Exclusive Scholarships for Adopted Children to Apply for in 2025

About Scholarships for Adopted Children

Around 5 million Americans are adopted, meaning that around 2-4% of the population is adopted. Of non-step parent adoptions, about 59% are from the child welfare system, also known as the foster system, which is public or private foster care. These children depend on licensed foster parents to take care of them for any given amount of time. 

At any given time, there are nearly half a million children in foster care in the United States. Approximately 3-4% of former foster youth obtain a four-year college degree. And between 2 and 6% receive a two-year degree.

This discrepancy may be caused due to foster youth often aging out of the system right when they need to begin preparing and applying for college. Without the financial and emotional support students often receive at home, foster youth can face many challenges.

For privately adopted children, having adoptive parents who attended college can lead to a higher chance of going to college. Around 75% of adoptive parents have some sort of college degree. Moreover, 90% of adopted children live in households with incomes above the poverty line. This demonstrates that adopted children have access to college in a way that foster students may not.

Regardless of your income or family situation, it's no secret that college is expensive. If you're in need of tuition assistance, whether you're privately adopted or in foster care, there are plenty of options for you, from tuition waivers to scholarship opportunities.

Can You Get a Scholarship for Being Adopted?

There are many scholarships available exclusively to students who have been adopted. Many organizations and individuals have created an adoptive children scholarship fund. Additionally, many states offer tuition waivers and scholarships for adopted children, which can help support them through college.

If you are a student who was adopted from the foster care system at age 16 or older, you may be able to get Education and Training Voucher (ETV) assistance. This initiative provides up to $5,000 per year for students who are getting a college education.

There are also plenty of private scholarships that cater to adopted children. The Don Hazel Scholarship Fund provides $1,000 annually to adopted or foster children who are graduating from high school and enrolling full-time in any U.S. institution of higher learning. The National Foster Parent Association also has some scholarships for foster children, including the NFPA youth scholarship which renews scholarships annually.

At Texas Foster Family Association, you can apply for the Youth Empowerment Scholarship for adopted students who are Texas residents. Applicants should have a high school diploma or GED and an acceptance letter to a post secondary education among other requirements.

Adopted students can also find scholarships right here on Bold.org! On Bold.org, there are hundreds of scholarships for all different applicants. Adopted students can find plenty of options if they need financial assistance to complete their education.

How to Get a Scholarship for Being Adopted

After creating your free Bold.org profile, you can begin looking for scholarships that you are eligible for. By going to the scholarship search, you can look specifically for scholarships for adopted children and foster children specifically.

Make sure to check that you are eligible for each individual scholarship by checking the additional eligibility requirements. You can also find a list of scholarships specifically for adopted children above.

Using Bold.org, you can apply for as many scholarship opportunities as you'd like! There's no limit to how many applications you can submit or how many awards you can win. Additionally, new scholarships are posted every day, so check back often for new opportunities!

You can even filter by "newest" to find the most recently created opportunities. Being among the first to apply for a scholarship can make your application stand out, so consider applying early to boost your chances of winning. The scholarship application process was created to be as quick and easy as possible, so applying sometimes requires just a few clicks!

Each scholarship's description will list instructions to let applicants know how to apply. The application typically requires writing a short essay in response to a prompt or question. Additionally, some scholarships may ask applicants to share videos, images, art pieces, or a creative or professional portfolio to apply.

The more scholarships you apply for and the stronger your strategy, the more prepared you'll be for college. As costs continue to rise, earning as many scholarships as possible is critical to maximizing your financial support throughout your education.

How to Find Scholarships for Adopted Children

After creating your free Bold.org profile, you can begin looking for scholarships that you are eligible for. You can use the scholarship search to find scholarships specifically created for adopted children and foster children.

There are also some scholarships for adopted students in the "Family" category of the scholarship page. For BIPOC and low-income adopted children, you can also look in the "Diversity and Inclusion" category for some scholarships.

Make sure to check if you are an eligible applicant for each individual scholarship by checking the additional eligibility requirements. You can also get started with the list of scholarships specifically for adopted children above.

No matter what background you come from or what future you're pursuing, you'll be able to find scholarships you qualify for on Bold.org. There are many options to choose from, so be sure to always read each scholarship's eligibility requirements before putting time and effort into your application. 

How do I know if I'm eligible for a scholarship?

Each scholarship opportunity on Bold.org has a distinct list of eligibility requirements, including requirements. These criteria can include financial status, grade level, demographic, field of study, race, gender, location, or even first-generation status. Often, donors try to uplift underrepresented students. As a result, there are many scholarships for marginalized students, such as BIPOC, LGBTQ+, low-income, and/or disabled students.

Each scholarship's eligibility requirements will be listed in the description, so it's easy to make sure you qualify. Many scholarship opportunities are only open to specific groups of students, such as scholarships for certain education levels. However, there are many general and broad scholarships that are open to all students, regardless of background or identity. Some scholarships are even open to those who have graduated but are still paying off student loans! 

No matter what background you come from or what future you're pursuing, you'll be able to find scholarships you qualify for on Bold.org. There are many options to choose from, so be sure to always read each scholarship's eligibility requirements before putting time and effort into your application. 

Can Adopted Children Apply for General Scholarships?

Absolutely. Adopted children are eligible for a wide range of scholarships beyond those specifically designated for them. They can explore general scholarship opportunities based on academic achievements, talents, and other criteria.

College scholarships are available for foster youth, including high school seniors to support their educational pursuits. These scholarships include merit-based, need-based, and even niche scholarships.

How Do I Receive My Scholarship Awards?

Scholarship money that is won on Bold.org will be sent straight to the financial office of the winner's college. All accredited US colleges, universities, and technical schools are eligible institutions to receive scholarship funds. Winners simply have to provide proof of enrollment, and the scholarship funds will be sent to their financial aid department! This process ensures that receiving a scholarship is hassle-free and guarantees that scholarships will be used for eligible costs. 

Eligible college costs include tuition, books, and mandatory fees. As long as scholarship funds go toward these costs, the money will generally not be considered income and will not be taxed. As long as the total amount received is less than or equal to your educational costs, you won't need to report scholarship money as income.

If you're not able to receive financial assistance from an immediate family member, foster parents, biological parents, or friend support, apply for scholarships to help you gain the education you deserve!