Massachusetts Department of Children and Families (DCF) Adopted and Foster Child Tuition
Waiver and Fee Assistance Program is designed to lessen the financial burden on adopting
parents in the Commonwealth, and to provide financial support for foster children
in state custody who were neither adopted nor returned home. The tuition and fee waiver
covers 100% of tuition and fees for state-supported courses, subject to budgetary
appropriation, at all of the Massachusetts public institutions of higher education,
excluding graduate courses and courses in the MD program at the University of Massachusetts
Medical Center.
North Shore Community College (NSCC) is committed to provide the assistance that will
cover any remaining tuition* and mandatory course related fees** after all other awarded funds from federal, state and/or institutional grants and/or scholarships
have been applied to the student’s account. The College may not use this aid assistance
to supplant other State, Federal or institutional aid previously awarded to the student.
If the student’s tuition and fees are 100% covered by the other awards, the student
will NOT receive this aid assistance.
Eligible Student Requirements
To be eligible for Adopted and Foster Child Tuition Waivers and Fee Assistance Program, students must meet the following conditions:
- Have approved eligibility status as a “High School Completer,” per the Massachusetts tuition equity law, or be a U.S. Citizen, permanent legal resident, or non-citizen eligible under Title IV regulations.
- Have applied for financial aid, using the standard Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or a FAFSA equivalent application authorized by the Department of Higher Education.
- Not be in default of any federal or state Student Loans for attendance at any institution or owe a refund for any previous financial aid received.
- Be enrolled full time, half time, or part time in an eligible program or is taking an eligible course as defined.
- Not have received a prior bachelor's degree or its equivalent.
- Be maintaining satisfactory academic progress in accordance with institutional and federal standards.
- Be twenty-four years of age or under at the start of the academic year.
- Be in the custody of the DCF and have been adopted by an eligible Massachusetts state
employee or by an eligible Massachusetts resident through the DCF.
- Eligible state employees shall include all full- and part-time Massachusetts state government employees employed by the state, for at least six months at the time of the adoption. Employees must be working for the state at the time of the adoption and continued to be employed by the state for at least six months after the adoption.
- Massachusetts residents shall include all individuals determined to be Massachusetts state residents at the time of adoption of the eligible student.
Due to the required enrollment verification process, fee assistance awards are generally
credited to eligible students accounts during the middle of the fall and spring semesters.
For complete program guidelines please visit the Massachusetts Office of Student Financial Assistance. For more information about program deadlines and requirements, contact the Massachusetts
Office of Student Financial Assistance at (617) 391-6070. For the Department of Children
and Families please call (617) 748-2000.
*In-state tuition rate
**Does not include the health insurance fee, MassPIRG, late payment fee, books and/or
supplies, special program fee or facility fee.