Resources for Age 25 and Over.

CHECK EACH PROGRAM’S AGE RULE

Scholarships to Check at Age 25 and Over

These 20 scholarships have age-specific rules reviewed on October 26, 2026. Some include age 25 but stop at 26; others require an exception, renewal or high-school-senior status. No upper age limit listed is not a guarantee of unlimited-age admission. Confirm the sponsor’s current rules.

• DCFS Scholarship Program and Tuition and Fee Waiver

  Tuition and fee waiver plus a $1,577 monthly stipend · Illinois

  The department must hold or have held court-ordered legal guardianship of the applicant, or the applicant must have aged out of DCFS care at 18 or older, or DCFS must have had guardianship immediately before an adoption or guardianship was finalized. Scholarship: age 25 is not excluded by the published initial criteria; other requirements apply. Standalone tuition waiver: enroll before 26, unless an approved service extension applies.

• Helen M. McLoraine Foster Care and Emancipated Youth Scholarship

  $1,000 to $10,000 · Colorado

  In the Colorado foster care system for a minimum of 12 months between ages 0 and 18; emancipated, adopted at age 15 or older, or participating in the Guardianship Assistance Program, Independent Living Arrangement or similar program; age 30 or younger as of September 1 of the application year; demonstrated financial need; planning to attend an accredited U.S. post-secondary institution in the upcoming academic year. Age 30 or younger as of September 1; other sponsor criteria apply.

• Nevada Foster Youth Fee Waiver

  Registration fees and certain lab fees waived · Nevada

  Students who were in Nevada foster care as a ward of the court at age 13 or older, graduated from high school or earned a GED, and are under age 26. Under age 26 on the first day of each semester; other requirements apply.

• Fostering Independence Through Education Tuition Waiver

  Tuition, fees, and room and board where offered · Delaware

  Students who aged out of Delaware DSCYF custody at 18, exited to guardianship or adoption at age 16 or older, or spent at least 12 months in custody between ages 14 and 18. Available to students under age 26. Apply before turning 26; qualifying Delaware care history, institution and financial-aid requirements apply.

• FAITH Scholarship

  Up to full cost of attendance · Mississippi

  Qualifying Mississippi foster-care, residential-facility or adoption history is required. First-time applicants must be younger than 25 on October 1 of the aid year, unless the qualifying military-service extension applies. Renewal rules are separate; ordinary first-time entry at age 25 on that date is excluded.

• Need to $ucceed Scholarship

  Up to $3,000, paid in two installments · Contra Costa County, California

  Former Contra Costa County foster youth, age 21 or older. Age 21 and older, subject to the stated care-history and enrollment requirements; no upper maximum printed.

• Jacobs Scholars Program

  Full tuition, fees, housing and meals for up to four years · South Carolina

  Impacted by foster care at age 14 or older and Chafee-eligible, ages 17 to 25, admitted to Presbyterian College with demonstrated financial need. Ages 17–25; qualifying foster-care history, PC admission and financial need required.

• Whitlock Law Hope and Opportunity Scholarship

  $1,500 · Nationwide

  Spent part or all of childhood in foster care, age 17 or older, U.S. citizen or permanent resident. At least 17, subject to other listed criteria; no upper age limit printed.

• Juanita & Harold Ailey Foundation Scholarship

  Amount varies · Oklahoma

  Degree-seeking high school seniors only, currently in foster care or in foster care at age 13, subject to the sponsor’s institution and other requirements. This is not a general award for college-returning adults.

• Orangewood Foundation Advanced Studies Fund

  Up to $10,000 · Orange County, California

  Former Orange County, California dependent enrolled in a post-graduate program. Ages 18–38, subject to advanced-study and other sponsor criteria.

• Orangewood Foundation Undergraduate Scholarship

  Up to $5,900 per year · Orange County, California

  Former or current dependent of Orange County, California, enrolled in an accredited college or trade or vocational program. Ages 18–30, subject to other sponsor criteria.

• State College Tuition and Fee Waiver for Foster Youth

  Full tuition and fee exemption · Texas

  Applicants must be currently or formerly in the conservatorship of the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services, or have been adopted from DFPS. Qualifying foster-youth pathway: enroll before the 27th birthday; other criteria apply.

• Fostering Futures Scholarship

  Amount varies · Michigan

  Applicants must have been in Michigan foster care due to abuse or neglect on or after their 13th birthday. No maximum age restriction; other FFS eligibility requirements apply.

• Blavin Scholars Program Scholarship

  Up to $5,000 per academic year · Michigan (University of Michigan)

  University of Michigan undergraduate students who experienced foster care or kinship care and participate in the Blavin Scholars Program. Age unrestricted; university/program and financial-aid requirements still apply.

• FosterEd

  Remaining cost of attendance after other aid · Colorado

  Applicants must have been in foster care or non-certified kinship care in Colorado on or after their 13th birthday, and have been adjudicated neglected or dependent at any time. No age limit; other FosterEd criteria apply.

• Gilbert Scholarship

  Amount varies · North Carolina

  Enrolled in a North Carolina college with a GPA of 2.0 or higher, and spent time in foster care. No upper age limit stated; NC college enrollment, 2.0+ GPA and foster-care history required.

• Mark and Diane Sheffield Guardian Scholars Award

  Amount varies · California

  Current UC Davis students participating in the Guardian Scholars Program who are former foster youth. No age limit: the program's official eligibility page states current age does not impact eligibility and explicitly includes reentry students age 25 and over.

• David P. and Margot Shinnamon Bach Scholarship

  $2,000 · California

  Full-time Sacramento State undergraduates who are former foster youth involved with the Guardian Scholars Program, with at least a 2.0 GPA. No upper age limit stated; qualifying Guardian Scholars undergraduate, 2.0+ GPA and full-time enrollment required.

• Retired Magistrate Ann Sparrough Scholarship Fund

  Amount varies · Prince George's County, Maryland

  Teens and adults from Prince George's County, Maryland, currently or previously in foster care. Awards made without regard to age; other fund criteria apply.

• Boys Town National Alumni Association Scholarship Fund

  Amount varies · Boys Town alumni

  Graduated from Boys Town High School or lived at a Boys Town campus for at least nine months, is a dues-paying alumni association member with a 2.5 GPA, and is enrolled at an accredited nonprofit institution. No upper age limit stated for the alumni fund; qualifying residence/graduation, good standing and paid membership required.