The DC Futures Program (DC Futures) supports District of Columbia residents who want to enroll in a local university and earn their first associate or bachelor’s degree.

Only current DC Futures participants are eligible to apply for funding for the 2025-26 academic year. Due to funding constraints, the DC Futures Program is unable to provide funding to students who would be new applicants to the program for the 2025-26 application cycle. At this time, only current (2024-25 academic year) DC Futures participants are eligible to apply to receive DC Futures Program funding for the 2025-26 academic year.

The DC Futures Program has several stages throughout its program year. As additional information becomes available, this page and related content will be updated.

What is the DC Futures Program?

DC Futures is so much more than a scholarship.

Completing a degree takes more than money, especially for first-time college students. The DC Futures Program offers participants a variety of supports. To participate, you must apply for the program each year.

• A scholarship – all DC Futures recipients are eligible for last-dollar scholarship to attend one of three approved local universities if they major in a set of program areas or majors.

AND

• College coaching – all DC Futures recipients are encouraged to participate in a college coaching program – either through DC Futures designated providers or through an approved program such as DCPS Persists. This support comes with a stipend of up to $105 per month for 10 months, in addition to any scholarship awarded. Please see the relevant handbook for information and amounts specific to each award period. The stipend is intended to be divided evenly by the months in an academic year – fall and spring– over ten months, so the maximum stipend possible will be less for participants in partial award periods.

• Access to additional funds – all DC Futures recipients are eligible to request up to $1,000 annually in emergency funds for those expenses that come up on a rainy day. This support will be based on need and fund availability. Recipients may make a one-time request for emergency funds up to $1,000 to pay down a previous years’ unpaid balance at an institution of higher education

Eligible individuals are invited to review the information below and check back here for application updates. As is noted above, due to funding constraints, the DC Futures Program is currently unable to provide funding to students who would be new applicants to the program. At this time, only returning DC Futures students are eligible to receive DC Futures Program funding.

2025-26 Academic Year (application opens Feb. 3, 2025, and will close on Aug. 15, 2025, at 3 p.m. EDT)

• Returning DC Futures participants should plan to complete their application to participate in this academic year by Aug. 15, 2025, at 3 p.m. EDT.
• Returning applicants may find it helpful to review the DC Futures Program Handbook, which provides the best information for participants and interested community members regarding the details of the program by award period. The Handbook reviews eligibility and renewal criteria, timelines, award details, participant responsibilities and what to do in case of a transfer, change of major, or appeal.
  • DC Futures Program 2025-26 Applicant Handbook.
  • This 2025-26 checklist summarizes supporting documents that may be required for the DC Futures Program application.
  • Returning applicants may find it helpful to review the DC Futures Program 2025-26 Approved Majors, by University.
  • The 2025-26 DC Futures Program policy discusses general program management and may also be useful.
• Once you have reviewed the 2025-26 Applicant Handbook – returning applicants may complete their application on OSSE’s Application for Postsecondary Studies (APS).

After a participant receives a DC Futures Scholarship

• Participants must maintain their academic progress and remain in good standing.
• Participants should talk to the financial aid office at their university if they have a question about their award.
• If a participant changes their major or transfers from their university, they should notify their DC Futures College Coaching provider and submit a notification in the APS system.
• If a participant withdraws from their university or the DC Futures Program, they should notify their DC Futures College Coaching provider and the DC Futures Program Manager Melanie Fleming at [email protected].

Coaching

• Participating DC Futures students will be matched with an assigned coaching provider before September 2025.
• The providers are:
  • JMG Productions
  • Associates for Renewal in Education
• If a DC Futures participant does not hear from their assigned coaching provider before the add/drop period of their first semester in the program, they should email Kimberly Romero at [email protected].
• DC Futures Program participants must participate in a college coaching program. Participants will be assigned to a DC Futures College Coaching provider by OSSE after the participant accepts the DC Futures Program terms. DC Futures participants will be required to engage with their coach at least once per month. If a participant already has a college coach or mentor from an OSSE-approved entity, the participant may work with their assigned DC Futures coach to submit the Alternative Coaching Approval form that affirms that the participant is receiving services that are comparable to those the participant would have received from the assigned DC Futures coach.
• Coaching participation stipends will be administrated monthly by each DC Futures participant’s designated coaching provider. Coaching participation stipends are contingent upon participants’ monthly engagement with their assigned coaching partner.
• Participants may receive up to $1,050 per year for regular engagement with their coaching provider. The lifetime cap for stipends is $6,000 for students enrolled in a two-year program, and $9,000 for students enrolled in a four-year program.
• Please note: The stipend is intended to be divided evenly by the months in an academic year – fall and spring – over 10 months. For example, a full academic year – fall and spring would include up to 10 months of coaching stipends totaling $1,050 (10 months at $105 per month). Participants who begin coaching in January for spring, would include up to seven months and could receive up to $735 for their participation (seven months at $105 per month). Regardless of time period, the monthly stipend is based on participation and disbursal is managed by the designated DC Futures College Coaching providers.
• Each coaching provider may have their own process for disbursing these funds.

Emergency Funds and Previously Unpaid Balance Requests

• DC Futures participants will receive directions from their university regarding the process used to request and receive emergency funds. Only enrolled DC Futures participants will be able to request and receive emergency funds.
  • DC Futures participants may request up to $1,000 in emergency funds each year they participate in the program to cover emergency expenses that would impact their ability to remain enrolled at the university they attend (i.e., food, housing, child care, transportation, health, safety and security, and learning resources).
  • DC Futures participants may submit a one-time request to pay a previously unpaid balance at a college or university. These funds are intended to allow DC Futures participants access to transcripts and credits that can be applied to their current program.
  • If DC Futures participants use their emergency funds to pay a previous year’s unpaid balance, it will reduce the amount available for other emergencies. Participants have access to up to $1,000 annually to be used for emergencies or a previous year’s unpaid balance.
  • 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.
• Participants are encouraged to review the Q&A page for answers to common questions about the DC Futures Program, such as, how to change majors, university enrollment, breaks from enrollment, and reapplication to the program.