The Massachusetts Foster Child Grant is a state route for young people who were in the custody of the Department of Children and Families (DCF) and want to study after high school. The 2026–27 guidelines, effective August 1, 2026, authorize up to US$6,000 per academic year. That is a ceiling and the grant is last-dollar aid: the college calculates it after considering other state, federal, and institutional scholarships and grants, so the actual award may be lower.
Eligibility depends on a specific history, not simply having spent time in foster care. The student must have been placed in DCF custody through a Care and Protection Petition and sign a voluntary agreement with DCF setting the conditions for receiving aid. The student must also be under 25 at the start of the academic year, enrolled full time—at least 12 credits or equivalent—in an eligible undergraduate program, and meet the institution’s satisfactory academic progress rules.
The grant can be used at an accredited institution authorized to offer undergraduate or certificate programs and eligible for federal Title IV aid. The school may be public, private, for-profit, or nonprofit, in Massachusetts or elsewhere in the continental United States. Students do not have to choose a Massachusetts campus. Official guidance allows awards for up to five consecutive years; colleges must verify the program and each student’s eligibility. Where possible, the grant may reduce education-loan debt, but it does not replace an individual cost-of-attendance calculation.
To apply, the official route is to speak with your DCF social worker or the Massachusetts Office of Student Financial Assistance at 617-391-6070. FAFSA is the usual route. MASFA is not a general replacement for anyone having trouble with FAFSA: applicants must be ineligible or unable to file it, outside specified visa or immigration-status categories, have attended three years of Massachusetts high school, and earned a Massachusetts diploma or equivalent. The 2026–27 online form remains open in MASSAid until June 30, 2027; its June 30, 2026 priority date has passed. Filing MASFA starts a review and does not guarantee aid; the college makes the final eligibility decision. For the Foster Child Grant, also work with DCF and the college financial-aid office because there is no single published deadline for every campus.
Other filters matter: students must meet state residency rules or an approved immigration-eligibility category, cannot be in default on federal or state education loans, and cannot owe a refund for prior state aid. If you live outside Massachusetts or plan to attend school elsewhere, confirm residency with OSFA before enrolling. Keep a copy of your DCF agreement, aid decision, and college notice; ask in writing how the grant was calculated and what happens if your credits or aid package changes.
Foster Child Grant Program — Massachusetts Office of Student Financial Assistance.
2026–2027 Foster Child Grant Program Guidelines — Massachusetts Board of Higher Education.
Massachusetts Application for State Financial Aid (MASFA) — Massachusetts Office of Student Financial Assistance.
Informational guide based on official sources checked on October 12, 2026. Programs, funding, and eligibility may change by award year; confirm the calculation and deadlines with the responsible financial-aid office before enrolling.
Applicants with the required DCF history should confirm their file with the social worker and college before the campus deadline; US$6,000 is the annual ceiling, not a promised award.
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Massachusetts Foster Child Grant — Office of Student Financial Assistance
135 Santilli Highway, Everett, MA 02149
The official 2026–27 rules allow up to US$6,000 a year as last-dollar grant aid for up to five consecutive years. Requirements include DCF custody through a Care and Protection Petition, a voluntary DCF agreement, being under 25 at the start of the academic year, at least 12 credits, FAFSA or MASFA, and satisfactory academic progress.
Massachusetts state grant for college students formerly in DCF custody
Sources & references
Sources for the information and reporting discussed in this guide.
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Official website ↗
Primary source
Massachusetts Office of Student Financial Assistance · Accessed October 12, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official website ↗
Primary source
Massachusetts Board of Higher Education · Accessed October 12, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official website ↗
Primary source
Massachusetts Office of Student Financial Assistance · Accessed October 12, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official application and program information ↗
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Massachusetts Office of Student Financial Assistance, Department of Higher Education · Accessed October 12, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official website of Massachusetts Foster Child Grant — Office of Student Financial Assistance ↗
Primary source
Massachusetts Board of Higher Education · Accessed October 12, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official website of Massachusetts Foster Child Grant — Office of Student Financial Assistance ↗
Primary source
Massachusetts Office of Student Financial Assistance · Accessed October 12, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.