NextUp

Financial support for current and former foster youth

Real opportunities for foster youth.

NextUp provides participating current and former foster youth with support and resources while attending a California community college. Help may include books and supplies, transportation, tutoring, food, emergency housing and more.

About

Sometimes the hardest part about getting your college education is steering your way around all the bumps in the road. Most students will face challenges throughout this journey. That’s where NextUp comes in.

NextUp provides community college students like you with resources that make a difference. The program offers eligible current and former foster youth support and services that could include help with books and supplies, transportation, tutoring, food and emergency housing.

You’re committed to the goal of achieving a college education, and we are committed to helping you get it. Your part is to:

Work hard to create the future you want.

Focus on the steps outlined in your education plan.

Meet with a counselor several times each semester to make the most of your college experience.

Student Eligibility

The key expansions to NextUp eligibility include:

Were in foster care, in any state, for at least one day, on or after their 13th birthday.

Are enrolled in or planning to enroll in at least nine units or agree to an education plan with the future goal of enrolling in nine units.

Are no older than 26 years of age at the commencement of any academic year in which the student first enrolls in the program; students enrolled in the program prior to turning 26 are allowed to continue participating in the program beyond the age of 26.

Students who enroll in the NextUp program prior to age 26, disenroll, and subsequently return after turning 26 may be readmitted to the same or another NextUp program.

Award Amount

Monetary awards vary, but current and former foster youth also receive perks such as priority registration, counseling services, tutoring, textbook support and career and transfer assistance. The Cal Grant B Foster Youth Award has a maximum of 8 years of lifetime grant eligibility or until you complete a bachelor’s degree. The Chafee Grant program is available to any applicant who is or was in foster care between the ages of 16 to 18. Applicants may qualify for $5,000 a year for career and technical training. Current and former foster youth no more than 25 years old by July 1 of the award year are not subject to loss of the California College Promise Grant fee waiver.

Campaign Materials

The California Community Colleges developed a variety of campaign materials to support foster youth throughout the state. If you want to spread the word about NextUp, you can download the logo packages, buttons, and printed campaign materials below. We hope you find these materials helpful in promoting and explaining the NextUp program to staff and students.

If you have technical difficulties with the files or have any questions about these guidelines, please contact Paige Marlatt Dorr at pdorr@cccco.edu.

NextUp Logos

Click on the links below to see available colors and file types.

Next Up Logos 

Next Up Unstoppable Logos

Next Up Cafyes Logos

Next Up Logos Stacked

NextUp Logo Guidelines

The NextUp Logo Guidelines are provided to help determine when and how the logos and taglines are to be used. We ask that you follow these approved guidelines at all times and use the logo and tagline whenever referencing the NextUp program.

NextUp Print-Ready Materials

If you want to spread the word about the NextUp program, specifications and downloadable print materials are available here. Because our quantities are limited, these files are available to download and print in-house and/or with your local printer.

NextUp Web Buttons

Our website buttons are provided for use on your college’s website (on English and/or Spanish-language pages as appropriate) to promote the NextUp program which supports current and former foster youth. These buttons are provided in three different variations for your use, allowing you to choose which iteration best fits within your college’s website.

Each button is provided to you at the largest possible size, and may be scaled down according to your needs. Once embedded, the images will need to be coded to click through to NextUp.cccco.edu where students can learn more about the program, watch videos about participating student experiences, and learn more about deadlines and program qualifications.

Before downloading, please determine the appropriate sized button by comparing the width of the column of where the button will be placed, to the width range of each button. For example, if you plan to place the button in a column that is 200pixels wide, use the “Small Button Template” resizing to fit the intended target column. You can then resize to fit your column/location, making sure that the image is no smaller or bigger than +/-20 percent of the width of the original image. These instructions are also embedded as HTML notes in each of the HTML templates provided.

NextUp Web Buttons

More financial aid programs are available.

Most U.S. citizens qualify for financial aid with a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Undocumented students can get assistance through the California Dream Act (CADAA).

PELL GRANTS

Grant

Federal Pell Grants go to undergraduate students without college degrees who come from low-income families.

Learn More

CAL GRANT PROGRAM

Grant

Cal Grants get awarded to California resident undergraduates based on financial need, academic performance and other factors.

Learn More

PROMISE GRANTS

Grant

Low-income students and students receiving cash assistance may automatically apply for a California College Promise Grant (CCPG).

Learn More

STUDENT SCHOLARSHIPS

Scholarship

The California Community Colleges Scholarship Endowment (CCCSE) offers over 3,000 student scholarships per year.

Learn More

WORK-STUDY PROGRAMS

Part-Time Employment

Federal work-study students earn money to pay for college by working a part-time job on-campus or out in the community.

Learn More

FOSTER YOUTH

Grant

Foster youth students who were in care on or after their 16th birthday can apply for a Chafee Grant up until they turn 26.

Learn More

Got questions?
We’ve got answers.

All Paths FAQs