Adopted children and children in foster care face considerable adversity in many facets of their life, and obtaining a college degree is no exception. Recent studies show that less than 10 percent of American children in the foster care system graduate from college, as opposed to the national average of about 36 percent. These alarming numbers make it all the more important to improve the accessibility of college and scholarships for adopted children are one way to start.

In addition to offering financial assistance, many of these scholarships for adopted children and children in foster care include counseling, peer support, and other valuable resources!

Jump ahead to:

• Top Scholarships for Adopted Children
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Summary of Scholarships for Adopted Children
• Upcoming Scholarships

Here’s hoping that the following scholarships and resources help adopted and foster children reach their goals!

Top scholarships for adopted children in 2021

Together We Rise Family Fellowship Scholarship

• Eligibility: “Aging-out” foster youth planning on attending a four-year institution. Application consists of proof of foster care status, letters of recommendation, transcripts, and a personal statement
• Amount: Up to $18,000 per year, plus fellowship support and networking
• Deadline: March 28, 2021

Foster Care to Success General Scholarship

• Eligibility: Students who have been in public or private foster care for the 12 consecutive months leading up to and including their 18th birthday; OR have been adopted or placed into legal guardianship after their 16th birthday; OR have been orphaned for at least one year at the time of their 18th birthday and not subsequently adopted. See website for further details
• Amount: $2,500 to $5,000, renewable
• Deadline: March 31, 2021

Also-Known-As Adoptee Excellence Scholarship

• Eligibility: Internationally adopted students across the country who have shown academic excellence
• Amount: $1,500
• Deadline: Expected to open in February 2021 and close in late April 2021

Foster Care to Success Casey Family Programs Continuing Education and Job Training Program

• Eligibility: Students who have received care from Casey Family Programs in Arizona, California, Idaho, Louisiana, Montana, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, Texas, Washington or Wyoming and are attending or planning to attend a post-secondary institution to obtain a certificate, associate’s, bachelor’s or postgraduate degree
• Amount: Varies
• Deadline: For undergraduates, application is open March 1-May 1 and August 1-October 1. For graduate students, February 1-April 1

UmpsCare All-Star College Scholarship

• Eligibility: Students adopted at or after age 13 who are under 20 and demonstrate financial need through the FAFSA
• Amount: $5,000 per semester
• Deadline: Not yet announced (Application opens February 1, 2021)

Albuquerque Community Foundation Youth in Foster Care Scholarship

• Eligibility: Students who have resided in New Mexico and been in the New Mexico foster care program for at least one year, who are between 17 and 21 years old. Applications must hold a minimum 2.5 GPA, whether they are currently in high school or college. This requirement does not apply to GED holders who are applying to college.
• Amount: $1,000
• Deadline: June 3, 2021

Maryland Higher Education Commision Tuition Waiver for Foster Care Recipients

• Eligibility: Maryland foster care youth under 25 pursuing an associate, bachelor’s degree or vocational certificate at a Maryland Public institution of higher education. Must complete the FAFSA and contact the financial aid office of the school being attended
• Amount: Full tuition waiver
• Deadline: School deadlines vary, but make sure to fill out the FAFSA which is due June 30, 2021

Adoption STAR Academic Scholarship Program

• Eligibility: High school seniors who are adopted or in foster care, whose transcript either shows high performance or trends of improvement, have overcome adversity, and plan on attending a 4-year college program
• Amount: $3,000
• Deadline: Varies

Foster Care to Success Casey Family Services Alumni Scholarship

• Eligibility: Must have received services from Casey Family Services, including foster care, guardianship or adoption, in Connecticut, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island or Vermont. Must be between 16 and 49 years old and starting or attending a post-secondary institution to obtain a certificate, associate’s, bachelor’s or master’s degree or a professional degree (PhD’s not eligible)
• Amount: Up to $10,000
• Deadline: Rolling

Massachusetts Department of Children and Families Adopted Child Tuition Waiver and Fee Assistance Program

• Eligibility: Massachusetts students who have been in the custody of the DCF and have been adopted by an eligible Massachusetts state employee or by an eligible Massachusetts resident through the DCF who are pursuing their bachelor’s and are 24 or under at the start of the academic year. Must submit the FAFSA and obtain documentation of adopted status from the DCF to present to your college’s financial aid department
• Amount: Varies by school
• Deadline: Varies

