PA Fostering Independence Tuition Waiver (FosterEd) Program

The FosterEd Program waives tuition and mandatory fees charged by most postsecondary institutions in the Commonwealth for youth who are or were in foster care.

This waiver covers charges that remain after other gift aid (federal, state, and other scholarships or grants) is applied to the eligible student's account.

You must complete the 2024-25 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) and PA State Grant application items in the PA State Grant System to qualify for this award. After completing your FAFSA, you will receive an email from PHEAA to activate your account.

Am I Eligible?

To be considered for a FosterEd waiver, you must:

  • File a 2024-25 FAFSA
  • File PA State Grant items for the award year in which you requested the waiver
  • Be a Pennsylvania resident
  • Have not reached age 26 by July 1 of the upcoming academic year in which the waiver will be awarded
  • Have graduated from high school or 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 has experienced foster care at age 16 or older or exited foster care to adoption or permanent legal custodianship (PLC) after age 16
  • 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 costs for the PA Chafee Education and Training Grant (Chafee ETG) Program, as determined by the postsecondary institution
  • Maintain satisfactory academic progress, as determined by the postsecondary institution
  • Not be in default on a federal student loan or owe a refund on other Title IV aid
  • Have not received a FosterEd waiver for 5 years (consecutive or not), defined as 10 semesters or the equivalent for undergraduate study

Students who intend to transfer to a different institution during the 2024-25 academic year should notify PHEAA via email to FosterEd@pheaa.org or by calling 1-800-692-7392.

How Do I Receive the Waiver?

  1. File the FAFSA.
  2. File a PA State Grant application items for the award year in which you requested the waiver.
  3. Enroll in a PA postsecondary institution approved by the U.S. Department of Education for Title IV funding.
  4. Apply for and be eligible for the Chafee ETG Program.

  5. Applicants for the 2024-25 FosterEd waiver, including summer 2025, should submit the 2024-25 Chafee ETG Program Application (PDF) by May 1, 2025.

  6. Mail or fax your completed application to:

    PHEAA
    PA State Grant and Special Programs
    P.O. Box 8157
    Harrisburg, PA 17105-8157

    Fax: 717-720-3786

Students who wish to appeal their eligibility determination can do so by emailing FosterEd@pheaa.org.