Fostering Independence Through Education Tuition Waiver
Delaware Office of the Child Advocate / Department of Services for Children, Youth and Their Families
Free tuition and fees (plus on-campus room and board at UD and DSU) at Delaware's public colleges for young adults who spent teen years in Delaware foster care.
- How much
- All tuition and mandatory fees (plus on-campus room and board at UD/DSU) after other grants
- Who qualifies
- Former Delaware foster youth
- Current Delaware resident under 26 who: aged out of DSCYF custody at 18; or left custody to guardianship/adoption at 16+; or spent 12+ months in DSCYF custody between ages 14 and 18 (or is eligible for DFS Independent Living Services). No minimum GPA; a criminal record does not affect eligibility.
- For students starting college, undergrads, adults going back to school
- When to apply
- Apply any time No deadline; apply any time before age 26.
- How to apply
- File the FAFSA and apply for all other aid (SEED, Inspire, Chafee ETV, Ivyane Davis)
- Request an eligibility verification letter through the Office of the Child Advocate's Youth in Transition online portal, attaching proof of enrollment or acceptance
- OCA sends the letter to the college's point of contact
- What you'll need
- FAFSA + state application
- Last checked
- October 5, 2026, against the official page (kids.delaware.gov), page 2 and page 3
The details
State tuition waiver (14 Del. C. §§ 3431A-3434A, created 2021) at the University of Delaware, Delaware State University and Delaware Technical Community College. Covers all tuition and mandatory fees, and on-campus housing and a standard meal plan where offered (UD, DSU), after other grants and scholarships (loans are never applied). Covers winter and summer courses, full or part time, until the student turns 26 or earns a bachelor's degree (up to 5 years if continuously full time). Can be used at more than one of the three schools.
More money from Delaware
- Charles L. Hebner Memorial Scholarship$1,250/year
- Scholarship Incentive Program (ScIP)$1,000/year (undergraduate and graduate awards)
- B. Bradford Barnes Memorial ScholarshipFull tuition, required fees, room, board, and books at the University of Delaware
- Career-Based ScholarshipAmount announced by July 1, 2027 (varies with funding and applicant pool)
- Delaware State Inspire ScholarshipFull tuition for up to 8 semesters
Keep looking
- Answer a few questions to see every program you qualify for
- Nearby states: Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania
- Federal aid and national scholarships (open to students in any state)
- The FAFSA in plain English (2027-28)
- Should I file the FAFSA if I don't think I'll qualify?
- FAFSA deadlines by state (2027-28)
- The FAFSA for parents: what you need to do
- How to save on textbooks: free, rented and cheaper options
We list programs; we don't decide who gets them. Always check the official page before you apply. Spot something wrong? Tell us.