Frequently Asked Questions
DC Tuition Assistance Grant Program
Do DCTAG grants have to be repaid?
No, these funds are grants, not loans, and do not have to be repaid by the student.
If I am ineligible for federal financial aid based on grades, can I still receive DCTAG funds?
No, the academic eligibility requirements are the same. If you cannot receive federal financial aid based on your grade status, you cannot receive a DC Tuition Assistance Grant Award.
Am I eligible to receive DCTAG if I finished high school before January 1, 1998, and I was not enrolled in college in 2002 spring, but I have lived in the DC all my life?
No, you are not eligible because federal law requires enrollment during the spring 2002 term in an eligible college.
What's an eligible college?
An eligible college is any public college or university in the country or any private college or university in the Washington, DC, metropolitan region which has signed a Program Participation Agreement with the DCTAG Program.
How long should I live in DC to be eligible to receive DCTAG?
If you finished high school after January 1, 1998, you must be living in the District for 12 months before your first year in college. If you finished before that date (and were in an eligible college during the 2002 spring term), you must be living in the District for 5 consecutive years before the current application year.
If I attend UDC, can I receive a DCTAG grant?
Unfortunately, you cannot receive a DCTAG grant because UDC is not an eligible school. The DCTAG program pays the difference between in-state tuition and out-of-state tuition, and as a student at UDC, you pay only in-state tuition. As a result, there is no difference pay.
Where can I get my DC taxes certified?
You can get your DC income taxes certified at the Office of Tax and Revenue at 941 North Capitol Street, NE, in Washington, DC. Their office hours are 8:15 am to 4:30 pm, Monday through Friday.
What is the website address to apply for DCTAG?
The website address is http://seo.dc.gov/seo/cwp/view,A,1225,Q,536504,seoNav_GID,1511,seoNav,|31238|.asp to access the information page, or just select this link: DCTAG Online Application. Once inside the page, select the apply online button.
If my mother moved to Maryland, am I still eligible to receive DCTAG funds?
No, in order to maintain eligibility, your parent must currently live in the District of Columbia.
Can I receive DCTAG funds for summer school??
No, you cannot receive DCTAG funds for summer school.
What do I do if my mother did not file taxes and received non-taxable income?
You have to obtain verification of that income from the agency involved. For Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), you would need verification from the DC Department of Human Services. For Social Security, you would need something from the Social Security Administration.
Where can I receive information regarding the federal aid programs?
You can obtain additional information on the federal financial aid website, as well as application assistance, by selecting this link: Student Aid website or typing this link into your browser: http://www.studentaid.ed.gov.
More information
You should complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The DC Tuition Assistance Grant Program will not cover the full cost of your tuition and fees. The FAFSA is used to determine eligibility for other federal aid or non-federal aid. These include the Pell Grant, College Work-Study, the DC Leveraging Educational Assistance Partnership Program, low cost loans, and/or institutional aid — all of which may be used to cover the full cost of attendance at the college or university of your choice.
Call the DC Tuition Assistance Grant Program office:
- For DC residents: (202) 727-2824
- For Toll Free: (877) 485-6751
- TTY: (202) 727-1675
- For information in Spanish call (202) 727-8450.
Information is also available by contacting the Greater Washington College Information Center hotline at (202) 393-1100, ext 16.
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