Portland Community College | Portland, Oregon Portland Community College

Foster youth waiver

Young PCC students sitting in circle

This waiver provides free college tuition for former foster youth. Here is how to use the waiver at PCC.

Who is eligible?

To use the tuition waiver, you must:

  • Have been in the care and custody of Oregon DHS or Tribal Child Welfare for at least 180 days after the age of 14
  • Have exited foster care on or after your 16th birthday
  • Complete your financial aid application
  • Begin accessing the waiver by the age of 25

What does the waiver cover?

The waiver will pay any tuition that is not covered by state, federal or college grants. You can use the waiver for the equivalent of 4 years of undergraduate studies.

How the waiver works

Each term, the Oregon Office of Student Access and Completion (OSAC) communicates with PCC which students are eligible for this waiver. PCC will apply the waiver for all eligible students after the add/drop deadline for the term. The add/drop deadline is typically the second Tuesday of the term – see the academic calendar for dates. The waiver only covers any tuition and fees not covered by other federal and state grants. If you have questions or would like to confirm your eligibility, please contact Sarah Loepker or Allison Trowbridge.