Fostering Futures Scholarship: Requirements and Opportunities for Michigan Students
The Fostering Futures Scholarship (FFS) provides scholarships to students who have experienced foster care in Michigan on or after age 13 and demonstrates financial need to qualify. The curriculum and the financial aid aspect helped students to get to this point, along with the professors and connections they've made. This article delves into the specifics of the Fostering Futures Scholarship, outlining its eligibility requirements, application process, and the broader context of educational support for foster youth in Michigan.
The Need for Fostering Futures
About 10,500 youth are in the Michigan foster care system. While as many as 75% of foster youth express a desire to attend college, fewer than 10% enroll in college after high school and fewer than 3% eventually earn a degree. The numbers are sobering. Nationally, it is estimated between 69% and 85% of students who have experienced foster care complete high school by their mid-20s, and just 8% to 11% go on to earn a postsecondary degree (associate's or higher)--five times lower than the national average. In Michigan, there are approximately 10,000 children are in the foster care system at any given time. The Fostering Futures Scholarship Trust Fund provides former foster care students who may not have family support or financial resources to attend college, with a scholarship. Please note, the Fostering Futures Scholarship Trust Fund is not associated with the Fostering Futures agency.
Eligibility Criteria for the Fostering Futures Scholarship
To be eligible for the Fostering Futures Scholarship, students must meet specific criteria:
- Foster Care Experience: Applicants must have experienced foster care in Michigan on or after the age of 13.
- Financial Need: A demonstration of financial need is a prerequisite for qualification.
Application Process and Important Dates
An application is required and must be completed annually during the open enrollment period. The 2025-26 FFS application is now available in the MiSSG Student Portal for students who plan to attend college in Academic Year 2025-26. Applications must be submitted by December 31, 2025, for priority consideration. Awards will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis.
Award Details and Usage
FFS is available on a first-come, first-served basis to undergraduate students. The maximum award amount is determined annually by MI Student Aid. Funding amounts vary based on need and any other financial aid the student is receiving. A portion of the award is restricted to tuition and mandatory fees, books and supplies. Awards pay up to a maximum of $5,000 for Academic Year 2025-26.
Read also: Bright Futures Scholarship Eligibility
Eligible Institutions
The scholarship can be used at the following types of institutions:
- Michigan public degree-grant community college
- Public university
- Michigan private or independent, degree-granting non-profit institution
Additional Michigan Financial Aid Programs
Besides the Fostering Futures Scholarship, Michigan offers several other financial aid programs to support students pursuing higher education:
- Michigan Education Trust (MET): The Michigan Education Trust (MET) is a 529 Prepaid Tuition Plan that allows for the pre-purchase of tuition based on today's rates and then paid out at the future cost when the beneficiary is in college.
- MI Future Educator Fellowship: The MI Future Educator Fellowship provides financial assistance to future educators enrolled in an Educator Preparation Program. Awards for tuition and fees pay up to a maximum of $10,000 per academic year.
- Tuition Incentive Program (TIP): The Tuition Incentive Program (TIP) encourages students to complete high school by providing college tuition assistance after graduation. Eligible students are those who have or have had Medicaid coverage for 24 months within a 36 consecutive month period as identified by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS). Students may receive a maximum of $2,000 in TIP funds. Eligible students will received $500 in the fall and spring semesters. Students may receive one summer TIP award per academic year for $400.
- Children of Veterans Tuition Grant: The Children of Veterans Tuition Grant provides undergraduate tuition assistance to students older than 16 and younger than 26 years of age who are the natural or adopted child of a Michigan veteran.
Important Considerations
- Awards are based on the first Michigan institution listed on the FAFSA.
- Students are responsible for notifying MI Student Aid of a change in their college choice. This can be done through the MiSSG Student Portal or by calling 888-447-2687.
Fundraising Efforts and Impact
Since 2012, fundraising efforts have totaled over $1,400,000; all of which have been awarded as scholarships in the year they were raised. This was done through individual donations, group donations, sponsorships, ticket sales, auctions and many volunteer based fundraising events.
Read also: Navigating Florida Bright Futures
Read also: Requirements for Bright Futures
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