DCTAG Students & Families

How to Apply
Opening Date: March 11, 2024 | Closing Date: Sept. 6, 2024 at 3 p.m.

Follow these three steps:

*The DCTAG application is an online process and you must use Google Chrome

Step 1: Complete the DC OneApp yearly here
- New applicants can register here
- Already registered? Log in here
Step 2: Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) here:
- Provide your processed FAFSA Submission Summary (FSS) with a Student Aid Index (SAI) {formerly known as the SAR}
Step 3: Upload the DC OneApp Required Supporting Documents
- Only PDF and JPEG can be uploaded and accepted
- Sample supporting documents can be found here. All documents must be uploaded at the same time to the DC OneApp for review prior to deadline.
- Allow 72 business hours for review and processing of your uploaded documents. If documents are correct, you will receive your DCTAG award letter. If document(s) are incorrect, they will be rejected and you will be permitted to reupload correct documents prior to the deadline.
- You may check your DCTAG status 24/7 by logging in here and clicking the “correspondence" tab.
- Based on individual circumstance, DCTAG reserves the right to request additional documentation. Documents make you eligible.

The 2024-25 DCTAG application opens March 11, 2024. See this page of the DCTAG walkthrough documents for more information on how to apply.

DCTAG Advisors Contact Information can be found below:

Note* Any third party must have appropriate and legal permission to discuss a specific student’s DCTAG application with a DCTAG advisor.

Applicant Last Name: A,B,C,D,E Lincois Anderson [email protected] (202) 719-6646	Applicant Last Name: F,G,H,I,M,N,T Sirwalter Hemphill [email protected] (202) 654-6106
Applicant Last Name: S,U,V,X,Y,Z Jarriene Barnes [email protected] (202) 741-6411	Applicant Last Name: J,K,L,O,P,Q,R,W Tiffany Williams [email protected] (202) 741-6403
Disbursement Melanie Fleming [email protected] (202) 741-6406	General Inquiry (202) 727-2824 (877) 485-6751

Check your DCTAG application status by logging in here and clicking correspondence. The DCTAG statuses include:

Application Submitted - your DCTAG app has been submitted successfully but please now upload your supporting documents (checklist) here for review. Your status is incomplete until correct documents are uploaded.
Documents Uploaded - your documents have been uploaded, please allow 72 business hours for review
Documents Rejected - your documents have been reviewed and are incorrect, please reupload corrected documents. All documents must be correct (at the same time) to be deemed eligible for DCTAG.
DCTAG Award Letter - you have been deemed eligible for DCTAG funding, please now see next steps (jump to page)
Transfer - Login here and click transfer to transfer your institution and receive and updated DCTAG award letter. Please Note* You must be deemed eligible for DCTAG in order to successfully complete the transfer.
Ineligible – you have been deemed ineligible based on documents uploaded. Please note: DCTAG applicants that are ineligible for an award will receive notification indicating the ineligible status. You may review the Appeal process below, if you believe you should appeal this DCTAG eligibility determination.

DCTAG Award Letter

If eligible for DCTAG, you will receive an award letter.
To retrieve the DCTAG award letter, log into your DCTAG application (on the OneApp), click the Correspondence tab and then click the award letter. You may order to view, forward, email and/or print the DCTAG award letter.
Make copies – save the email or download a copy.
Submit your award letter to the financial aid office at your college or university (if you are submitting your award letter to a different college/university than you indicated on your OneApp – please update the name of the school in your OneApp portal).

Student Payment History

Click here to view your invoice, amount, check number, check approval date and payment history for all years you have participated in the program.

DCTAG Disbursement Process

Your college or university must sign a Program Participation Agreement (PPA) for Public and Private Non-Profit Institutions of Higher Education and submit a W-9 certifying that the tax ID number provided is correct.
During each semester, the financial aid office must confirm a student’s enrollment status (after the last day to add a course) and issue an invoice directly to the DCTAG portal (using the DCOneApp).
Your college or university submits an electronic invoice to DCTAG for payment. If the invoice is approved, DCTAG submits the invoice for processing. The payment can take up to 30 business days for DCTAG funds to be transferred to the college/university.
At this point, the “Payment History” tab within your DCTAG online application is a resource to track when DCTAG funds are disbursed.
After the college/university receives the DCTAG funds – the college/university applies DCTAG funds to the student’s account. *Schools may have their own policy in place related to how and when they disburse funds. Also, schools have the option to consider DCTAG and other government grants or outside scholarships “pending” or “active” which is a school-by-school decision.

For more details, you can review this DCTAG disbursement document.

If the financial aid office requires assistance, they may contact Melanie Fleming, DCTAG Payment Advisor at (202) 741-6406.

Refunds vs DCTAG

If you receive DCTAG funding, please know that DCTAG begins paying invoices from college and universities on Oct 1 each year.
DCTAG funds will not come in the form of a refund at your institution.

Helpful Resources

osse