Georgia has started taking applications for a new scholarship aimed at helping former foster youth attend college, state officials said. The Georgia Foster Care Scholarship provides awards of as much as $30,000 per year to cover expenses including tuition, housing and books, and could be granted for the upcoming fall semester.
Who qualifies
The scholarship targets young people who spent time in foster care as adolescents. Eligible applicants must meet these conditions:
- Spent at least six months in foster care after turning 14
- Be under the age of 26 at the time of application
- Be enrolled in an undergraduate program at an in-state public university or technical college; some private institutions also qualify
| Use of funds | Maximum annual award |
|---|---|
| Tuition, room and board, meal plans, books and other college expenses | $30,000 |
Demand and goals
Lance Wallace, a spokesperson for the Georgia Student Finance Commission, said more than 170 youth have applied in the scholarship’s first round — a sign of strong interest.
“There is obviously great demand and interest in this scholarship, which is one of the most generous state scholarships available,” Wallace said. “It’s a privilege to be able to have this opportunity. There’s no question this is a worthy population to serve in financial aid.”
Advocates say the new funding seeks to address a persistent barrier for many young people leaving foster care: the lack of family support and savings that peers often rely on when they start college. Allison Ashe, president of Wellroot Family Services, noted that even basic expenses can derail plans and cause students to drop out.
“A large number of foster kids who do start college end up dropping out after the first year, so we want to see that retention rate go up,” Ashe said. “Getting an education is such an important thing for young people in the foster care system, and the scholarship will help them achieve that.”
What this means locally
For former foster youth in Georgia, the scholarship could change the calculus of attending college. By covering room and board as well as direct academic costs, the award is designed to reduce the financial shocks that often cause students to leave school early. Institutions that qualify include the state’s public university and technical college systems; some private colleges may also accept the funds.
Program administrators are moving quickly to process the initial applications so awards can be distributed in time for the fall semester. Officials have framed the initiative as one of the more generous state-level supports for this population.
Questions about eligibility, participating institutions, and the application process should be directed to the Georgia Student Finance Commission, which is administering the scholarship. Applicants and service providers say they hope the funding will improve college retention among youth aging out of foster care and increase completion rates over time.
(Reporting by the Georgia Correspondent for News Block.)
