The District of Columbia Tuition Assistance Grant (DCTAG) Program

To address concerns about the public postsecondary education offerings available to District of Columbia residents, the District of Columbia College Access Act of 1999 (P.L. 106-98) established the District of Columbia Tuition Assistance Grant (DCTAG) program. The program is meant to provide college-bound DC residents with a greater array of choices among institutions of higher education by providing grants for undergraduate education. Grants for study at public institutions of higher education (IHEs) nationwide offset the difference between in-state and out-of-state tuition and fees, up to $10,000 per year and a cumulative maximum of $50,000. Students may also receive grants of up to $2,500 per year and a cumulative maximum of $12,500 for undergraduate study at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) nationwide and private, nonprofit IHEs in the Washington, DC, metropolitan area. DCTAG program grants are provided regardless of need or merit. However, to be eligible to receive a program grant, individuals must, among other criteria, be District of Columbia residents; be enrolled or accepted for enrollment on at least a half-time basis in a degree, certificate, or credential granting postsecondary education program; maintain satisfactory progress in their course of study; be 26 years of age or younger; have a family income under the applicable limit; and have received a secondary school diploma or its equivalent. Post-baccalaureate students who have already earned a bachelor’s degree are ineligible to participate. Through academic year 2017-2018, a total of 28,998 students have received approximately $505.8 million in DCTAG awards and have attended over 500 IHEs in 50 states, the District of Columbia, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. While there has been a substantial increase in the amount annually appropriated for the DCTAG program and the maximum award size for students attending public two-year institutions since the program’s inception, there has been no change to the maximum award size for students attending other types of institutions. In light of the trend of rising postsecondary education costs, many program participants may be left paying more per year for their education than in previous years or possibly limiting their choices of which institution to attend. This report first discusses the history of the DCTAG program and the events and legislation leading up to its enactment. It then describes the program’s administration, including recipient eligibility and the amount of award available based on the type of institution attended, award interaction with federal student aid, and funding. Next, the report presents DCTAG performance data, such as the types of institutions DCTAG recipients primarily attend and the types of students served by the program (e.g., the number of grants received, by DC ward). Finally, the report provides an analysis of grant benefits and discusses the extent to which DCTAG awards may be bridging the gap between in-state and out-of-state tuition.