DC Tuition Assistance Grant Program Information for Colleges The DC Tuition Assistance Program (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* for the purpose of expanding higher education choices for college-bound residents of the District of Columbia. All public institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), and private nonprofit colleges and universities (within the Washington Metropolitan area) are eligible to participate in the DCTAG.  An eligible student is enrolled at an eligible institution on at least a half-time basis; enrolled in a first bachelor degree program, and in good academic standing (as defined by the institution). Students are required to forward a copy of their personalized award letter to the financial aid office at their institution. The student’s awaer letter is the institution’s authorization to access (invoice) the DCTAG Program. The institutions may invoice for the DCTAG after the add/drop period of each term that the student is eligible. The DCTAG is paid directly to the institution, and is paid 30 days from the date of receipt of the invoice. Either by paper check or electronically. (DCTAG funds may not be used at “proprietary” for-profit institutions, private institutions outside of the Washington Metropolitan area that are not HBCUs, and the University of the District of Columbia, where District residents already pay in-state tuition rates). Public Institutions District residents may use DC TAG to at attend any one of the more than 2,500 public colleges and universities in the nation. The award is paid directly to the institution and is equal to the difference between the in-state and the out-of-state tuition (up to $10,000 per year). There is a lifetime maximum of $50,000. Students must be enrolled on a half time basis, and in good academic standing. Private Institutions District residents may use DCTAG to attend any private Historically Black College or University (HBCU) or any of private nonprofit colleges and universities in the Washington metropolitan area: District of Columbia; the cities of Alexandria, Falls Church and Fairfax; and the counties of Arlington, Fairfax, Montgomery and Prince George's. District residents may not use DCTAG funds to attend any private institution outside the Washington metropolitan area other than HBCUs. Accessing the DCTAG (Invoicing) In order to participate in the DCTAG, institutions must: Complete (or have completed) a Program Participation Agreement*; Fill out a Minimum Requirements Invoice** for a Public or a Private Institution including the W-9 form*; and Email your invoice for eligible students to DCTAGInvoices@dc.gov. If you have never been in DCTAG before, mail the originally signed Program Participation Agreement along with your first invoice to the DCTAG Program, 441 4th Street, NW, Suite 350N, Washington, DC 20001. Payment is due 30 days from the date of receipt of the Agreement and/or Invoice. * This document is presented in Portable Document Format (PDF) and a PDF reader is required for viewing. Download a PDF reader or learn more about PDFs. ** This is a Microsoft Word document. You must have Microsoft Word installed on your computer in order to open it.