Tuition Waiver for High School Graduates in Foster Care
West Virginia state institutions of higher education (W. Va. Code 18B-10-7b)
Undergraduate tuition and fee waiver at West Virginia public colleges for students who finished high school or a GED while in West Virginia state custody in foster or residential care.
- How much
- Undergraduate tuition and fees not covered by other tuition-dedicated aid, up to four years
- Who qualifies
- Foster youth: in WV Department of Human Services custody and foster/residential care for at least one year when finishing high school or the GED
- Admitted to a WV public institution; applied for Pell and other non-loan aid; initial waiver within 2 years of HS/GED; up to 4 years.
- For students starting college, undergrads
- When to apply
- Apply any time No statewide deadline; first waiver must start within two years of high school graduation or GED.
- How to apply
- Apply and be admitted to a West Virginia public college, file the FAFSA (for Pell and other grants), and request the foster care tuition waiver from the college's financial aid office with proof of state custody/foster care
- What you'll need
- FAFSA only
- Last checked
- October 5, 2026, against the official page (code.wvlegislature.gov)
The details
West Virginia public colleges award an undergraduate tuition and fee waiver to students who graduated from high school or passed the GED while in the legal custody of the West Virginia Department of Human Services and were in foster or other residential care for at least one year before the award (if placed out of state, the student must first return to West Virginia). The student must be admitted and apply for other non-loan aid, including the Pell Grant; the waiver covers what remains after tuition-dedicated aid. Up to four years of undergraduate study; the first waiver must be granted within two years of high school graduation or the GED; renewal requires satisfactory academic progress. Governing boards may set additional limits.
More money from West Virginia
- West Virginia PROMISE ScholarshipUp to $5,500 per year (or tuition and mandatory fees, whichever is less)
- West Virginia Higher Education GrantUp to $3,400 per year at eligible West Virginia schools; up to $600 per year at eligible Pennsylvania schools (2026-27)
- Future Workforce Grant (formerly HEAPS Workforce)Up to $2,000 per academic year
- Reduced Tuition for Senior Citizens (60 and older)Non-credit: up to $50 per course; for credit: no more than 50% of normal resident tuition and fees
- West Virginia Invests GrantTuition, mandatory fees and approved academic program fees not covered by other grants or waivers (last-dollar)
Keep looking
- Answer a few questions to see every program you qualify for
- Nearby states: Kentucky, Maryland, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia
- 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.