Tuition Waiver
What is the State College Tuition Waiver?
This is a state law that exempts or waives payment of tuition and fees at state supported colleges or universities for many youth and young adults with lived experience in the conservatorship of the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) and for those adopted from DFPS.
Do I Qualify?
You qualify for the tuition and fee waiver, if you were in DFPS conservatorship:
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The day before your 18th birthday.
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The day of your 14th birthday, if you are also eligible for adoption on or after that day.
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The day you graduated from high school or received the equivalent of a high school diploma.
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The day Permanent Managing Conservatorship was granted to a non-parent, if that date was on or after September 1, 2009.
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You were 14 years or older on or after June 1, 2016 and left DFPS's Permanent Managing Conservatorship return to the legal responsibility of a parent.
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You were 16 years or older on or after June 1, 2016 and left DFPS Temporary Managing Conservatorship to the legal responsibility of a parent.
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You enrolled in a dual credit course or other course which a high-school student may earn joint high school and college credit, and were in DFPS conservatorship on the day of enrollment.
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Note: If your eligibility is from one of the above criteria, you must have enrolled in a state supported college or university before your 25th birthday.
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The day you were adopted, if that date was on or after September 1, 2009.
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State PAL staff or Adoption Eligibility Assistance staff will give you a signed college Tuition Fee Waiver letter to take to the school registrar's office. Participation in PAL services is not required to be eligible for the tuition and fee waiver.