Colleges Most Frequently Attended by Older Youth in California Foster Care

Where foster youth choose to attend college can vary based on many factors, such as advice from their friends and family, cost, location, academic success, and informational resources available to them. Whether they enroll in a college suited to their abilities and interests can greatly affect their likelihood of persisting in their studies and completing a degree. This study examined the types of colleges that foster youth attend, their average rate of retention, and how many semesters they complete. The findings show differences by demographics and short-term outcomes, offering insights for child welfare providers and other stakeholders seeking to strengthen supportive resources to ensure college success among these young adults.