Scholarships
The word "scholarship" covers a wide range of sources of money for students to use toward college and career school expenses. Scholarships can be:
Outside: a scholarship offered by an organization for general educational use by the recipient
School-specific: a scholarship offered by a specific college
Need-based: a scholarship given based on the student's financial circumstances
Merit-based: a scholarship given based on the student's achievements in academics, athletics, or another talent
DCTAG, DC Futures, and Mayor's Scholars: Three Scholarship Programs for DC Residents
Download this pdf with information and clickable links for these three programs. You may be eligible to receive all three; awards will depend on criteria including your family income; your choice of college or university; your college's cost of attendance; your high school; and your college major.
DCTAG
The District of Columbia Tuition Assistance Grant (DCTAG) provides up to $10,000 per year of the difference between in-state and out-of-state tuition for students who attend public colleges and universities in the U.S. It also allows $2,500 for private historically black colleges and universities nationwide; private colleges in the Washington, DC metropolitan area; and two-year public colleges outside Washington, DC.
More DCTAG information on the Jackson-Reed website is here.
OSSE's DCTAG website: https://osse.dc.gov/dctag
DC Futures Program
DC Futures aims to help DC college-bound students complete their first associate or bachelor’s degree by providing a last-dollar scholarship (tuition, fees, and cost of attendance) at three local universities:
- Catholic University of America
- Trinity Washington University
- University of the District of Columbia, both the flagship four-year university and community college
To learn more about DC Futures, its eligibility requirements, and how to apply, visit this link.
Mayor’s Scholars
The Mayor’s Scholars Undergraduate Program provides need-based funding for eligible DC residents earning their first associate or first bachelor’s degree at select area colleges and universities. The program is a last-dollar award meaning it can be used to fill the gap between a student’s financial aid package and the cost of attendance. The FAFSA Student Aid Report is not required to apply for this program. More information is here: https://osse.dc.gov/mayorsscholars
Note: OSSE has consolidated the application this year so that students apply to DC Futures and Mayor’s Scholars via the same portal.