FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Scholarship Opportunities
What scholarships are available through DC CAP this year?
We offer two scholarship opportunities:
🤝 University Partner Scholarship Program:
The University Partner Scholarship is a competitive program made possible through collaborations with our university partner institutions.
The scholarship includes:
- Annual award of $5,000-$7,500 from DC CAP, renewable for up to five years
- Additional scholarship funding from university partners, significantly reducing direct student costs at the partner institution
- Comprehensive student success coaching throughout your college journey
- Requirement to apply for FAFSA and secure DCTAG to offset costs further
⚠️ Note: Scholarships are NOT transferable
🏆 Ward 7 & 8 Scholarship Program:
The Ward 7&8 Scholarship, funded by the Gates Foundation, provides:
- $12,000 in scholarship funding annually, renewable for up to five years
- Option to attend any 4-year university of your choosing
- Priority consideration for students interested in our university partners due to the enhanced financial benefits of our collaborative funding model
- Intensive success coaching from enrollment through graduation
⚠️ Please note: Scholars are only eligible to receive funding for one award. If a scholar is awarded a Ward 7&8 Scholarship to attend a University Partner institution, they will receive a $12,000 award instead of, and not in addition to, a $5,000-$7,500 award.
Do I need to apply for both scholarships to be considered?
No. There is a single scholarship application and you will automatically be considered for all awards for which you are eligible based on your high school.
⚠️ Note: Applications for the general DC CAP Scholarship will not be accepted this year. The only two awards available are the University Partner Scholarship and the Ward 7 & 8 Scholarship.
How does the University Partner matching process work?
The University Partner Scholarship uses a collaborative matching process that aligns students with partner institutions based on mutual preferences:
- Students may select up to three DC CAP university partner preferences in their application
- University partners review eligible candidates, determine who has applied and has been admitted to their institutions, and indicate their preferences for the next scholar cohort
- Final matches are determined based on both student and university preferences
⚠️ Note: Applicants must be admitted to the university to be considered for a scholarship
💡 Useful Tips:
We strongly encourage applicants to:
- Use DC CAP resources on the applicant platform
- Review university partner websites thoroughly (linked in applicant platform and DC CAP website)
- Attend virtual campus visits during the Fall semester
- Connect with a university admissions counselor
⚠️ Important: There are limited scholarship cohort spots at each institution. If matched with a university, your offer is specific to that institution and cannot be transferred to another partner institution. There are no exceptions to this rule.
How competitive are these scholarships?
DC CAP receives many qualified applicants annually and can only award a limited number of scholarships. As a result, many qualified students will not be selected.
⚠️ Note: Scholarship award decisions are final and not subject to appeal. While we understand this may be disappointing, all requests for appeals will be referred to this policy.
Eligibility Requirements
What are the eligibility requirements for the University Partner Scholarship?
To be eligible, applicants must:
- Reside in the District of Columbia
- Earn at least a 2.5 high school cumulative GPA
- Attend a public or public charter school in the District of Columbia
- Demonstrate eligibility for DC TAG (please visit https://osse.dc.gov/dctag for more information about DC TAG eligibility)
- Demonstrate eligibility for Federal Pell Grant (DC CAP Scholarship selection prioritizes financial need, as demonstrated by the FAFSA – please visit https://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsa for more information about FAFSA)
- Apply to and be admitted by partner institution(s)
What are the eligibility requirements for the Ward 7 & 8 Scholarship?
To be eligible, applicants must:
- Earn at least a 2.5 high school GPA
- Live in the District of Columbia
- Attend a public or charter high school located in Ward 7 or Ward 8
⚠️ Important: Students residing in Wards 7 or 8 but attending high schools outside these wards are not eligible. There are no exceptions to or appeals of this policy.
Application Process
What documentation do I need to provide with my application?
All applicants must submit:
- Recent high school transcript showing current cumulative GPA
- FAFSA Submission Summary (FSS)
⚠️ Note: DC CAP prioritizes applicants who demonstrate financial need, based on the FAFSA FSS
Are test scores (SAT, ACT) required?
Test scores are optional for the DC CAP application. However, many University Partners have their own test score requirements for admission and scholarship consideration. Please review each partner's specific requirements on our website.
When are the key application deadlines?
🗓️ Registration Opens: October 15
🗓️ Application Opens: January 1
🗓️ DC CAP Application Deadline: February 28
📧 Note: Email is the official communication channel of DC CAP. We will send application information through the email provided by each student at registration.
💡 Students interested in the University Partner Scholarship Program must also apply directly to partner institutions by their individual admission deadlines. Many partners accept the Common App, and fee waivers are available for qualifying students.
Can I update my application after submission?
⚠️ Once submitted, application content cannot be edited. You will be prompted to confirm all information within each section before final submission. If you discover an error after submission, please contact us through your student portal.
DC CAP VS. DCTAG: IMPORTANT DISTINCTIONS
What is the difference between DC CAP and DCTAG?
🎓 DC CAP (District of Columbia College Access Program) - DC CAP is a private, nonprofit organization dedicated to helping DC students prepare for, enroll in, and graduate from college.
⚠️ DC CAP is not affiliated with DC city government, DC Public Schools, or the Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE).
🏛️ DCTAG (District of Columbia Tuition Assistance Grant) -DCTAG is a federal program administered by OSSE that provides grants of up to $10,000 per academic year ($50,000 lifetime) to eligible DC residents attending:
Public universities and colleges nationwide
Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs)
Private non-profit colleges and universities in the Washington, DC metropolitan area
How do I apply for DC TAG and who is eligible?
🗓️ The DCTAG application launches in February. To be eligible, you must:
Be a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen
Have been a DC resident for at least 12 consecutive months prior to beginning freshman year
Be enrolled at an eligible institution: see https://osse.dc.gov/collegesuniversities for a list of DC TAG eligible colleges and universities
For complete eligibility requirements and to apply, visit: https://osse.dc.gov/dctag
📋 Final Notes About DCTAG:
⚠️ DC TAG award letters are required to finalize DC CAP scholarship offers. We cannot process your scholarship funds without this documentation.
To renew your DCTAG award, you must continue to reside in the District of Columbia throughout your undergraduate studies. Please review the eligibility criteria above for renewing your DCTAG award, as this is critical to understanding your financial aid options.