WARD 7 & 8 Scholarship
Funded by the Gates Foundation – a scholarship specifically for students attending high schools in Wards 7 & 8.
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Our ward 7 & 8 Scholars
The scholarship supports students who have attended high-school in Ward 7 and Ward 8, and who demonstrate academic promise and financial need, helping them access higher education with less debt.
Beyond funding, scholars are paired with a dedicated college success coach who guides them from enrollment through graduation.
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What does the scholarship Include?
- $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
HOW TO APPLY
You’ll start by registering in the fall—it takes just a few minutes to check your eligibility. Then, in January, you’ll complete a short application. From there, DC CAP will keep in touch about the next steps of the process. If students are interested in being matched with one of our University Partners, they will have the chance to list their preferences.
Note: Students do not need to attend one of our University Partners to receive the Ward 7 & 8 Scholarship.
Application Deadline
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Frequently Asked Questions
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.
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.
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.