FACT Scholars Program: Associate & Bachelor's Degree Track
To encourage youth formerly in foster care to pursue postsecondary education in Texas, the state provides a free tuition waiver for eligible students to attend state-supported vocational schools, colleges, or universities. FACT offers a competitive scholarship program for qualified students to provide financial assistance for other major expenses not included in the tuition waiver — housing, food, books, transportation, etc. Each FACT Scholar will receive mentorship and regular check-ins, providing both accountability and encouragement.
Pathways to a college degree establish long-term stability.
The FACT Scholars Program for former foster youth provides up to $12,000 in annual support for up to four years, depending on the applicant's education goals. The exact amount a scholar receives depends on factors including financial need and their enrolled credit hours.
Did You Know:
Despite offering a free tuition waiver, only 3% of former foster youth in Texas complete a post-secondary degree. The waiver doesn’t include books or living expenses such as housing, food, and transportation, which can range from $12,000 to $20,000 annually.
Since 2018, FACT has supported over 70 students seeking a two-year or four-year degree. Our combination of financial support for living expenses + a mentorship has proven to be a winning formula with a 64% completion rate among FACT Scholars compared to the state’s 3% rate.
FACT’s model has been independently validated by a 2025 study from the Texas Institute for Child and Family Wellbeingat UT Austin.
Application Requirements:
Reside in Texas and attend an accredited post-secondary education program in Texas. Must be planning to be enrolled at a minimum of part-time for your chosen program.
Post-secondary education programs for this track are defined as any accredited two-year colleges or four-year universities.
Applicants must be a current/former youth who experienced foster care.
Applicants must be 26 years of age or younger at the time of application.
Applicants must send proof of FAFSA application. (if eligible)
While not required, applicants are strongly encouraged to submit at least one letter of recommendation from a teacher, mentor, counselor, supervisor, caseworker, or other professional.
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Associate & Bachelor’s Track applications will be open beginning Monday, March 1, 2027, and will close April 30, 2027, at 5 pm CST.
No incomplete applications will be considered. We strongly encourage you to submit 1-2 letters of recommendation, but it is not required. If you have any questions regarding the application, please reach out to scholarship@fosterangelsctx.org.
You will need to submit the following documents with your application:
Confirmation email of your FAFSA/TAFSA application
Your Tuition and Fee Waiver (if applicable)
An unofficial transcript from your high school, or current training program (if applicable)
Your Education and Training Voucher application (if applicable)