Fostering Success- Colorado State University
Fort Collins, CO
ABOUT
The Fostering Success Program at Colorado State University is a donor-funded community for students from independent backgrounds, including students with foster care experience (SEFC), kinship care, guardianship, and others without consistent family support.
It provides scholarships and financial aid navigation, one-on-one coaching, academic support, and community engagement opportunities, all designed to create a sense of belonging and help students thrive on a large campus.
Through social events, peer mentoring, and targeted resources, Fostering Success surrounds students with a network of faculty, staff, and peers who understand their experiences and are invested in their success from entry to graduation.
CONTACT
Location: 1415 Meridian Avenue
Phone: (970) 491-7095
Email: Andrea.Fortney@colostate.edu
Epic Scholars – Metropolitan State University of Denver
Denver, CO
ABOUT
Epic Scholars at MSU Denver is a campus support and scholarship program for students with experience in foster care (SEFC) and other independent backgrounds, created to improve college access, persistence, and graduation for this community.
The program combines financial support with mentoring, academic guidance, and community-building activities so scholars have both the funds and the relationships they need to navigate college successfully.
Epic Scholars focuses on helping students build their academic skills, career goals, and support networks, recognizing that long-term success requires more than just tuition coverage.
CONTACT
Phone: 303-556-5740
Email: epicscholars@msudenver.edu
Guardian Scholars – University of Colorado
Boulder, CO
ABOUT
The Guardian Scholars Program at CU Boulder is a campus-based support community for students who have experienced foster care, homelessness, or a lack of stable guardian support, centered on equitable access, resilience, and empowerment.
Operating under TRIO Student Support Services, it offers specialized one-on-one mentoring and coaching, financial literacy and personal development seminars, and a safe, affirming community where students can build self-advocacy and personal growth.
Guardian Scholars also connects students to campus and community resources, emergency supports, and scholarship opportunities, helping them overcome barriers, stay enrolled, and thrive academically and personally.
CONTACT
Location: LBB 255B- UCB
Phone: (303) 492-3842
Education & Training Voucher (ETV) Program
The Education and Training Voucher (ETV) program is a federally funded program administered by the Colorado Department of Higher Education. The program provides Colorado residents who are currently or have previously been in foster care and are between the ages of 17 to 25 with financial support for postsecondary education at a college, university, vocational, technical, or trade school. Funding is limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis to eligible students.
CONTACT INFORMATION
Email: fcnavigator@dhe.state.co.us
FosterEd
The FosterEd program pays for the total cost of attendance for qualifying students who attend public institutions of higher education within Colorado. This state-funded program pays for the remaining balance of the total cost of attendance after scholarships, grants, and other financial aid awards have been applied. To qualify for this program, students must have been in foster care or in non-certified kinship care in Colorado on or after their 13th birthday.
CONTACT INFORMATION
Email: fcnavigator@dhe.state.co.us
Website: https://cdhe.colorado.gov/fostered
Dawson Promise- Dawson Community College
Glendive, MT
ABOUT
Dawson Promise at Dawson Community College is a program that helps unaccompanied youth who are experiencing homelessness or aging out of foster care earn a two‑year degree or certificate without going into debt.
As a Dawson Promise student, you get year‑round on‑campus housing, support from financial aid to complete your FAFSA, a mentor to walk you through admissions and enrollment, and one‑on‑one advising to pick a program and stay on track.
The program also connects you with a local host family, on‑campus employment, and life‑skills training (like budgeting, resume writing, and grocery shopping), so you have both a community and the day‑to‑day skills you need while you’re in college and planning what comes next.
CONTACT
Daisy Nyberg
Phone: 406-377-9412
Email: dnyberg@dawson.edu
Website: https://www.dawson.edu/outreach/dawson-promise.html
Education & Training Voucher (ETV) Program
Montana foster care youth are eligible to apply for the Foster Care Educational Training Voucher (ETV) program*, which provides eligible youth with up to $5,000 per year to pay for educational expenses.
