Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board/Tuition assistance
Texas Tuition and Fee Exemption for Students in or from Foster Care
Amount varies
Free tuition and fees at Texas state supported colleges and universities for anyone who was under DFPS conservatorship or was adopted from DFPS. Dual credit courses count, so it can start while you are still at school. Once DFPS confirms you are eligible you keep it indefinitely, and you do not have to show financial need or even be a Texas resident.
Tuition and the fees authorised by chapter 54 of the Texas Education Code, such as lab fees, for any eligible course you attempt. It is an exemption, so the institution does not charge it.
No deadline
What you need
The official page does not list required documents. Check the official page before you apply, since a provider can ask for paperwork it does not publish.
How to apply
- 1Ask DFPS for Form 1810Form 1810 is the verification that you are eligible, and it is issued by DFPS adoption eligibility staff or by Preparation for Adult Living staff. Ask for it once you have been admitted, and ask early: nothing else in this process can start until it exists.
- 2Give Form 1810 to the institutionA new form is needed for each institution you attend, so if you transfer you request it again. You do not reapply each year at the same institution.
- 3If you are male, check you are registered for Selective ServiceRegistration, or a documented exemption, is a condition of this exemption. It is free, it takes a few minutes, and it is the kind of thing that holds up an award at the last moment.
Where this comes from
- Official source
- https://reportcenter.highered.texas.gov/agency-publication/guidelines-manuals/foster-care-exemption-fact-sheet/
- Last checked by SCRN
- 2026-09-03Verified null days ago
- How it was verified
- Checked against the official page by a person at SCRN
- Source level
- Provider verifiedRead from the provider's own page.
- Deadline
- The source states there is noneNo date to miss, but there is an age to beat: you have to meet the enrolment requirements before you turn 25. After that it is closed, and it does not reopen. You do not have to have received it by 25, only to have enrolled.
- How often
- per term