GCU Fostering Futures Program

How We Help

Grand Canyon University honors the strength and resilience of students who have experienced foster care. To support them, we offer the Fostering Futures program, which helps current and former foster youth take the next step toward their future. This program aims to make a private Christian education more accessible through financial opportunities and career and life resources.

Program Benefits

GCU aims to foster student success both academically and personally by offering financial opportunities and essential resources to help create a solid support system in and out of the classroom.

Support for School and Life

• Financial opportunities, including the Canyon Rising Scholarship, Pell Grant, Education Tuition Voucher and Arizona Fostering Futures Scholarship
• Accelerated graduation planning to maximize funding by age 21
• Year-round housing and meals, including winter break housing and early move-in
• Access to essentials through Lectric Lounge, Lopes Pantry and GCU CityServe
• Financial Literacy Education

Mentorship and Well-being

• Mentorship and coaching, plus student leadership development
• Mental health and wellness support

Career and Community Building

• Career services development, including internship preparation and student worker opportunities
• Specialized workshops and social gatherings for networking and community building

Grand Canyon University has partnered with the State of Arizona’s Department of Child Safety to create a college pathway scholarship program that covers the costs for tuition, fees and housing and food plans to help qualified Arizona students experiencing foster care to achieve their academic goals.

Student Requirements

• Must be a U.S. citizen
• Must be an Arizona resident
• Must be in state care at age 17 and enrolled in the Volunteer Foster Care Program Agreement at 18 years of age
• Must have an open case with the Arizona Department of Child Safety or be served through the Extended Foster Care or After Care Program (TILP) throughout the duration of the program at GCU (up to specific required age), with eligibility for re-entry
• Must be accepted to GCU and maintain satisfactory academic progress in your program of study for renewability purposes each semester
• Must demonstrate eligibility by completing the FAFSA and Education Tuition Voucher application documents and completing the necessary steps to secure awards
• Are required to live on campus at GCU (students who become ineligible to live on campus involuntarily or who move off campus voluntarily will no longer be eligible for this scholarship program)
• Must adhere to any additional rules and guidelines specified by the Arizona Department of Child Safety to maintain renewability
• Must provide authorization via a Student Information Release Form (SIRF) to the State of Arizona’s Department of Child Safety or their contracted designee to ensure information regarding eligibility (attendance, grades, financial status) can be communicated for certification purposes

At GCU, we’re committed to supporting out-of-state students through our Fostering Futures initiative. We offer a range of financial opportunities — including the Canyon Rising Scholarship, Pell Grant and Education Tuition Voucher — to help make a high-quality education accessible. Additionally, we work directly with your home state to identify and apply any benefits you may be eligible for.

Out of State Student Criteria

• Must be a current or former foster youth enrolled as a GCU student
• Must be a U.S. citizen
• Must be accepted to GCU and maintain satisfactory academic progress for renewability purposes each semester
• Must demonstrate eligibility by completing the FAFSA and Education Tuition Voucher application with the required steps to secure awards
• Must live on campus (students who become ineligible to live on campus involuntarily or who move off campus voluntarily will no longer be eligible for this scholarship program)
• Must be enrolled in at least eight credits
• If selected for other scholarships, participation in three stewardship offerings per year may be required