Higher Education

Opportunities after high school

What are my options for education after I graduate from high school or get my GED?

You can choose to go to a vocational school, a community college, or a four year college or university:

Vocational schools teach a particular trade or skill, such as computer technology or mechanic skills. The length of a vocational school program depends on the program. Community colleges also offer vocational certificate programs in addition to academic programs.  There are also apprenticeship programs.

When you complete a two-year community college program you get an Associate’s Degree. Jobs requiring an Associate’s Degree include licensed practical nurse, police officer, radiologic technologist, or teacher’s assistant.

When you complete a course of study at a four-year college or university, you get a Bachelor’s Degree. There are many types of jobs you can get with a Bachelor’s Degree, including teacher, registered nurse, engineer or accountant.  Earning a Bachelor’s Degree also allows you to go on to graduate school, such as law school or medical school. Virginia Education Wizard

Should I apply to a two-year or a four-year college?

Talk to your school guidance counselor, career counselor, caseworker, and other adults. Some students start at a two-year college and go on to a four-year college: Virginia guarantees that motivated two-year college students may transfer to a four-year public college.

▪  If you want to start your education at a four-year college straight out of high school, talk to your school guidance counselor about taking Advanced Placement classes and the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT), a requirement for applying to most four-year colleges. You can start practicing the SAT while a sophomore or junior to improve your scores.

▪  Four-year colleges often require an essay as part of the application. Ask adults such as your guidance counselor, a teacher you trust, or your foster parents, for guidance on writing the essay.

What about vocational school?

If you don’t want a college degree, but want career skills to get a good job, look into vocational schools or community college vocational courses. Some require a high school diploma or GED; some do not. The Virginia Workforce Connection lists many different career paths and programs. 

Help for current and former foster youth to attend college

Virginia’s community colleges offer a tuition grant program for foster youth. Contact the financial aid office of your local community college or your social worker.

Education and Training Voucher (ETV): as a foster youth, former foster youth or youth adopted from foster care after ages 16  through 21 (extendible to age 23), you can apply for an ETV, valued at up to $5,000 (depending on availability of funding).  ETVs can be used to pay for many things, including tuition, room and board, equipment, supplies, transportation and child care.  Ask your caseworker about the ETV.

Great Expectations: a program at Virginia community colleges, for current and former foster youth, ages 16 through 24.  You can receive tutoring, help with college and financial aid applications, a community college student mentor, and other things to help you prepare for your future. Check out Great Expectations.

Learn more about these and other programs at Foster My Future. 

How much does it cost? How will I pay for it?

The cost of college is different for each school.  Youth in foster care may qualify for free or reduced tuition at some Virginia public colleges. Community colleges and vocational programs usually cost less than four-year colleges and universities. Financial assistance is available to help you pay for community college or a four-year college or university.

When do I apply for financial aid to attend college?

Start looking into financial aid early—in your junior year of high school. Get help from your foster parents and your caseworker as well as your school guidance counselor to help you fill out applications for financial aid. Your high school will have information on how to apply.

Types of Financial Aid:

Scholarships: scholarships may provide varying amounts of money to pay for tuition and other educational costs, and may be based on merit, background, need, specific talents and skills, or career goals. Some scholarships require you to write an essay. There are many websites that list scholarships. Check out the State Council for Higher Education in Virginia.

Grants: some types of grants, such as Pell grants, are federal programs and may be included in a package of financial aid once you apply using the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

Loans: the federal government provides student loans with a low interest rate. If you pay for your entire education with loans, you may have a hard time paying them back. Apply online using the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

Work Study: When you apply to colleges, ask the financial aid office if they participate in the federal Work-study program. This can help you pay for college and also gain job skills.

How to Apply for federal financial aid

To complete an application for federal financial aid, first gather your information and documents: social security number, any W-2s and other records of money earned, tax returns, bank statements, and a letter from your caseworker stating you were in foster care.

To fill out the federal financial aid form, go to studentaid.gov and click “start a new FAFSA.”  Answer “YES” to the question in step three: “Are both your parents deceased or are you (or were you until age 18) a ward of the court?”  Answering “YES” allows you to skip the section on family income.

Special note about for-profit colleges

The majority of colleges are either public or non-profit private schools. However, for-profit colleges, which are in the business to make money, often advertise on television. While for-profit colleges may be right for some students, many students take out expensive loans but get a less-valuable education. Before applying to a for-profit college, thoroughly research the program, the costs, and what better or less expensive alternatives may be available.

More college information: