Parents who adopt older children from foster care often do not have as many years to save for the child’s college education. Foster youth often age out of the system right when they need to begin preparing and applying for college. And even those who have adopted children from a young age can find the process of applying for financial aid to be daunting.  The good news is that there are programs in place that may help young adults and their families pay for education.

While there are many resources and guides created to assist parents in the overall general process, the Adoptive and Foster Family Coalition of New York has put together a guide of issues and items specific to those affected by Child Welfare.

The information and resources in this section will provide overall guidance.

Don’t miss the updated Scholarships for Adoptees and Foster Youth page as well.

Specific FAFSA Assistance for Those Adopted or Spent Time in Foster Care

FAFSA:

The most vital step in applying for federal grants, work-study, and loans for college is the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA^®) form. Use the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA^®) form to apply for financial aid for college or graduate school.

• Submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) as early as possible!
  • Note: State deadlines and requirements vary!
• If you are including parental financial information, make sure to have all necessary documentation at the ready. Students should also be prepared with their tax information. FAFSA made it easier to submit this information with the IRS DRT (Data Retrieval Tool). The IRS DRT expedites this process and lessens the chances of making a user error. The online FAFSA form will prompt this option or input financial information manually.

Read Carefully: Answering the questions in Step 3 (Student) will help determine if you will be required to provide parental information. If you answer “Yes” to any of these questions, skip Step 4 (Parent) and move on to Step 5 (Student). If you were adopted, previously or currently in foster care, or are currently living in a guardianship arrangement with someone other than your parent or stepparent, pay close attention to questions 52-54. See below:

QUESTION 52. At any time since you turned 13, were both of your parents deceased, were you in foster care or were you a dependent or ward of the court?

Note: Wards of the court are considered independent and are NOT expected to provide any parental (or legal guardian) financial information on the FAFSA.

• Youth adopted from foster care at 13+ years old are considered independent on the FAFSA; this simply means they will NOT include their parent(s) financial information. Making them more likely to qualify for financial aid.
• Review Step 3 (Student) on the FAFSA if you believe you should be exempt from providing parental information.
• Not all former foster youth are eligible for independent status:
  • Ex: Youth adopted before their 13th birthday would NOT be considered independent. They would be required to include their parent(s) financial information. **Unless they answered “Yes” to another question in Step 3 (Student)).

QUESTION 53. As determined by a court in your state of legal residence, are you or were you an emancipated minor?

Note: An emancipated minor is someone who has been legally deemed an adult by a court in their state of residence. If you are an emancipated minor, you are considered an independent student and will NOT provide information about your parents on the FAFSA.

QUESTION 54. Does someone other than your parent or stepparent have legal guardianship of you, as determined by a court in your state of legal residence?

Note: If you live with a legal guardian, as determined by a court, you are NOT expected to provide any parental (or legal guardian) financial information on the FAFSA. You can file for Dependency Override, which communicates to your school’s Financial Aid office the reasons why you did NOT include any parental financial information on your FAFSA.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:

What is my financial aid package and why is it important?

• A financial aid package is the combination of all grants and scholarships you receive, along with all loans you are offered. The total amount is based on your school’s Cost of Attendance (COA) and your Estimated Family Contribution (EFC). Review your financial aid package carefully. If you have questions, visit your financial aid office.

What is included in the Cost of Attendance (COA)?

• Cost of Attendance (COA) is the total estimated cost of attending your college, including tuition, room and board, fees, and books and supplies.

Additional Resources and Information for those Collage Bound

While there are many guides and publications gear towards the overall college experience and preparation, below you will find information and resources specific to those who have been adopted, spent time in foster care or come from a kinship situation. Information is specific to New York state when ever possible.

Disclaimer: Inclusion of these scholarships and programs does not constitute an endorsement of views expressed on the individual sites.