Mayor's Scholars Undergraduate Program
Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE), District of Columbia
Need-based, last-dollar grant of up to $4,000 a year for DC residents earning a first associate or bachelor's degree at approved DC-area colleges.
- How much
- Up to $4,000 per year (lifetime cap $16,000 for an associate degree, $24,000 for a bachelor's) (2026-27)
- Who qualifies
- DC resident for the 12 months before first enrolling in college; new applicants must be a 2011-2026 graduate of a DC public or public charter high school with a final GPA of 2.5+, or a DC resident who earned a GED/NEDP diploma in 2011-2026 (GED/NEDP route needs a recommendation letter); already-enrolled new applicants need a 2.0+ college GPA in their latest semester. Household taxable income below 300% of the federal poverty guidelines (2026-27: $81,960 for 3 or fewer, $99,000 for 4, $116,040 for 5; +$16,500 per person above 8), or DC TANF/SNAP or DC homeless-services participation. First associate or first bachelor's degree at an approved college; no prior bachelor's degree.
- For students starting college, undergrads, adults going back to school
- Need-based: your FAFSA decides how much you get.
- When to apply
- Opens later Annual; application opens early February and closes in mid/late August (2026-27: Feb 2 to Aug 21, 2026 at 3 p.m.). Funded first-come, first-served, so apply early.
- How to apply
- File the FAFSA (and the DCTAG application, if eligible, which saves re-sending residency documents), then apply in OSSE's Application for Postsecondary Studies (APS) at scholarships.osse.dc.gov with residency documents, proof of income, and a final high school transcript (or, for GED/NEDP holders, a letter of recommendation
- Already-enrolled applicants also send a college transcript)
- Apply early: awards go in submission order
- What you'll need
- state application + FAFSA + transcript
- Last checked
- October 20, 2026, against the official page (osse.dc.gov), page 2 and page 3
The details
Locally funded DC program. Covers tuition and fees left after other aid (Pell, scholarships, etc.), paid directly to the college (no refund check). Annual cap up to $4,000; lifetime cap $16,000 and up to four years for an associate degree, $24,000 and up to six years for a bachelor's degree. Summer courses and developmental/remedial courses can be covered. Approved colleges (list updated January 2025): American University, Bowie State, Capitol Technology University, Catholic University, College of Southern Maryland, Gallaudet, George Mason, George Washington, Georgetown, Howard, Marymount, Montgomery College, Northern Virginia Community College, Prince George's Community College, Trinity Washington, University of Maryland-College Park, University of Maryland Global Campus, University of the District of Columbia, Washington Adventist University, Yeshiva College of the Nation's Capital. Funding is first-come, first-served: returning awardees are funded first, then new applicants in the order they submit. To renew, earn at least 12 credits a year (associate) or 24 credits a year (bachelor's) and keep satisfactory academic progress.
More money from District of Columbia
- DC Tuition Assistance Grant (DCTAG)Up to $15,000 per year at public colleges ($75,000 lifetime); up to $3,750 per year at eligible private colleges ($18,750 lifetime) (2026-27)
Keep looking
- Answer a few questions to see every program you qualify for
- Nearby states: Maryland, Virginia
- Federal aid and national scholarships (open to students in any state)
- The FAFSA in plain English (2027-28)
- Should I file the FAFSA if I don't think I'll qualify?
- FAFSA deadlines by state (2027-28)
- The FAFSA for parents: what you need to do
- How to save on textbooks: free, rented and cheaper options
We list programs; we don't decide who gets them. Always check the official page before you apply. Spot something wrong? Tell us.