CONTACT INFORMATION
Christy Hendricks
Email: chendricks@ReachHigherMontana.org
Website: https://reachhighermontana.org/resources/youth-in-foster-care#paying-for-school
No on-campus specific programs able to be identified at this time.
If you would like your program added, please contact us at nrc.fahe@gmail.com
Education & Training Voucher (ETV) Program
Foster care individuals who "age out" of foster care or enter a kinship guardianship or are adopted at age 16+, have the option to apply for the education and Training Voucher Program.
Similar to a college scholarship, the former foster individual can apply to receive up to $2,500 per semester, $5,000 per year with a lifetime maximum of $25,000 for college tuition. Individuals can apply up to their 26th birthday.
CONTACT INFORMATION
Phone: 701-328-2316
Email: hhscfs@nd.gov
Website: https://www.hhs.nd.gov/cfs/fostercare/chafee-program-education-training-voucher
No on-campus specific programs able to be identified at this time.
If you would like your program added, please contact us at nrc.fahe@gmail.com
Education & Training Voucher (ETV) Program
The Education and Training Voucher (ETV) Program provides funding to assist youth with continuing education and training after high school or obtaining a GED certificate. Community Resource People provide assistance and services to youth in school, assist youth in accessing and obtaining financial assistance for post-secondary training, and research apprenticeship programs for youth.
ETV funds are financial assistance grants that can aid youth in achieving their goals and successful independence through education and training. If eligible, a youth in foster care could receive up to $5,000 a year to attend college or vocational school or to learn a trade.
CONTACT INFORMATION
Phone: 605.773.3227
Website: https://dss.sd.gov/childprotection/independentlivingprogram/educationtraining.aspx
First Star Academy- University of Utah
Salt Lake City, UT
ABOUT
The University of Utah First Star Academy is a four‑year college‑prep program for high school students in foster care that blends monthly Saturday Academies during the school year with a month‑long residential Summer Academy on the U of U campus.
During Summer Academy, scholars live in campus housing, take focused math and language arts classes in the mornings, and join electives and life‑skills activities in the afternoons, while Saturdays are used for workshops, tutoring, relationship‑building, and practicing skills like budgeting, conflict resolution, and self‑advocacy.
Throughout the year, each scholar and caregiver is connected to a dedicated staff “point person,” and students receive ongoing one‑on‑one and small‑group tutoring, ACT prep, college counseling, FAFSA and scholarship support, and mentoring, creating a stable, long‑term support system that stays with them through all four years of high school regardless of placement changes.
CONTACT
Mara Zenger
Email: firststar@utah.edu
Website: https://firststar.utah.edu/program-and-curriculum.php
Education & Training Voucher (ETV) Program
The Chafee Education and Training Voucher (ETV) program, managed by DCFS, provides resources to meet the education and training needs of eligible current or former foster youth aged 14-25. The Chafee ETV program offers up to $5,000 per year for post-secondary education and training to assist youth with gaining skills needed to lead independent and productive lives.
Olene S. Walker Transition to Adult Living (TAL) Scholarship
The Olene S. Walker Transition to Adult Living (TAL) Scholarship is designed to assist qualified youths who are transitioning out of Utah state foster care or the unaccompanied refugee minor program to complete a postsecondary education program (degree or certificate) at a Utah System of Higher Education institution. Private donors in partnership with the my529, Utah’s official 529 educational savings plan, sponsor the TAL Scholarship.
CONTACT INFORMATION
No on-campus specific programs able to be identified at this time.
If you would like your program added, please contact us at nrc.fahe@gmail.com
Education & Training Voucher (ETV) Program
The Chafee Education and Training Voucher (ETV) program provides resources to meet the education and training needs of eligible current or former foster youth aged 14-25. The Chafee ETV program offers up to $5,000 per year for post-secondary education and training to assist youth with gaining skills needed to lead independent and productive lives.
CONTACT INFORMATION
Brian DeTavernier
Email: brian.detavernier1@wyo.gov
Phone: 307-777-6348