At a glance
Free if eligible- What it covers
- Beginning 2026–27, eligible public-college students can receive up to $15,000 annually/$75,000 lifetime toward the in-state/out-of-state tuition difference. Eligible private four-year HBCUs nationwide or private nonprofits in the DC region have up to $3,750 annually/$18,750 lifetime.As of Oct 16, 2026 · DC Office of the State Superintendent of Education ↗As of Oct 16, 2026 · DC Office of the State Superintendent of Education ↗
- Income / financial rules
- Family taxable annual income must be below the threshold for the award year AND the year you first started college. For 2026–27, the table’s in/after-2019–20 column is $642,544; other cohorts differ. Ask an advisor to identify your row/column; this is not a universal AGI cap.As of Oct 16, 2026 · DC Office of the State Superintendent of Education ↗
- Who to check first
- Have U.S. citizenship or eligible noncitizen status and DC domicile for 12 consecutive months before your first college attendance, maintained throughout college. For a dependent student under 24, domicile is established through the parent/guardian; 24 is not a universal programme age cutoff.As of Oct 16, 2026 · DC Office of the State Superintendent of Education ↗
- Application timing
- 2026–27 DC OneApp: February 2–August 21, 2026, closing at 3 p.m. This reviewed window has closed; confirm the next award year with OSSE rather than reusing this date.As of Oct 16, 2026 · DC Office of the State Superintendent of Education ↗
Check the official page for the next window or renewal instructions.
Check your eligibility
Some items describe alternative routes rather than requirements for everyone. Use the route that applies to you as a preparation checklist; the program makes the eligibility decision.
How to apply
- 1Apply every year through DC OneApp by the named annual deadline, file the matching FAFSA, and check the current participating-institution list with your advisor.As of Oct 16, 2026 · DC Office of the State Superintendent of Education ↗As of Oct 16, 2026 · DC Office of the State Superintendent of Education ↗
- 2Upload one accepted Section 1 domicile document, one Section 2 residency document and the 2026–27 FAFSA Submission Summary with SAI. The checklist requires correctly uploading the supporting documents together in DC OneApp.As of Oct 16, 2026 · DC Office of the State Superintendent of Education ↗
- 3For Section 2, use an allowed document no older than 45 days showing the parent/guardian or independent student’s name, date and address. Credit-card statements and cellphone bills are not accepted; Section 1 offers several tax/benefit/other domicile alternatives.As of Oct 16, 2026 · DC Office of the State Superintendent of Education ↗
What to watch for
Common questions
What is the main benefit?
Beginning 2026–27, eligible public-college students can receive up to $15,000 annually/$75,000 lifetime toward the in-state/out-of-state tuition difference. Eligible private four-year HBCUs nationwide or private nonprofits in the DC region have up to $3,750 annually/$18,750 lifetime.
Is there an income limit?
Family taxable annual income must be below the threshold for the award year AND the year you first started college. For 2026–27, the table’s in/after-2019–20 column is $642,544; other cohorts differ. Ask an advisor to identify your row/column; this is not a universal AGI cap.
When should I apply?
2026–27 DC OneApp: February 2–August 21, 2026, closing at 3 p.m. This reviewed window has closed; confirm the next award year with OSSE rather than reusing this date.
Sources & verification
Source summaries checked by automated research on the dates below. No human professional review is claimed.