(Washington, DC) – Today, Mayor Muriel Bowser was joined by District education leaders at Calvin Coolidge High School in Ward 4 to celebrate 25 years of providing tuition assistance for DC youth attending college through the DC Tuition Assistance Grant (DCTAG). The Mayor also highlighted the first-ever increase in the program’s award amounts, enhancements the Bowser Administration advocated for and worked with partners in Congress on in order to make higher education more affordable to even more DC residents. Beginning with the 2026–27 academic year, the maximum annual award for eligible public college students will increase from $10,000 to $15,000, and the lifetime cap will rise from $50,000 to $75,000.
“This is a celebration of our students, of their futures, and of a program that has changed thousands of lives in Washington, DC,” said Mayor Bowser. “As we celebrate this first-ever increase for DCTAG, we’re also celebrating our Congresswoman, Eleanor Holmes Norton, for her many years of fighting for DC families and DC students, including the creation of this program that has helped thousands of Washingtonians go to college and earn degrees.”
Recognizing the need for a tuition assistance program for DC youth, Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton fought to establish DCTAG, introducing the DC College Access Act, which officially created the program when it passed Congress in 1999. DCTAG addresses a unique challenge facing families in the District. Because DC does not have a state university system, District students historically had limited access to in-state tuition rates at public colleges and universities. DCTAG helps cover the difference between in-state and out-of-state tuition at public colleges and universities attended by DC students. Since the first awards were made in the 2000-01 academic year, nearly 40,000 DC residents have received more than $716 million in tuition support to attend 422 colleges and universities nationwide. More than 4,500 students were approved for DCTAG during the 2025-26 school year, the highest number in over five years.
“It is my honor to celebrate 25 years of DCTAG. When I introduced the DC College Access Act in 1999, I spoke about how this bill belongs in the category of bills that will make a historic difference to the District of Columbia and how it would be one of the most important pieces of legislation for District of Columbia residents in our history. I believe that my sentiments then still hold true over two decades later,” said Congresswoman Norton. “Everyone deserves equal access to higher education and DCTAG has continued to help students across the District attend and graduate from college. I look forward to more students continuing their education and to how the program will grow in the years to come.”
Also beginning in the 2026-27 award year, students attending private, four-year, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) nationwide or private nonprofit institutions in the DC region may receive up to $3,750 annually, with an $18,750 lifetime cap.
“For more than a decade, I have had the privilege of overseeing the division that administers DCTAG, and in that time I have seen firsthand how a two or four year college degree can transform lives, strengthen families, and expand opportunity across our city,” said State Superintendent of Education Dr. Antoinette S. Mitchell. “I am deeply grateful for all who have supported DCTAG over the past 25 years, including Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton and Mayor Bowser, whose steadfast support of DCTAG and unwavering commitment to DC families have helped thousands striving for a better future. Through their collective efforts, we have opened the doors to a college education for thousands of families — and changed the trajectory of countless young people in Washington, DC.”
The DCTAG program has helped change lives, including for Arturo Evans, a Cesar Chavez Public Charter School alumnus and the first person in his family to attend and graduate college. Even though Evans had to take time off from school to care for his mother, he was able to work with his DCTAG advisor to continue his studies and earn his degree. And he served as a role model for his two sisters, who also attended and graduated from college.
“My journey with DCTAG is a testament to perseverance. I was trying to show I could be an example by my actions,” Evans said. “Having that as a resource available is essential. DCTAG was that actual step I needed.”
The DCTAG application period opened on Monday, February 2 and runs through Friday, August 21. To apply, eligible students must complete the DC OneApp, the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), and submit required supporting documents. The DC OneApp needs to be recertified yearly. For more detailed information and to access the DC OneApp, visit osse.dc.gov/dctag.
OSSE recommends starting the application process early and being certain to submit all required documents. The DCTAG team conducts several in-person outreach events to connect directly with DC residents interested in applying for DCTAG. To connect with the team, visit osse.dc.gov/dctag.
Under Mayor Bowser’s leadership, the District has made sustained investments to strengthen public education and expand opportunity for students. More than $3.6 billion has been invested to modernize schools across the city while expanding college and career pathways through initiatives such as the Advanced Technical Centers and the Advanced Internship Program. The District’s first Advanced Technical Center launched in 2022 and has grown rapidly, expanding from 96 students from eight schools to more than 300 students from 25 schools in the 2025–26 school year. Over just its first three years, 400 students earned more than 4,600 college credits, saving families approximately $3 million in tuition. A second Advanced Technical Center in Ward 8 is now expanding opportunities for students pursuing higher education and careers in healthcare fields such as certified medical assistant and emergency medical technician.
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