Oregon Foster Youth Tuition and Fee Waiver

If you are a student from foster care, college may seem impossible. With little to no family support or savings, a college degree can seem out of reach. A new law guarantees that you have access to Oregon community colleges and public universities tuition free.

Can you go to college tuition free?
If you answer yes to all of the questions below you can attend college in Oregon tuition free.

1. Were you between the ages of 16-21 and in the care/custody of Oregon Department of Human Services or a federally recognized Oregon Tribe (foster care) for one or more years?
2. Are you applying to an Oregon community college or public university?
3. Has it been less than 3 years since you left foster care OR since earning your high school diploma/GED?
4. Are you planning to get a certificate, associates or bachelors degree?

What do I need to do to receive the waiver?

1. Apply for financial aid using the FAFSA®.
2. Apply for Chafee Grant to help you with books and other school costs.

How does the tuition and fee waiver work?

A student's federal aid (Pell, SEOG), Oregon Opportunity Grant (OOG), Oregon Promise Grant (OPG), and any other institutional aid will be used to cover the student's tuition and fees. Any amount of tuition and fees remaining after the Pell, SEOG, OOG, OPG, and other school aid is applied will be waived.

NOTE: Fees that are not covered under the tuition and fee waiver include but not limited to: dining services, books, supplies, parking, personal incidentals, fines and room/board. Fees considered as 'pass through' paid to an outside provider are also exempt from this waiver.