DCF Foster Child Tuition Waiver and Fee Assistance
Massachusetts Department of Higher Education, Office of Student Financial Assistance
Apply any timeRenews each year
100% of tuition and fees at Massachusetts public colleges for current and former foster youth age 24 or under who were in state custody and not adopted or returned home.
- How much
- 100% of resident tuition and fees for state-supported courses
- Who qualifies
- Current or former Massachusetts foster youth (DCF custody before 18; not adopted or returned home, or DCF-sponsored guardianship)
- Age 24 or under at the start of the academic year; full-, half- or part-time at a MA public college; no prior bachelor's degree; satisfactory academic progress. Not in default on student loans and no state aid refund owed.
- For students starting college, undergrads
- U.S. citizen, permanent resident, or Title IV-eligible noncitizen; or a state-approved eligibility status under the Massachusetts tuition equity law (MASFA filers)
- When to apply
- Apply any time No deadline; eligibility verified by DCF and the college.
- How to apply
- Get eligibility documents from DCF ((617) 748-2000, subsidy.unit@mass.gov), file the FAFSA (or MASFA), and give them to your public college's financial aid office
- What you'll need
- FAFSA only
- Last checked
- October 5, 2026, against the official page (mass.edu) and page 2
The details
Covers 100% of resident tuition and fees (subject to appropriation) for state-supported courses at MA public colleges, including degree, certificate, short-term certificate and non-credit courses (not graduate courses). For youth in DCF custody before 18 who were not adopted or returned home, or whose guardianship DCF sponsored through 18.
More money from Massachusetts
- MASSGrantup to $2,590 per year (2026-27; varies by SAI and type of school)
- Massachusetts Gilbert Matching Student Grant$200 to $2,500 per year
- Christian A. Herter Memorial Scholarshipup to 50% of calculated financial need per year
- Commonwealth Commitmenttuition and fees frozen + 10% rebate each semester + MassTransfer tuition credit
- Community College Nursing Scholarshipremaining tuition, fees, books and supplies after other grants
Keep looking
- Answer a few questions to see every program you qualify for
- Nearby states: Connecticut, New Hampshire, New York, Rhode Island, Vermont
- 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.