1 of 17

Fostering College Attachment

2 of 17

70% of foster youth express interest in college, but only 8-12% attain an associate degree or higher by age 25, compared to 47% of the general population.

3 of 17

Education still pays.

4 of 17

Education still pays.

Earn 2x as much!

5 of 17

Does College Have a Good ROI?

Despite rising costs, a liberal arts education still pays. According to The Center for Education and the Workforce at Georgetown, “Median return on investment (ROI) 40 years after enrollment is $918,000.” Recent graduates may see negative ROI early in their careers. However over a lifetime, college graduates earn 2x as much as those with a high school diploma alone.

Have to FINISH and receive degree for full rewards

How Much More Do College Grads Earn?According to The Hamilton Project at the Brookings Institute, a college degree in any major boosts earnings: “The typical bachelor’s degree graduate worker earns $1.19 million, which is twice what the typical high school graduate earns.”

Have to finish - payoff much larger with completion

What Works: Ten Education, Training, and Work-Based Pathway Changes That Lead to Good Jobs - CEW Georgetown

6 of 17

Postsecondary education opens more job opportunities.

4x more!

7 of 17

Careers require postsecondary education.

nurse, social worker, teacher, business manager

→ BA $35,000-103,000/year

health technologist, paralegal, LPN, hygienist

→ AA $35,000-79,000/year�

customer service rep, childcare worker, admin asst,

mail carrier

→ HS $25,000-33,000�

onetonline.org

8 of 17

College resources parallel system resources.

9 of 17

Why not go?

Don’t know how.

Can’t afford it.

I need to work.

Didn’t like school.

I’ll do it later.

9

Help is available! College Access programs, school, websites, apps, Step Up to College guide, BigFuture.org

Financial Aid - federal and state maximum grants as independent students = maximum federal and state

Age 13 +, if have child, homeless/at risk of, age 24 = $13k

Can work and go to school; it’s not either or. Many flexible options. Not easy, but doable.

College is not high school. Learn per your interests. Treated as an adult not a child. Learning is serious.

Degree completion much less likely as life “happens.” Best chance to complete a degree program is now.

10 of 17

Targeted Support Programs

College Guide and Success Coach until Graduation
Year Round Housing
Peer Support Groups
Academic Assistance
Leadership Skills

10

Campus Programming Directory 2024 (fieldcenteratpenn.org)

11 of 17

Accredited Nonprofit Colleges only

→ For-profit can = Invalid Degree and Debt

Alvernia University

Eastern University

Gwynedd Mercy University

Harcum College

Arcadia University

Cheyney University

Harcum College

Haverford College

Holy Family University

La Salle University

Career and Technical Schools

Orleans Technical College

Automotive Trainng Center

Temple University

Bryn Mawr College

Manor College

Thomas Jefferson University

Villanova University

Widener University

Moore College of Art and Design

Neumann University

Peirce College

Lincoln University

University of Pennsylvania

District 1199c

Walnut Hill College

Chestnut Hill College

Drexel University

Philadelphia County

Montgomery County

Delaware County

Bucks County

Rosemont College

Saint Joseph's University

Swarthmore College

West Chester University

Lincoln Technical Institute

Philadelphia Technician Training

11

54+ in Greater Philly!

PA accredited schools - Title IV

Must be accredited to use tuition waiver and Chafee funds

Must be accredited to have value in the workplace - otherwise dismissed by employers and credits do not transfer

Public and private non profit colleges to consider (avoid for profit schools-they take your money and leave you in debt!)

54 in greater philadelphia 45 private, 2 public, 7 community – LOTS OF CHOICES

www.franklin.edu/colleges-near/pennsylvania/philadelphia

Accredited - check here:

https://fsapartners.ed.gov/knowledge-center/library/resource-type/Federal%20School%20Code%20Lists (must download list)

Questions to ask when visit school: retention rates and graduation rates (What percentage of first year students graduate?), Is the school Title IV eligible? (takes federal financial aid)

Visit campus, expose youth to classes, tours

12 of 17

Postsecondary Training, College, and Younger Youth

Never too early to talk to youth about college!

DO NOT wait until senior year in high school!
Talk about lifelong impact of college degree on future.
Talk about college affordability through financial aid.
Youth and young adult “testimonies” about college.
Visit colleges - exposure = familiarity

Important things to do in high school

Take challenging classes - don’t let student just ‘get by’
GPA matters for college admissions.
10th grade - take the PSAT.
Promote youth involvement in sports, activities, clubs, etc.

12

Create the expectation.

13 of 17

Financial Aid = No Tuition - based debt!

13

Independent Students = Maximum Federal & State Grants

Only student’s income included
In care age 13+, homeless or at risk of homelessness, have a child

14 of 17

Fostering Independence Tuition Waiver

2019 new Pennsylvania state law - Colleges must waive all remaining tuition and mandatory fee costs after applying federal and state grant dollars.

14

Eligibility

Youth in care at age 16 or above and now under age 26 - aged out youth eligible! Adopted youth eligible!
Only Pennsylvania - based schools & Title IV Institutions
Must be half or full time
Up to five (5) years
Does not cover housing. Options: stay in care for stipend, housing scholarships, college-based scholarships, loan for living expenses

Back to the PA tuition waiver - make college financially accessible for youth with experience in care

Colleges in PA must waive all remaining tuition and fee costs after applying federal and state grant dollars.

Financial aid dollars go to colleges - not to student

PA based institutions, Title IV - college eligible for federal financial aid, quality control and preventive measure to keep youth from signing up for for-profit programs that get them into debt trouble

Waiver applicable at UPenn and Drexel as much as Penn State and CCP.

Link to Waiver program https://www.pheaa.org/funding-opportunities/other-educational-aid/foster-education.shtml

Financial aid changes - Pell grant intact and to be expanded to shorter term training, limits aid to non-citizens, cap on loans, income based repayment plan stays, 2026-7

15 of 17

Applying for PA Tuition Waiver

How?

Determine eligibility - in care at age 16
Complete FAFSA studentaid.gov - **foster youth identifier questions
Complete PHEAA
Complete Chafee application for selected college - must be signed and sent to state, used to determine tuition waiver eligibility
Even without waiver Federal (FAFSA) and PHEAA (state) grants cover MOST of tuition at state supported schools (passhe.edu, click on universities)

15

16 of 17

Penn State Tuition & fees $21,640
Federal Pell Grant $ 7,395
PHEAA Grant $ 5,750
Chafee Grant (up to) $ 5,000

Balance $ 3,495

PA Tuition Waiver $(3,495) � Balance $ 0

16

17 of 17

I-LEAD College Access Services)

17

No cost
1:1 Higher Education Coaching
Completing Financial Aid forms: FAFSA, PHEAA, Chafee
Connecting Youth to College Contacts
Presentations and Dialogue

Contact us! Cynda Clyde cclyde@i-leadusa.org

267-297-1245

Bigfuture.org

Studentaid.gov