Scholarships

College can be affordable if you know what resources are out there to help you pay for it. Virginia youth in foster care have access to a number of financial aid resources to help make college or career training a reality.

Education and Training Vouchers program

The Education and Training Vouchers Program (ETV) assists eligible foster care and adopted youth with post-secondary education and training expenses. It is designed to help youth aging out of foster care with the education, training and services needed for employment. Apply here.

Virginia Tuition Grant Program

The Tuition Grant Program provides tuition and fees at any Virginia Community College for high school graduates or general education development (GED) completers in foster care, in the custody of a social services agency or considered a special needs adoption.

The Orphan Foundation

The Orphan Foundation provides a number of scholarship programs and on-campus support to foster youth and young adults who were adopted at age 16 and older. Applications are available online, along with tips on how to apply.

National Foster Parent Association

The National Foster Parent Association offers scholarships to help foster students pay for education beyond high school at any college or university. Applicants must be current high school seniors.

Casey Family Scholars Program

The Orphan Foundation’s Casey Family Scholars Program offers 100 scholarships annually, ranging from $2,500 to $6,000, for young people under the age of 25 who have spent at least 12 months in foster care and were not adopted. Apply for this program through The Orphan Foundation.

Darko Rapotez Memorial College Scholarship Fund for Aged Out Foster Youth

Love Our Children USA administers this scholarship, which offers between $5,000 and $10,000 in college tuition and fee assistance to youth ages 18-24 who have aged out of the foster care system.

Additional Resources

Virginia Education Wizard

The Virginia Education Wizard maintains a comprehensive list of scholarships available to students who enroll in one of Virginia’s 23 Community Colleges.

Don’t forget to explore ALL of your options when considering how to pay for college. Include the resources below to help you uncover the best way for you to pay for college.

• College financial aid offices have information about financial aid programs available from the institution and state government.
• Online search engines like www.scholarships.com and www.college-scholarships.com offer scholarship resources specifically for foster youth. Only utilize search services that are free. Or, check out FinAid for more scholarship search tools.
• School guidance counselors can offer information about financial aid programs available in your community.
• Libraries have resource books with information about national financial aid programs.
• Employers may provide educational assistance for employees.

For Practitioners

Casey Family Programs

Casey Family Programs is the nation’s largest operating foundation entirely focused on foster care. The organization’s “It’s My Life: Postsecondary Education and Training – A Guide for Transition Services” guide has a number of resources to help practitioners best serve foster youth.

Virginia College Savings Plan

Learn how to save for college using an IRC Section 529 qualified state tuition program with both prepaid and savings trust investment options.

Virginia Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (VASFAA)

Get your questions answered, link and resource ideas from Virginia’s financial aid professionals.

National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators

Get your questions answered, link and resource ideas from financial aid professionals across the country.

Council of Independent Colleges in Virginia

Find information about Virginia’s private colleges and universities.

Commonwealth of Virginia: Financial Aid Page

Links and resources for more information on Virginia’s financial aid process.

Virginia Army National Guard

Information about tuition assistance through opportunities offered by the Virginia Army National Guard.