Foster Care to College

The Chafee ETG Program is a federal program that provides grant money to undergraduate students aging out of foster care who attend an eligible post-secondary school. The Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA) facilitates the program for Pennsylvania’s Department of Human Services.

To receive the grant, students must:

• Be a Pennsylvania resident with a high school diploma​

• Qualify for services under Pennsylvania's Chafee Foster Care Program for Successful Transition to Adulthood program

• Have been in foster care at any point since age 16, or adopted from foster care after age 16​

• Have not reached the age of 26 by July 1 of the upcoming academic year for which Chafee ETG is received​

• Complete the FAFSA​

• Be enrolled as an undergraduate at least half-time in college (approved for Title IV funding​)

• Maintain satisfactory academic progress and demonstrate financial need

• Not be in default on a federal student loan or owe a refund on other Title IV aid​

• Have not received Chafee ETG for 5 years (consecutive or not) ​

To apply for the grant, students must:

• File the FAFSA

• Complete the Chafee ETG Program Application for the current year*

• Mail the application to: 

PHEAA

PA State Grant and Special Programs

P.O. Box 8157

Harrisburg, PA 17105-8157

Fax: (717) 720-3786

*Deadlines and applications can be found on PHEAA’s website

The FosterEd Program grants students who are/have been in foster care​ a waiver for tuition and any mandatory fees. The waiver applies to the charges remaining after all forms of financial aid have been applied to the student’s account at their school of choice. Students who apply for the Chafee ETG Program are automatically evaluated to determine eligibility for the FosterEd program. 

To receive the FosterEd tuition waiver, a student must:

• Be a Pennsylvania resident with a high school diploma​

• Have been in foster care at any point since age 16, or adopted from foster care after age 16​

• Have not reached the age of 26 by July 1 of the upcoming academic year for which the FosterEd waiver is received​

• Complete the FAFSA​

• Qualify and apply for Pennsylvania’s Chafee ETG Program

• Be enrolled as an undergraduate at least half-time in college (approved for Title IV funding​)

• Maintain satisfactory academic progress and demonstrate financial need

• Not be in default on a federal student loan or owe a refund on other Title IV aid​

• Have not received a FosterEd waiver for 5 years (consecutive or not)​

To apply for the waiver, students must:

• File the FAFSA

• Enroll in a Pennsylvania postsecondary school (approved for Title IV funding)

• Complete the Chafee ETG Program Application for the current year*

• Mail the application to: 

PHEAA

PA State Grant and Special Programs

P.O. Box 8157

Harrisburg, PA 17105-8157

Fax: (717) 720-3786

*Deadlines and applications can be found on PHEAA’s website