Students with a foster care background experience significant disparity in enrollment and postsecondary completion when compared to their peers without foster care experience. A number of barriers exist that may impact college persistence and completion. Finances and inadequate financial aid are often identified as a primary concern for students with a foster care background who are attending college. Using a national sample, this study examined the relationship between receipt of financial aid and the likelihood of completing a postsecondary credential among students with a foster care background. Findings indicate that financial aid has a positive relationship with earning a postsecondary credential, however, other sources of financial support and services were not always indicative of positive outcomes. Study findings reinforce the importance of social support, postsecondary education support services, academic support services, and employment as postsecondary education promoters. Several policy and practice implications are discussed that are relevant in postsecondary education settings, and child welfare settings.

与没有寄养经验的同龄人相比，具有寄养背景的学生在入学和高等教育完成方面存在显着差异。存在许多可能影响大学坚持和完成的障碍。财务和经济援助不足通常被认为是上大学的寄养背景学生的主要关注点。本研究使用全国样本，检验了具有寄养背景的学生接受经济援助与完成高等教育证书的可能性之间的关系。调查结果表明，经济援助与获得高等教育证书有正相关关系，但是，其他经济支持和服务来源并不总是表明积极的结果。研究结果强调了社会支持、中学后教育支持服务、学术支持服务和就业作为中学后教育促进者的重要性。讨论了与中学后教育环境和儿童福利环境相关的若干政策和实践影响。