Students under the age of 25 who fall in these unique circumstances and meet the eligibility requirements could be eligible to have their tuition and fees waived. Yearly FAFSA submission is required for any student submitting a waiver. Students must certify status annually by completing the appropriate institutional waiver form. Waiver should be submitted at the time of registration each Academic Year.
Tuition Waivers for Foster Care Students Requirements
In order to be eligible students must have:
- Been placed in out-of-home placement by the Maryland Department of Human Services and
- Resided in an out-of-home placement on the individual’s 18th birthday or at the time of graduation from high school or upon successful completion of the General Education Development (GED) examination; OR
- Resided in an out-of-home placement for at least one year on or after the individual’s 13th birthday and entered into guardianship, been adopted, or reunited with at least one of the individual’s parents
- Been the younger sibling of an individual who met the qualifications outlined in section (a) and (b) above, and was concurrently placed into the same guardianship by the same parent, or was adopted by the same adoptive family with the older sibling.
If you feel that you are meet criteria, please review and complete this form: Foster Care Waiver Form
For more detailed information regarding the waiver and state guidelines, please see the Maryland Higher Education Commission page about this waiver.
Tuition Waivers for Unaccompanied Homeless Youth Requirements
In order to be eligible, students must:
- Be declared as an unaccompanied homeless youth who is not in the physical custody of a parent or guardian and
- Be a homeless child or youth as defined by the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act.
Note: The McKinney-Vento Homeless Act defines homeless children as “individuals who lack fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence.”
Examples of children who fall under this definition are as follows:
- Children and youth sharing housing due to loss of housing, economic hardship or a similar reason
- Children and youth living in motels, hotels, trailer parks, or camp grounds due to lack of alternative accommodations
- Children and youth living in emergency or transitional shelters
- Children and youth abandoned in hospitals
- Children and youth whose primary nighttime residence is not ordinarily used as a regular sleeping accommodation (e.g. park benches, etc)
- Children and youth living in cars, parks, public spaces, abandoned buildings, substandard housing, bus or train stations
- Migratory children and youth living in any of the above situations
If you feel that you are meet criteria, please review and complete this form: Verification of Unaccompanied Homeless Youth Form
For more detailed information regarding the waiver and state guidelines, please see the Maryland Higher Education Commission page about this waiver.
For Assistance with completing a FAFSA or additional guidance regarding the waivers or your status, please contact the Foster Care and Unaccompanied Youth Liaison:
Laura Shahan
Assistant Director of Financial Aid
Chesapeake College
lshahan@chesapeake.edu
410-822-5400 ext. 2253