Thank you for partnering with the DC Tuition Assistance Grant Program (DCTAG) team to support DC student's postsecondary goals. The resources below are available to support colleges and universities that eligible students may attend.
DCTAG Program Participation Agreement
In order to participate in the congressionally legislated and funded DCTAG, an eligible postsecondary institution must have a current DCTAG Program Participation Agreement (PPA) signed by the Institution’s president, chief executive officer or chancellor and the authorized Representative of the DCTAG Program.
By signing the PPA, the institution agrees to fully comply with the applicable laws, regulations and policies governing the DCTAG Program. After being certified for participation, the institution must administer DCTAG Funds in both a prudent and reasonable manner.
Please remember – Colleges or universities participating in DCTAG must adhere to the DCTAG Program Participation Agreement in which they agreed to: "Not impose any penalty, late fee, denial of classes or other institution facilities, or requirement that students borrow funds because of an inability to meet financial obligations to the institution as a result of not receiving forth coming DCTAG funds ..."
For more information on the PPA process, please contact Melanie Fleming at [email protected].
The Full Disbursement Process
Colleges and university partners should refer to this basic process to understand disbursement of funds to student accounts from the Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE).
- DCTAG eligible students submit their Award Letter to the Financial Aid Office at your college or university.
- 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.
- Your college or university submits an electronic invoice to DCTAG for payment. If the invoice is authorized for payment, DCTAG submits the invoice to the Office of Finance and Resource Management (OFRM) for fund disbursement. This will include Enrollment Verification information such as student’s name, SSN, status, and tuition requested.
- At this point, the “Payment History” tab within your DCTAG online application is a resource to track when DCTAG funds are disbursed.
- The college or university credits your student account.
For more details, you can review this document.
If the financial aid office requires assistance, they may contact the DCTAG Disbursement Analyst at (202) 741-6406.
Please remember – Colleges or universities participating in DCTAG must adhere to the DCTAG Program Participation Agreement in which they agreed to: "Not impose any penalty, late fee, denial of classes or other institution facilities, or requirement that students borrow funds because of an inability to meet financial obligations to the institution as a result of not receiving forth coming DCTAG funds..."
Background Information and Legal Information
The DC Tuition Assistance Grant (DCTAG) was created by Congress in 1999 by the District of Columbia College Access Act; PL 106-98 and amended by DC College Access Improvement Act 2002 and DC College Access Improvement Act 2007 for the purpose of expanding higher education choices for college-bound residents of the District of Columbia. All public institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), and private nonprofit colleges and universities within the Washington Metropolitan area are eligible to participate in the DCTAG.
A list of the characteristics defining a DCTAG eligible student is available here. Institutions participating in DCTAG may verify a student’s DCTAG eligibility by accessing the DC OneApp Financial Management System.
Institutions with DCTAG eligible students who are interested in participating in DCTAG may verify a student’s DCTAG eligibility by requesting the student present a copy of their personalized award letter.
Types of Institutions of Higher Education
Below are the definitions DCTAG uses to classify higher education institutions, and their eligibility to participate in DCTAG. Please note, DCTAG funds may not be used at “proprietary” for-profit institutions, private institutions outside of the Washington metropolitan area that are not HBCUs, or the University of the District of Columbia, where District residents pay in-state tuition rates.
Public Institutions
Eligible DCTAG students may use DCTAG to attend any one of the more than 2,500 public colleges and universities in the nation. The award is paid directly to the institution and is equal to the difference between the in-state and the out-of-state tuition (up to $10,000 per year). The distribution of awards by academic term is described on the Student and Families Awards page. There is a lifetime maximum of $50,000. Students must be enrolled on, at least, a half-time basis, and in good academic standing. DCTAG students may receive awards for a maximum of six years.
Private Institutions
Eligible DCTAG students may use DCTAG (up to $2,500 per academic year) at any private Historically Black College or University (HBCU) or private not-for-profit colleges and universities in the Washington metropolitan area: District of Columbia; the cities of Alexandria, Falls Church, and Fairfax; and the counties of Arlington, Fairfax, Montgomery and Prince George's. District residents may not use DCTAG funds to attend any private institution outside the Washington metropolitan area other than HBCUs. The distribution of awards by academic term is described on the Student and Families Awards page. There is a lifetime maximum of $12,500 for students attending private institutions. DCTAG students may receive awards for a maximum of six years.
Proprietary Institutions
Eligible DCTAG students may not use DCTAG to attend proprietary institutions. Proprietary institutions refer to educational institutions operated by private, profit-seeking businesses.
Contact
Service Contact: Melanie Fleming, DCTAG Program Specialist
Contact Email: [email protected]
Contact Phone: (202) 741-6406 or 1-877-485-6751
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