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Foster youth · Former foster care · Aging out of care
Foster youth face more barriers to college than almost any other group — and have more dedicated funding than almost any group knows about. Arizona has tuition waivers, federal Chafee grants, and campus-based support programs that together can cover the full cost of college. This guide maps every source.
Arizona foster youth who have been in care at age 13 or older qualify for the federal John H. Chafee Education and Training Voucher (ETV) program — up to $5,000 per year for education expenses, renewable through age 23. Arizona also has a tuition waiver for students who were in foster care and attended an Arizona high school: if you apply to ASU, UA, NAU, or most AZ community colleges, your tuition may be fully waived. On top of that, "independent student" FAFSA status means no parent income is counted — so most foster youth qualify for the maximum Pell Grant ($7,395/year). Campus-based foster youth programs at each AZ university provide housing bridges, priority registration, and emergency funds. Most eligible students never claim these benefits because no one tells them.
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Things worth knowing
Arizona's tuition waiver is automatic — but you have to ask for it at the financial aid office
If you were in Arizona foster care at age 13 or older and you graduated from an AZ high school, you qualify for a tuition waiver at ASU, UA, NAU, and most AZ community colleges. The waiver is not automatic in the financial aid system — you need to bring documentation of your foster care history to the financial aid office and request it. Bring a letter from DCS or your former caseworker, or your foster care court records.
The Chafee ETV grant ($5,000/year) goes directly to your school — apply through your state's Independent Living program
Arizona's Chafee Education and Training Voucher program is administered through the state's Independent Living office (part of DCS). The grant pays up to $5,000 per year for tuition, books, housing, and other education costs. It's renewable through age 23 as long as you remain enrolled. Applications open annually — contact AZ Independent Living at 1-877-KIDS-NOW or your former caseworker to get started.
Every AZ university has a dedicated foster care support office — use it
ASU's Sun Devil Families program, UA's Foster Care Closet and DREAM (Dependent, Resilient, Empowered, Aspiring, Motivated) program, and NAU's First-Gen programs all provide housing during winter and spring breaks, priority registration, emergency grants of $100–$500, laptop lending, and dedicated advisors who know the system. These programs are specifically for foster-connected students and their services are rarely publicized outside the program itself.
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