DC Tuition Assistance Grant (DCTAG) — OSSE

DCTAG assists District of Columbia residents who attend college outside the capital or at an eligible private institution. Unlike a scholarship paid into a student’s personal account, the award is calculated to reduce certain tuition costs and is paid directly to the college. It can help a student choose a public campus in another state without covering the entire nonresident tuition difference alone.

The major change for academic year 2026–27 is a higher public-college cap: up to $15,000 per year and $75,000 over a lifetime toward the difference between in-state and out-of-state tuition, subject to the institution and enrollment level. At eligible private institutions—private HBCUs nationwide and private nonprofit colleges in the DC metropolitan area—the cap is $3,750 per year and $18,750 over a lifetime. This does not mean all tuition is covered; mini-terms, certain online courses, and for-profit colleges are excluded. Awards also depend on annual federal and District funding.

The 2026–27 application opened February 2 and closed August 21, 2026, at 3 p.m. The official page reviewed does not yet announce the next opening, so do not use those dates as a future deadline. DCTAG requires a new application each year, U.S. citizenship or eligible noncitizen status, actual DC domicile for at least 12 months before first enrolling in college, and continued domicile while enrolled. For dependent students under 24, the parent’s or legal guardian’s domicile is used. A mailing address or post-office box is not proof of permanent residence.

Applicants also need a high-school diploma or an alternative credential within the program’s eligibility window, at least half-time enrollment as a regular student pursuing a first undergraduate degree, no bachelor’s degree, satisfactory academic progress, and compliance with the maximum-income threshold. OSSE’s table varies by the year the student began postsecondary study, so a general income figure from social media may not fit your case. Confirm that the college appears on the eligible-institution list and submit the DC OneApp documents each year.

To prepare for the next cycle, gather proof of domicile, citizenship or eligible status, diploma, household information, and tuition details. Compare the full bill: DCTAG is capped at tuition and does not promise to cover housing, books, transportation, or every fee. Once approved, the college sends an invoice and receives the payment; students can track it through OneApp. OSSE lists program contacts and guidance, but a complete application is not a guarantee of an award because income, institution, enrollment, and available funds still matter.

Who it serves and what it can cover: Starting in 2026–27, it may cover up to $15,000 per year of the in-state/out-of-state tuition difference at public colleges, or up to $3,750 at eligible private institutions. The 2026–27 application is closed.

How to apply or get help: OSSE says the 2026–27 application closed on August 21, 2026, at 3 p.m. For guidance, contact the DCTAG director at (202) 741-6406 or check OSSE; the next annual opening is not confirmed in the source reviewed. For case-specific questions, contact the program or financial-aid office named on its official page.

Official application and program information