FOR CURRENT & FORMER FOSTER YOUTH
259 scholarships for high school, college and trade school.
Your future starts here
$1,500
Sponsored by Whitlock Law, LLC
Essay-based scholarship for people who grew up in foster care, open to undergraduate and graduate students nationwide.
Who Can Apply: 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.
Deadline: November 2, 2026
SEE HOW TO APPLYSponsored by State of Michigan — MI Student Aid
A state scholarship for Michigan students who spent time in foster care, awarded through Michigan's student aid office and applied toward the cost of attending a Michigan college or university. Applicants must also demonstrate financial need.
Who Can Apply: 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.
Deadline: December 31, 2026
does not publish an award amount
SEE HOW TO APPLY$2,000
California State University-Sacramento · Sponsored by Sacramento State Guardian Scholars Program
A $2,000 endowed scholarship for Sacramento State undergraduates in the Guardian Scholars Program, which supports former foster youth. The annual application closes in early March (most recently March 2).
Who Can Apply: 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.
Deadline: March 2, 2027
SEE HOW TO APPLY$1,000 to $10,000
Sponsored by The Denver Foundation · In honor of Helen M. McLoraine
This scholarship supports Colorado youth who were in the foster care system for at least 12 months between birth and age 18 and are pursuing post-secondary education. Awards range from $1,000 to $10,000 toward tuition, fees and required books and supplies, paid directly to the institution. Past recipients may reapply up to four times while pursuing an undergraduate degree.
Who Can Apply: 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.
Deadline: Not listed here — check the sponsor for current dates
SEE HOW TO APPLYUniversity of California-Davis · Sponsored by UC Davis Guardian Scholars Program
The Mark and Diane Sheffield Guardian Scholars Award Support Fund provides financial aid to current participants in the UC Davis Guardian Scholars Program, which supports students who were in foster care.
Who Can Apply: 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.
Deadline: Not listed here — check the sponsor for current dates
UC Davis shares award details with current Guardian Scholars; the program page blocks automated readers, so no amount or deadline is published here.
SEE HOW TO APPLYSponsored by Gilbert Scholarship, Inc.
Need-based scholarships for North Carolina college students who spent time in foster care; more than 80 awarded since 2016.
Who Can Apply: 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.
Deadline: Not listed here — check the sponsor for current dates
The sponsor does not publish a fixed award amount or deadline.
SEE HOW TO APPLYSponsored by PG CASA / Greater Washington Community Foundation
Scholarship support for Prince George's County, Maryland teens and adults with foster care experience, from pre-college through graduate or vocational study.
Who Can Apply: 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.
Deadline: Not listed here — check the sponsor for current dates
The sponsor does not publish a fixed award amount or deadline.
SEE HOW TO APPLYUp to $3,300 per year for community college or trade school, up to $5,900 per year for a bachelor's degree ($25,000 lifetime maximum)
Sponsored by Orangewood Foundation
Direct-to-student funding for tuition, fees, supplies and living expenses for Orange County foster youth in college or trade school.
Who Can Apply: 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.
Deadline: Not listed here — check the sponsor for current dates
SEE HOW TO APPLYUp to $10,000
Sponsored by Orangewood Foundation
Graduate-level funding for former Orange County foster youth pursuing a master's, doctorate, specialized training or a second bachelor's degree.
Who Can Apply: Former Orange County, California dependent enrolled in a post-graduate program. Ages 18–38, subject to advanced-study and other sponsor criteria.
Deadline: Not listed here — check the sponsor for current dates
SEE HOW TO APPLYUp to $3,000, paid in two installments
Sponsored by Vogt-Morentz Charitable Fund, administered by Vestia
Supports former Contra Costa County foster youth age 21 and older who delayed or interrupted their education and want to return through community college toward a four-year or trade program.
Who Can Apply: 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.
Deadline: Not listed here — check the sponsor for current dates
SEE HOW TO APPLYFull tuition, fees, housing and meals for up to four years
Sponsored by Presbyterian College
Full-ride scholarship and mentorship program covering tuition, fees, standard housing and meals for up to four years for students impacted by foster care.
Who Can Apply: 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.
Deadline: Not listed here — check the sponsor for current dates
The college does not publish an application deadline for this program.
SEE HOW TO APPLYSponsored by Juanita & Harold Ailey Foundation
A scholarship from a small Oklahoma family foundation for students who are currently in foster care or were in foster care as teenagers.
Who Can Apply: 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.
Deadline: Not listed here — check the sponsor for current dates
The sponsor does not publish an amount or deadline on its site.
SEE HOW TO APPLYResource 1 of 12
Partner universities
Fostering the Future secures scholarship opportunities at colleges and universities across the United States for individuals from the foster care community. The universities below currently participate. The partner-school awards in this directory carry the FOSTERING THE FUTURE PARTNER mark, and each partner sets its own award rules.
Partner list reviewed 2026-10-28 on the official Fostering the Future scholarship page. Participation can change, so check each school before applying.
State results include nationwide awards as well as listings for that state. Confirm any county, school or residency requirement with the sponsor before applying.
Read the eligibility line on each listing, then confirm the sponsor’s current rules. Check foster care history, age, state or county, school and education path. A listing with no age limit recorded is not a guarantee that the sponsor has no age limit.
Open “SEE HOW TO APPLY” for the sponsor’s application instructions. Follow its document checklist and keep copies of what you submit. Requirements vary, so do not send foster care records or other private documents to Help Foster Youth.
College Paperwork, Step by StepStart early and check the sponsor’s current application cycle. A missing deadline here does not confirm that applications are open. A past date may belong to an earlier cycle; check the sponsor for its next opening before preparing an application.
Guidance sources: Federal Student Aid scholarship tips and the FTC’s scholarship scam guidance. Guidance reviewed October 17, 2026; individual awards may change.
Never pay a fee to apply for a scholarship or to receive an award — that is a warning sign.