STRIVE for success. We can get you there.
In 2019, the Pennsylvania Governor signed the Fostering Independence Through Youth Act into law. This law created the Fostering Independence Tuition Waiver Program to remove barriers in accessing a postsecondary education for youth who are or have been in foster care.
How do you benefit?
Eligible PA residents, who are or have been in foster care after the age of 16, will receive a waiver of college tuition and mandatory fees. This waiver will provide eligible young adults the opportunity to continue their education and graduate college with much less debt.
STRIVE for Success
No one achieves success on their own, and this includes students eligible for the Fostering Independence Through Youth Act. That’s why PTC has created STRIVE, a program that encourages and supports students to achieve their education, professional, and personal goals. You are limited only by the effort and dedication you put into the program— if you try, you will be supported by faculty and staff and given the resources you need to succeed.
Am I eligible?
You must meet the following requirements:
- Be a PA resident under the age of 26.
- Received a high school diploma or received an equivalent degree.
- Be eligible for the PA Chafee Education and Training Grant Program for Successful Transition to Adulthood.
- Be a youth in foster care or a youth discharged from foster care at age 16 or older.
- Exited from foster care on or after 16 to adoption or permanent legal custodianship.
- Be enrolled as an undergraduate, at least half-time in a postsecondary institution that is approved by the U.S. Department of Education for Title IV student assistance programs.
- Demonstrate financial need for the PA Chafee Education and Training Grant (Chafee ETG), as determined by the postsecondary institution.
- Maintain satisfactory academic progress, as determined by the postsecondary institution.
- Not be in default on a federal student loan.
For more information, visit pheaa.org
How do I apply?
- File a free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
- Submit a Chafee ETG application
- Enroll at PTC, an eligible PA postsecondary institution.
- Reach out to Crystal Santiful, Outreach Success Advisor, or Denise Fisher, Director of Financial Aid, with questions.
How STRIVE supports you in your academic journey:
- Resources for assistance on campus for SNAP, medical, mental health, and housing benefits
- Academic guidance and assistance in course selection
- Academic tutoring
- Financial and economic literacy education from PTC’s Financial Aid office
- Leadership development
- Part-time job assistance during college and job placement after graduation
- Academic and cultural enrichment activities
- Bi-weekly check-ins with your Outreach Success Advisor
State resources that offer more help and support
- Pennsylvania Application for Benefits (Cash Assistance, Health Care, SNAP)
- Health Care Coverage Application
- SNAP Application
- SNAP (Simple Application) for Seniors and People with Disabilities
- Breast Cancer Prevention & Treatment Program Application
- Medical Assistance for Workers with Disabilities Application
- Benefits Review
- Medical Assistance Financial Eligibility Application for Long-Term Care, Supports, and Services
These forms, offered in additional languages, can be found at dhs.pa.gov.