Fee Waiver

Foster Youth Tuition Waiver for Current and Former Foster Care Recipients

 

OVERVIEW

The California State University (CSU) Foster Youth Tuition Waiver is available for current and former foster care youth who are enrolled at a California State University campus in an undergraduate program. The foster youth tuition waiver originated with the passage of in 2018 and it is intended to address the gap in postsecondary education attainment between foster care and other young adults. The bill was further amended in 2019.

The purpose of CSU Foster Youth Tuition  Waiver  is to provide increased  access for current and former foster youth to higher education by providing a tuition waiver.

  • The Foster Youth Tuition Waiver is open to qualified current and former foster youth enrolled as undergraduate students.
  • Students are exempt from paying the systemwide tuition (only covers state supported courses) fee at any CSU campus.
  • The tuition fee waiver only applies to the systemwide mandatory and . It does not apply to campus based mandatory fees. The waiver does not include campus fees, housing, books, and transportation or other costs of attendance.
  • The amount of the waiver may be reduced by any state or federal aid, including scholarships or grants, received by the student for the academic year or semester/quarter.
  • The maximum time allowed is 4 years (consecutive and non-consecutive).
  • Students are eligible to receive the Foster Youth Tuition Waiver for the following terms:
    • Fall
    • Winter
    • Spring
    • Summer (The waiver will apply ONLY if the campus is offering state supported summer enrollment. The tuition waiver will not cover the tuition for Continuing and Extended Education self-support courses.)

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

Students who have been in foster care for at least 12 consecutive months after reaching 10 years of age must meet any of the following:

  • Is under a current foster care placement order from juvenile court
  • Was under a foster care placement order from juvenile court upon reaching 18 years of age
  • Was adopted, or entered guardianship, from foster care
  • Must be 25 of age or younger by the first day of the academic year

 In addition to the above, a student must fulfill all of the following:

 Be a California resident

  • Must maintain minimum grade point average (academic standards by campus)
  • Must be in academic  with  the university
  • Must be enrolled in a undergraduate program (all majors are eligible)
  • Must submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid () annually
  • Must meet the financial need requirements established for Cal Grant A