The DC Futures Program (DC Futures) helps accepted District of Columbia college students complete their first associate or bachelor’s degree by providing a last-dollar scholarship (tuition, fees and cost of attendance) at three local partner universities, in addition to college coaching and support services that aim to address personal and financial barriers to college completion for all participants. The DC Futures scholarship may completely cover financial need for some participants making the cost of college “free.”
The 2025-26 academic year application will open on Feb. 3, 2025, and close on Aug. 15, 2025, at 3 p.m. EDT.
Due to funding constraints, the DC Futures Program is currently unable to provide funding to new applicants to the program. At this time, only returning DC Futures students are eligible to receive DC Futures Program funding.
Q & A
1. Can I get money from the DC Tuition Assistance Grant (DCTAG), Mayor’s Scholars Undergraduate Program, and the DC Futures Program?
Yes, if you meet the eligibility criteria and funds are available for all three programs, you can receive awards from all three programs. Please note, the 2025-26 online applications for the Mayor’s Scholars Undergraduate Program and DC Futures Program are located in the Application for Postsecondary Studies and the 2025-26 DCTAG application is located in the DC OneApp. DC Futures Program Applicants are encouraged to complete the DC OneApp first.
2. Do I have to have a coach? Can I choose my coach? What if I already have a coach? What if my coach is not responding to me (complaints)?
If you choose to participate in the DC Futures Program, you are required to have a college coach. You will be assigned a coach from a designated DC Futures College Coaching provider. If you experience issues or concerns with coaching providers, you should reach out to Kimberly Romero at [email protected].
If you already have a coach through another college coaching program you should reach out to your designated DC College Coaching provider to see if you qualify for an exemption to participate in that coaching program rather than working with a designated DC Futures College Coaching provider. Stipends are still processed by the designated DC Futures College Coaching provider, even if you are approved for an alternative.
3. I participated in the pilot for spring 2022 but did not re-apply for the 2022-23 or the 2023-24 school year – what should I do?
Continued support from the DC Futures Program requires that participants complete an annual DC Futures program application to verify eligibility, and, due to funding constraints, the DC Futures Program is currently unable to provide funding to students who would be new applicants to the program. Only returning DC Futures students are eligible to receive DC Futures Program funding for the 2025-26 year. The 2025-26 application will open on Feb. 3, 2025, and close on Aug. 15, 2025, at 3 p.m. EDT. If you are a returning DC Futures participant who participated in the program during the 2024-25 academic year, you should complete the application at that time, if you believe you continue to meet all eligibility requirements. You will be considered a new applicant if more than one semester passed between your active and inactive participation in the DC Futures Program..
4. Does participating in the pilot program count against DC Futures maximum annual or total awards?
Participation in the DC Futures pilot program does count against lifetime award limits. Because funding was only available for part of the academic year, 2022 pilot participation will not count as a year against a participant’s program time limit, but 2021 pilot participation will.
5. If I don’t need the full DC Futures scholarship amount for tuition and fees, will I receive a refund check?
No, because the scholarship component of the DC Futures Program is a last dollar award, participants will not receive an overage or refund check.
6. Can the DC Futures scholarship be used to pay for books, parking, or other needs?
DC Futures scholarship funds can only be used for partner university tuition and required fees. Participant coaching stipends can be used for other educational expenses as needed. Participants may request emergency funds or prior year unpaid balance payments if they are enrolled at a partner university.
7. How do I get my coaching stipend?
Each coaching provider will define their process for their DC Futures participants. Participants should discuss this with their coach. Receiving a stipend is conditional upon regular participation in coaching sessions.
8. How do I get my emergency funds?
DC Futures Program participants must be enrolled at an eligible partner university to request emergency funds or previously unpaid balance supports. DC Futures participants will receive directions from their partner university regarding the process used to request and receive these funds.
Participants may request up to $1,000 in emergency funds each year they participate in the program to cover emergency expenses (i.e., food, housing, child care, transportation, health, safety and security, and learning resources) that would impact their ability to remain enrolled at the partner university they attend.
Participants may submit a one-time request to pay a previously unpaid balance at a college or university (up to $1,000). These funds are intended to allow participants to access transcripts and credits that can be applied to their current program.
A DC Futures participant’s assigned coaching provider may provide support to a participant as they navigate the process of requesting emergency funds and satisfying previously unpaid balances, but, ultimately, requests must be submitted through the participant’s university. If you have questions or need support completing the DC Futures Program application, please reach out to OSSE DC Futures Program staff to help you through the process at [email protected].
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