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DC Tuition Assistance Grant (DCTAG)

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The 2025-26 DCTAG Application opened on Feb. 3, 2025, and will remain open until Aug. 15, 2025, at 3 p.m.

DCTAG Student Eligibility

Who is eligible for DCTAG:

DCTAG applicants must apply every year they are seeking DCTAG funding (prior to yearly deadline) and must meet ALL requirements below to be deemed eligible:

  • Be a US citizen or have an eligible non-citizenship status;
  • Attend an eligible public or private college or university;
  • Be a District of Columbia resident for at least 12 consecutive months prior to the applicant’s first time in college and maintain continued {domicile} throughout the applicant’s college matriculation (Note: Dependent students’ [under age 24] domicile is established through the parent or legal guardian);
  • Not in a defaulted status with federal student loans;
  • Be a high school graduate or have attained a secondary credential through an alternative pathway such as the GED or the National External Diploma Program (NEDP);
  • Earned a secondary credential within 15 years (2010-2025) of the first year of a DCTAG award;
  • Accepted for enrollment in, or working toward a first undergraduate degree on, at least, a half-time basis as a regular degree-seeking student;
  • Have not earned or received a bachelor's degree;
  • Not a professional or graduate-level degree candidate (such as a juris doctor or a master’s degree;
  • In compliance with Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) as defined by the college/university of enrollment or accepted enrollment; and
  • In compliance with DCTAG maximum income thresholds. To determine income level by award year and first year of postsecondary education, please review this guidance: DCTAG Maximum Income Table. If you have questions, please contact your DCTAG advisor.

Please note: Study abroad programs are not eligible for DCTAG funding.

Background

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 to expand higher education choices for college-bound residents of the District of Columbia.

Currently, DCTAG recipients attend more than 300 colleges and universities. To learn if your college or university participates in DCTAG, please visit our list of participating colleges and universities.

DCTAG Domicile Requirement

To be eligible for DCTAG funding, an applicant must have established domicile in the District of Columbia for at least 12 months (one year) preceding the commencement of their freshman year attendance at an institution of higher education. Subsequent years of domicile in the District of Columbia will be reviewed annually, as part of the annual application process, to verify an applicant’s continued eligibility for funding. District of Columbia domicile must be maintained throughout college enrollment for a student to continue to be eligible for DCTAG funding. For more details, see DC Code, Title 38, Chapter 27, and DC Municipal Regulations, Title 29, Chapter 70.

“Domicile” can also be known as “where one stays.” Domicile is a person’s permanent place of dwelling. Consequently, domicile is a combination of two factors: (1) an actual current residence, and (2) an intent to remain. Federal law requires that applicants receiving DCTAG awards be domiciled within the District of Columbia. As individuals may obtain a PO Box in the District without demonstrating domicile, OSSE does not consider a PO Box an acceptable address.

Service Contact: 
Kenneth McGhee, DCTAG Director
Contact Email: 
[email protected]
Contact Phone: 
(202) 481-3946
Contact TTY: 
711
Contact Suite #: 
Fifth Floor
Service Location: 

1050 First Street, NE

GIS Address: 
1050 First Street, NE
City: 
Washington
State: 
DC
Zip: 
20002
Related Content: 
Scholarships and Grants for Students

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