The Maryland Tuition Waiver for Foster Care Recipients is available to foster care youth under the age of 25 who are enrolled as a candidate for an Associate’s Degree, Bachelor’s Degree, or vocational certificate at a Maryland public college or university.
To be eligible for the Maryland Tuition Waiver for Foster Care Recipients, a youth must have:
- Been placed in an out-of-home placement by the Maryland Department of Human Services (MDHS) and either;
- Resided in an out-of-home placement at the time of their 18th birthday or at the time they graduated from high school or successfully completed a General Equivalency Development Examination (GED); OR
- Resided in an out-of home placement for at least one year on or after their 13th birthday;
The younger sibling(s) of an eligible foster care recipient may also be eligible if they are concurrently placed into guardianship or adopted out of an out-of-home placement by the same guardianship or adoptive family.
Eligible students can utilize the Foster Care Tuition Waiver during any term (Fall, Winter, Spring, Summer) and it will cover tuition and mandatory fees. The waiver will be provided to the student for 10 years after first enrolling as a candidate for an associates or bachelors degree or completion of their bachelor’s degree, whichever comes first.
Eligible students will be automatically awarded the waiver based on information from Maryland Department of Human Services (MDHS). Students who believe they may qualify for the Tuition Waiver for Foster Care Recipients but not automatically awarded should contact Colleen Lindbeck, Associate Director of Financial Aid at csly@umbc.edu and an inquiry will be made directly to MDHS on the student’s behalf. Information about this program is also available here.