1. Complete the FAFSA

  • The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) opens in October. Submit early using Penn State Greater Allegheny’s school code: 003329.

  • If you were in foster care or a ward of the court after turning 13, you may qualify as independent on the FAFSA. This could open access to additional resources like:

    • Campus coaches

    • Emergency financial assistance

    • Mentoring

    • Tuition support

Note: Answering “yes” to foster care status requires submitting a dependency review packet to Student Aid for verification.

2. Apply for the Pennsylvania Chafee Education and Training Grant

  • Provides financial support for eligible foster youth.

  • Contact the ACE office for help completing the application.

3. Check Eligibility for the Fostering Independence Tuition Waiver

  • Covers tuition and fees for Pennsylvania foster youth at Penn State.

  • The ACE office can guide you through the application process.

4. Search for Scholarships and Grants

  • Explore opportunities through Penn State’s Office of Student Aid and external organizations.

  • The ACE office can help with foster youth–specific scholarship applications.

5. Apply for The ACE Program (TRIO Student Support Services)

  • ACE provides mentoring, tuition assistance, and academic support for foster youth, first-generation students, low-income students, and students with disabilities.

Next Steps

For help with any of these steps, contact the Office of Student Aid or the ACE office.