The dissertation sought to provide insight to the unique experiences of foster care alumni in graduate education pursuits. For many, higher education serves to increase opportunities in the workforce and higher lifetime earnings; as the level of degree attainment is higher, the availability of benefits often increases. Frequently, these opportunities are more readily afforded to members predisposed to access and achievement in postsecondary experiences and remain elusive for many members identifying as vulnerable. A vulnerable population of interest is foster care alumni or those individuals with dependency system experiences as a result of abuse, neglect, or trauma. Previous research indicated foster care alumni often espouse desires to attain higher education at the same proportion as their nonfoster care peers; however, the reality is few gain access and fewer attain a degree. In Florida, current policies could assist in continued support, including application toward advanced degrees, for eligible foster care alumni; however, lack of awareness and guidance can result in unused assistance. Therefore, this study seeks first to understand the experiences of foster care alumni who attempted, pursued, or attained an advanced degree. Individual interviews with a small sample were conducted and analyzed for common themes in capturing the phenomenon of graduate education pursuits by individuals with background experiences in the foster care system. Findings help to generate a base understanding of these experiences through the voice of participants, as little is known at the undergraduate level, and less at the graduate level. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://bibliotheek.ehb.be:2222/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]