Earning a college degree can be transformative. But for someone with a background in foster care, the potential is even more powerful. For this population, a college education can interrupt the intergenerational transmission of family violence, potentially changing the legacy for generations to come.

Children and adolescents are placed in foster care when their family of origin is no longer able to ensure their safety and well-being. For adolescents, sometimes a home is not available, leading to placement at a group home or residential treatment center.

While some children may only be in care for a short period of time, others can spend years in one or, at times, several homes. According to the U.S. Department of Education, approximately 400,000 children and youth are in foster care. Each year, over 20,000 young people age out of care without a permanent family through reunification, adoption, or guardianship. Of these, 70 to 90 percent are interested in going to college,

The gap between access and graduation

Over the past 30 years, many states have taken significant steps to improve educational outcomes for young people with a background in foster care.

At least 35 states now offer a tuition waiver, scholarship, or grant for students who have gone through foster care, according to tracking by the University of Washington. These programs vary in coverage and age eligibility, but they all get one thing right: the cost of college is a significant barrier for students who have been in foster care.

Despite this opportunity, for too many, completing a college degree remains out of reach. Far fewer young people with a background in foster care make it to college than their peers, and an even smaller number graduate. A recent review suggests that 8 to 12 percent of youth who experienced foster care complete a postsecondary degree, compared to 49 percent for the general population.

Clearly, there is work to be done.

Financial aid only gets someone through the door. It does not get them to graduation. When well-meaning institutions offer the promise of earning a degree without the support that is needed to ensure student success, they risk doing more harm than good.

Without specialized support, students from foster care offered only tuition benefits could easily end up worse off, leaving college with debt but no degree. This may also further degrade their ability to trust systems, and—perhaps worst of all—they will have to grapple with the emotional toll of experiencing what may be perceived as failure. Coupled with a lifetime of difficult transitions and disappointments, this outcome is not something we should accept lightly.

It is my belief that when institutions offer these impactful tuition waivers and scholarships to this population, they also have a responsibility to help students from foster care succeed. This means creating campus-based programs of support with dedicated staff who can serve as both system navigators and personal advocates to provide trauma-informed, resilience-promoting services. There are many such programs across the country, including Bridging Success, an initiative we started at Arizona State University (ASU) more than 10 years ago.

Why general campus services aren’t enough

Considering most campuses already have robust student services, one might ask why we need specialized services for this population.

If a student ended up in the foster care system, by definition, they have experienced trauma. Their caregiver caused or did not prevent that harm. Then, they entered child welfare services, a well-meaning but sometimes imperfect system that can cause additional trauma. Being in foster care can result in a child moving schools many times, so while they may be academically capable, they can come to college less prepared. And their experience while in care may have eroded their trust in the very systems that exist to support them.

Developing an ecosystem that is trauma-informed assures that faculty and staff understand that some of the behaviors they are seeing in the classroom are the result of a difficult childhood. This awareness allows everyone on campus to accept these students despite their challenges, offering unconditional, positive regard for each person. The approach builds trust and allows navigators to connect students with services that they might otherwise not feel safe accessing.

A blueprint for campus-based support

In addition to being trauma-informed, at ASU, we intentionally promote resilience by engaging research-based protective factors that help students adapt and thrive. These students do not just have a background of trauma—they also have incredible promise. When we focus on trauma and fail to see potential, we reinforce the negative internalized beliefs that hinder success. Instead, our approach acknowledges trauma while championing every student’s capacity for resilience.

We also offer specialized services that are helping ASU achieve graduation rates that are higher than the national average.

As we evaluate this approach, we have become quite convinced that these services can make a difference for other groups such as veterans, first-generation students, and students with diverse abilities. Considering the pressure colleges and universities face to grow enrollment, bringing more students to campus while ensuring they stay and succeed makes programs like these not just a moral imperative but also strategic.

10 strengths that help students thrive

Social support: The practical and emotional care people give and receive.

Boundary setting: The ability and willingness to separate from unhealthy influences.

Insight: The ability to develop a more accurate understanding of a situation through self-awareness and empathy.

Commitment: Setting a goal and sticking with it.

Agility: Finding multiple creative solutions to a problem and being flexible when adapting to changing circumstances.

Initiative: The willingness to act; to do so requires self-efficacy, a belief that one is capable.

Communication: Sharing thoughts and feelings through verbal and nonverbal expressions.

Humor: Remaining lighthearted, even when facing adversity.

Personal value system: A moral compass that guides one’s choices. For some, this moral compass is grounded in spirituality or a connection to a faith tradition.

Appraisal: Attaching positive meaning to the struggles we face.