ABSTRACT
Studies have found that many older youth in foster care have high aspirations for college attendance, although a very small percentage actually realizes that goal. In one longitudinal study of youth transitioning from foster care, it was reported that 79 percent of the sample had plans to enter college, however, only 9 percent actually enrolled (Courtney, Piliavin, Grogan-Kaylor, & Nesmith, 2001). Another study found that nationwide, 68 percent of youth in foster care expressed a desire to attend college, but fewer than 10 percent who held high school diplomas enrolled (Emerson & Lovitt, 2003).
