford higher education or technical and skill training and prepare them to enter the workforce. If you're a Louisiana resident and current or aspiring post-secondary student who was or is currently in foster care, we encourage you to apply! Keep on reading to learn more.Show Less

Are you a Minnesota resident who has spent any time in foster care and has been accepted into an accredited, Federal Pell Grant-eligible college or university? If so, you could be eligible for the Minnesota Education Vouchers for Former Youth in Care! This program is an easy-application program generously offering up to $5,000 per school year to help Minnesotan former foster children fund their post-secondary education at college, university, vocational, technical, or trade schools. Applicants must also be under 26 years of age and submit their FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid), class schedule, and financial aid award letter to be considered for the scholarship. The Minnesota Education Vouchers for Former Youth in Care is one of the many scholarships for adopted and foster children and scholarships for Minnesota students that can be found on Scholarships360. We encourage you to apply for this scholarship and explore others that you could qualify for as well!Show Less

Are you a current or former foster care student residing in Alabama? If so, then you may be eligible for Alabama Education and Training Voucher Program!  Worth $5,000 per year, this scholarship is available to high school seniors and college students who have experienced foster care. Applicants must have either been in U.S. foster care on their 18th birthday and aged out at that time OR been adopted from U.S. foster care with the adoption finalized AFTER their 16th birthday OR have their foster care case closed between the ages of 18 and 21. On the hunt for more scholarships? There are plenty of other Alabama scholarships on Scholarships360. Go check them out and good luck!Show Less

The North Carolina Education and Training Voucher Scholarship provides financial assistance to residents of North Carolina who have been in foster care and wish to attend college.Show Less

The Pivotal Scholarship Program offers scholarships to youth who were a dependent of the court for at least one day after age 13 in Santa Clara or San Mateo counties, California. Living in or planning to attend a college or university in Santa Clara or San Mateo counties. Students with a high school diploma or GED are encouraged to apply.Show Less

The Pennsylvania Chafee Education and Training Grant Program is a fantastic opportunity for undergraduate students who are aging out of foster care. This federally funded program offers grants to eligible students who are attending an eligible postsecondary institution. To qualify, applicants must be identified as a youth in foster care or a youth discharged or adopted from foster care at age 16, have not reached the age of 26 by July 1 of the upcoming academic year, and have graduated from high school or have received a Commonwealth Secondary School Diploma. Don't miss out on this amazing chance to further your education and secure your future! Keep on reading to learn more.Show Less

Are you a college student in Maryland who has been in foster care? If so, you might be eligible to receive the MHEC Tuition Waiver for Foster Care Recipients! The program is open to foster care youth pursuing an undergraduate or vocational degree at a Maryland public institution of higher education. The Maryland Higher Education Commission (MHEC) is the state of Maryland’s board of education that, among other responsibilities, grants financial assistance to foster care youth. Thus, they offer the MHEC Tuition Waiver to help former foster youth pursue higher education at a low cost.  If eligible, recipients will receive a tuition waiver, including tuition and registration fees at a public college in Maryland. If you are a foster care youth from Maryland looking to pursue a postsecondary degree, we encourage you to apply!Show Less

The Christian A. Herter Memorial Scholarship Program is funded by the Massachusetts Department of Higher Education, an organization that ensures Massachusetts residents have the opportunity to benefit from a higher education that enriches their lives and advances their contributions to the civic life, economic development, and social progress of the Commonwealth. Each year, their Christian A. Herter Memorial Scholarship Program awards scholarships of varying amounts to college-bound high school sophomores and juniors from Massachusetts who have overcome major adversity in their lives. If this scholarship sounds like a fit for you, keep on reading for more application details.Show Less

Are you an Oklahoma resident who was formerly in Oklahoma's foster care system and have a plan to attend the University of Oklahoma? If so, you may be eligible for the Donna and Harry Kornbaum Scholarship! Each year, the scholarship is awarded to one rising University of Oklahoma student who was formerly in the Oklahoma foster care system. If you're a Oklahoma resident, incoming Sooner, and were formerly in foster care, we encourage you to apply! Keep on reading to learn more.Show Less

Are you soon applying to or enrolling at Western Michigan University? If you are, and you demonstrate verifiable financial need and a strong academic record, the Western Michigan University Foundation Scholarship could subsidize a very substantial amount of your education! This competitive scholarship offers $16,000 per year in funding to incoming freshmen at the university. Students must complete a separate application for the scholarship in addition to their college application. If you are considering attending the university, we encourage you to apply!Show Less