Oklahoma Independent Living Act (Foster Care Tuition Waiver)

• Eligibility: Oklahoma residents under 26 who have been in DHS custody for at least nine months between the ages of 16 and 18 who graduated from an Oklahoma high school (or approved neighboring high school) in the past 3 years, who plan on attending a public college or university in Oklahoma
• Amount: Full tuition waiver
• Deadline: Varies

Vermont Chafee Education and Training Scholarship

• Eligibility: Vermont students who were in DCF custody after the age of 14 (after age 16 if exited to adoption or legal guardianship) who are under the age of 26 and demonstrate financial need. Must submit the FAFSA, as well as two general applications to be eligible
• Amount: Up to $5,000
• Deadline: Varies

Nicholas & Helena Patti Foundation Scholarship

• Eligibility: Students of Italian parentage who intend to major in music or education-related fields. Priority given to students who have been orphaned or in foster care
• Amount: Up to $6,500
• Deadline: November 1, 2021 (Opens June 1, 2021)

Horatio Alger National Scholarship

• Eligibility: High school seniors with a minimum 2.0 GPA planning to pursue a bachelor’s degree in the fall with critical financial need ($55,000 or lower adjusted gross family income is required). Candidates must have demonstrated integrity in overcoming adversity in their lives, as well as a passion for community service and co-curricular activities
• Amount: $25,000
• Deadline: October 25, 2021 (Opens August 1, 2021)

Frequently asked questions about scholarships for adopted students

Can an adopted child go to college for free?

Several states have programs to provide tuition waivers for adopted children, including Maryland and Massachusetts. There are also programs at specific schools that can provide the opportunity for an adopted child to go to college for free, including Cleveland State University’s Sullivan – Deckard Scholarship. Check out the rest of our list for more similar opportunities!

What scholarships are available for adopted child?

This list contains many options for scholarships for adopted children. One great example is the UmpsCare All-Star Scholarship! You can consult the list for more options, some of which are offered by state, reducing the applicant pool and increasing your chance of being accepted! The NACAC also has a great list of useful state-by-state resources.

Summary of scholarships

1. Together We Rise Family Fellowship Scholarship
2. Foster Care to Success General Scholarship
3. Also-Known-As Adoptee Excellence Scholarship
4. Foster Care to Success Casey Family Programs Continuing Education and Job Training Program
5. UmpsCare All-Star College Scholarship
6. Albuquerque Community Foundation Youth in Foster Care Scholarship
7. Maryland Higher Education Commision Tuition Waiver for Foster Care Recipients
8. Adoption STAR Academic Scholarship Program
9. Foster Care to Success Casey Family Services Alumni Scholarship
10. Massachusetts Department of Children and Families Adopted Child Tuition Waiver and Fee Assistance Program
11. Oklahoma Independent Living Act (Foster Care Tuition Waiver)
12. Vermont Chafee Education and Training Scholarship
13. Nicholas & Helena Patti Foundation Scholarship
14. Horatio Alger National Scholarship

Upcoming scholarships

Christian A. Herter Memorial Scholarship Program

• Eligibility: Massachusetts students in 10th or 11th grade with a minimum 2.5 GPA who have overcome a form of major adversity in their lives, demonstrate financial need, and enroll in a school in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Must be nominated by their school
• Amount: Varies

Western Michigan University Foundation Scholarship

• Eligibility: High school seniors with a minimum 3.7 weighted GPA who have been admitted to WMU who qualify for the federal free lunch program; OR are orphaned; OR are wards of the state or in foster care; OR are homeless; OR are undocumented
• Amount: $16,000 per year

Oregon Chafee Education and Training Grant

• Eligibility: Oregon students are currently in child welfare foster care; OR had been in child welfare foster care for at least 180 days after their 14th birthday and exited substitute care at age 16 or older; OR are a former foster youth who was adopted or entered into a guardianship on or after their 13th birthday whose adoption/guardianship finalized after 9/1/2015
• Amount: Up to $2,500, renewable

Sullivan – Deckard Scholarship Opportunity Program

• Eligibility: Ohio high school seniors in foster care between 17 and 20 years old who have applied and been admitted to Cleveland State University
• Amount: Varies based on financial need. Includes funding for tuition, books, fees, and year-round campus housing, additional support, workshops, and a Fostering Success Summer Workshop before freshman year