DC Tuition Assistance Grant

The DC Tuition Assistance Grant (DCTAG) was established by Congress in 1999 under the District of Columbia College Access Act and has since been amended to broaden its support for college-bound residents of Washington, DC. Administered by the Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE), DCTAG is designed to increase postsecondary education opportunities by offsetting the tuition costs for District residents attending eligible colleges and universities. The program enables eligible students to attend over 300 institutions across the United States, offering significant financial support as they pursue their first undergraduate degree. The core objective of DCTAG is to bridge the tuition gap between in-state and out-of-state rates or provide funding support at private institutions. The program primarily helps students enrolled in public institutions by paying the difference between in-state and out-of-state tuition, up to a specific annual maximum. For those attending private institutions, DCTAG offers a fixed award amount per academic year. However, the program does not fund graduate or professional degrees and is strictly limited to students who have not yet obtained a bachelor’s degree. Eligibility requirements are comprehensive and designed to ensure that the program supports committed District residents with genuine academic pursuits. Applicants must be U.S. citizens or eligible non-citizens, be domiciled in the District of Columbia for at least 12 consecutive months prior to initial college enrollment, and maintain that domicile throughout their college tenure. Other key requirements include high school graduation or equivalent credential obtained within the last 15 years, compliance with satisfactory academic progress (SAP) at their institution, enrollment on at least a half-time basis, and not being in default on federal student loans. Income thresholds apply and are used to determine eligibility based on the award year and the student's year in college. The application window for the 2026–2027 academic year opens on February 2, 2026, and closes at 3:00 p.m. ET on August 21, 2026. All applications must be submitted through the DC OneApp platform, and submission must include supporting documentation that verifies domicile and residency. Specifically, applicants must provide one document from each of three sections: (1) domicile verification such as DC tax returns or 12-month benefit statements, (2) recent proof of residency like a utility bill or bank statement, and (3) their FAFSA Submission Summary (FSS) that includes their Student Aid Index. The DCTAG program does not require a pre-application step such as a Letter of Intent but mandates that all documentation be uploaded simultaneously through the DC OneApp system. Applicants who were not enrolled during the previous academic year or who are returning after a gap may be asked to provide domicile verification for prior years. It's important to note that submission of all required documentation does not guarantee eligibility, as additional documents may be requested by OSSE based on individual applicant circumstances. For assistance, applicants may contact Melanie Fleming, the DCTAG Director, by email at [email protected] or by phone at (202) 741-6406. More general support is also available via the DC OneApp platform or at the main help line (202) 727-2824. While the program is currently open for applications for the 2026–2027 year, it is not recurring in a traditional grant cycle sense, as students must reapply annually.