Maryland lowers the age rule for foster youth college tuition help

The law counts a person as a foster care recipient for this tuition exemption if they spent at least a year in out-of-home care on or after age 8 and were later placed with family. This pathway covers people who spent at least one year in out-of-home care on or after their 8th birthday and were later placed under guardianship, adopted, or reunited with at least one parent. The person must have been placed in out-of-home care by the Department of Human Services and later placed under guardianship, adopted, or reunited with at least one parent. To receive the exemption, the person must enroll at a public college by age 25 in a vocational certificate, associate degree, or bachelor's degree program, and file for federal and State financial aid. The law takes effect July 1, 2026.