Education: College / Higher Ed
Oregon Tuition Waiver
About this resource
At age 18, many foster youth become solely responsible for themselves almost overnight with little or no support. Tuition and fee waivers will alleviate one major challenge to gaining economic independence through education. Currently, 25% of former foster youth enter college, while only 6% complete a 2 or 4-year degree, most citing financial constraints. In fact, only 2.5% of former foster youth earn a bachelor’s degree compared to 19% of the general population. The Oregon Legislature passed this law to address the unique needs of foster youth. They wanted to send a message to these young adults—if you have the grades, the motivation, and the dream to go to college, YOU CAN.
See more of another example of the tuition waiver process on Central Oregon's Community College site: https://www.cocc.edu/departments/financial-aid/faqs/oregon-foster-youth-...
Eligibility
- Youth must have spent at least one year in Oregon foster care between the ages of 16-21.
- Youth must enroll in an institution of higher education within three years of leaving foster care, or earning their high school diploma/GED, whichever is earliest.
- Youth may only apply the waiver towards the maximum of 4 years of undergraduate education.
- Youth must begin accessing the waiver by age 25.
- Youth must attend an Oregon community college or public university.