Are you a high school senior who was in foster care in Vermont? If so, consider applying for the Vermont John H. Chafee Education and Training Scholarship! The scholarship is open to college-bound high school graduates who were in foster care after age 14 within the state of Vermont. Offered by the Vermont Student Assistance Corporation (VSAC), the program focuses on helping youth from the foster system complete their desired education. VSAC is a public, nonprofit agency that advocates “for students and their families to ensure that they have the information, the counseling, and the financial aid to achieve their education goals.” Every year, the scholarship awards up to $5,000 to winning applicants. If you were formerly in foster care in Vermont and are looking for some help paying educational expenses, we encourage you to apply!Show Less

Are you a Massachusetts adoptee aged 24 or younger? If so, consider applying for the Department of Children and Families Adopted Child Tuition Waiver and Fee Assistance Program! This scholarship is open to adoptees aged 24 and younger who were adopted through DCF by Massachusetts state employees or eligible Massachusetts residents. Applicants must be planning to attend a public, in-state university. The scholarship is funded by the Massachusetts Department of Higher Education, an agency that ensures that Massachusetts residents have the opportunity to benefit from a higher education that enriches their lives and advances their contributions to the Commonwealth. Each year, selected eligible students will be entitled to a tuition waiver and fee assistance equal to 100% of the resident rate. If you’re a Massachusetts adoptee passionate about pursuing your dream career and are looking for some help to pay off your degree, we encourage you to apply!Show Less

Have you been in foster care through Casey Family Services? If so, consider applying for the Casey Family Services Alumni Scholarship! The Casey Family Services Alumni Scholarship is open to 16-49-year-old current and incoming university students pursuing any degree or professional degree who were in foster care through Casey Family Services in the states of Connecticut, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, or Vermont. The scholarship is offered by Foster Care To Success, the oldest and largest national non-profit organization working solely with college-bound foster youth to help provide them with tuition grants, books, living stipends, and emergency funding. On a rolling basis, the scholarship grants up to $10,000 to help former foster youth pay for their postsecondary educational expenses. If you're a former foster youth looking for help funding your schooling, we encourage you to apply!Show Less

Are you a college student who has previously been in DHS (Department of Human Services) custody in Oklahoma? If so, consider applying for the Oklahoma Independent Living Act (Foster Care Tuition Waiver)! The Oklahoma Independent Living Act (Foster Care Tuition Waiver) is open to Oklahoma high school graduates now enrolled in postsecondary programs who have been in DHS custody for at least nine months between the ages of 16 and 18. The scholarship is offered by OKCollegeStart.Org, an organization that offers qualified Oklahoma students the opportunity to earn scholarships to go towards their college tuition. Winning applicants will receive a resident tuition waiver which covers the costs of resident tuition for all eligible courses. If you're an Oklahoma college student who has previously been in foster care, we encourage you to apply!Show Less

Are you an incoming Cleveland State University student who has spent time in foster care and is between 17 and 20 years of age? If so, the Sullivan - Deckard Scholarship Opportunity Program may be a great opportunity for you. Each year, the scholarship is awarded to up to 10 incoming CSU students who submit a ~1,000-word personal interest essay, their ACT score, two letters of recommendation, and a transcript. The scholarship can be renewed each semester provided that the recipients maintain good academic standing (minimum 2.5 GPA) and continue to meet the other renewal requirements. If you're an incoming CSU student and have been in foster care, we encourage you to apply. Keep on reading to learn more!Show Less

Maryland residents who have spent time in foster care and are looking to pursue higher education, you've come to the right place. The Maryland Education and Training Voucher (ETV) Scholarship was established to provide "financial, academic, and human support for young adults who’ve left the foster care system and are enrolled in qualified colleges, universities, or vocational education programs." To qualify for the scholarship, students must have either been in foster care until age 18 or left foster care after their 16th birthday because they were adopted or placed in kinship guardianship. They must also be under the age of 26, have personal assets worth less than $10,000, and be enrolled in a degree, certificate, or other accredited program, and show that they are making satisfactory academic progress. However, bear in mind that students must apply for Maryland ETV for the first time before their 21st birthday. To continue receiving the scholarship, Maryland ETV recipients must maintain a minimum 2.0 GPA each academic term. If you sound like a fit for this scholarship, we encourage you to apply! But don't stop there - there are many other Maryland scholarships and scholarships for adopted and foster children available through Scholarships360. Don’t miss your chance to turn your academic achievements into financial support!Show Less

Ready to receive help to fund your undergraduate education? Well, if you were formerly in Michigan foster care, the Michigan Fostering Futures Scholarship may have you covered! Each year, the scholarship awards up to a maximum of $5,000 to undergraduate students who have been in Michigan foster care due to abuse/neglect on or after their 13th birthday. Applicants must also plan to attend a public or eligible private university in Michigan, demonstrate financial need, be enrolled at least half-time, and have been a Michigan resident since at least July 1st of the previous year. To be considered for the scholarship, students must have filed the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) for the current year and complete the FFS application by the deadline. The Michigan Fostering Futures Scholarship is one of the many scholarships for Michigan residents and scholarships for adopted or foster children that can be found on Scholarships360. If you qualify, we encourage you to apply for this scholarship and explore others across the platform. Good luck with your scholarship search!Show Less

Have you been in foster care and reside in Arizona? If so, then you may be eligible for the Arizona Education and Training Voucher. This $5,000 scholarship is offered to high school seniors and college students that were in U.S. foster care on or after their 16th birthday. Applicants must be an Arizona resident, have personal assets worth less than $10,000, and be enrolled in a degree, certificate or other accredited program demonstrating they are making satisfactory academic progress. Candidates must have a minimum 2.0 GPA and the award must be used in Arizona. To apply, applicants must submit an academic transcript. If you sound like a fit for this scholarship, we encourage you to apply! But don’t stop there! To find similar scholarships that you could qualify for, browse Scholarships360 for more Arizona scholarships. Happy applying!Show Less

Are you a student from Washington who has experienced foster care at some point in your life? If so, you may be eligible to apply for the Washington State Governor's Scholarship for Foster Youth. This scholarship, worth up to $4,000, is offered to high school seniors and college students who are currently or previously in Washington court-ordered foster care, guardianship, dependency guardianship, federally recognized care, or dependency tribal order. Applicants must have a minimum 2.0 GPA and have plans to pursue a professional certificate, associate, or bachelor’s degree at an institution in Washington. To apply, applicants must submit an academic transcript, one letter of recommendation, and a copy of their Dependency Court Order. They must also submit either the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or the free Washington Application for State Financial Aid. If you’re interested in more scholarships for Washington residents, we encourage you to keep exploring opportunities on Scholarships360!Show Less

The Nick & Helena Patti Foundation Scholarship annually awards up to $6,500 to multiple college sophomores and upperclassmen of Italian heritage who reside in Illinois. Preference will be given to those who (a) are pursuing a degree in music or education or (b) were orphaned or raised in a foster home. If you're a college student of Italian heritage from Illinois, and you are pursuing a degree in music or education or were orphaned or raised in a foster home, we encourage you to apply. Keep on reading for more application details!Show Less

The Forward Steps Scholarship is dedicated to empowering foster youth from Colorado to achieve their academic goals and pursue their passions. This scholarship is exclusively available to Colorado residents with a background in the foster care system who plan to attend or are currently attending a postsecondary institution in Colorado. Each year, the scholarship provides financial assistance of up to $3,000/per scholar/per semester to cover unmet financial need while pursuing a postsecondary education. If you're a Colorado resident who has been in foster care and will be attending an in-state university, we encourage you to apply! Don't miss out on this opportunity to take a step forward towards your future, and keep on reading to learn more. Bear in mind that while scholarships are accepted on a rolling basis, priority deadlines fall on May 31st for the Fall semester and October 31st for the Spring semester.Show Less

Pursuing higher education is an amazing next step after graduating high school, opening students up to so many more opportunities and broadening their horizons. That’s why the Orangewood Foundation is offering their Undergraduate Scholarship Program to the current and former foster youth of Orange County, California who are pursuing higher education. Each semester, multiple lucky applicants are given the chance to win up to $2,952 per semester! To be eligible, students must be a declared dependent or resident of Orange County, California and be enrolled in an accredited university, community college, or trade/vocational school. Bear in mind that award amounts may vary depending upon one’s credits and the type of institution they’re attending. Orange you ready to get started applying for scholarships? If so, consider also checking out our California scholarships and scholarships for adopted and foster children available on Scholarships360. Happy applying!Show Less