DC Mayors Scholarship $4,000

The Mayor’s Scholars Undergraduate Program (Mayor’s Scholars) was created to support DC students who want to enroll in a college or university to get their associate or bachelor’s degree. Before you can complete an application, the first step is to determine if you are eligible for the program.

The program is currently accepting applications from eligible students for the 2020-21 award year (the award will be used for the 2020-21 school year).

The application for the 2021-22 award year opens April 12, 2021.

Eligible Applicants | Requirements | Application Documents | Application Process | Award Information | Appeal Process

Eligible Applicants

Your eligibility to apply for Mayor’s Scholars depends on if you are a returning awardee or a new applicant. Review the descriptions below to see if you are eligible for either group.

1. Are you a returning awardee of the Mayor’s Scholars Undergraduate Program? This means you were an awardee during 2020-21 school year.

2. Are you a new applicant? This means you were either:

1. A graduate of a public high school in the District of Columbia (including DCPS and public charters), within the years 2007-2021, or

2. An older youth or adult learner who passed the GED or earned a diploma through the National External Diploma Program (NEDP), within the years 2007-2021.

Requirements

If you are eligible to apply, then you can prepare to complete the online application. To complete the application, you must also show that you meet residency, academic, financial need, and enrollment requirements. These requirements are described below, and each one is related to a document you will submit in the online application.

If you have questions about these requirements or the documents you need for the online application, please email OSSE.Mayorsscholars@dc.gov.

Residency Requirements

You have been a resident of the District of Columbia for the last 12 months.

• If you will complete a 2021-22 award year DCTAG application (including supporting documents), you are not required to submit documents again.

• If you are not DCTAG eligible, or did not complete a DCTAG application, you must submit (online) documents from this list:

Domicile Verification

One of the following:

• 2020 Certified D-40 Tax Return from DC Office of Tax and Revenue

• 2020 Certified D-40 Tax Return Extension with 2019 Certified D-40 Tax Return from DC Office of Tax and Revenue

• 2020 Electronic Tax Certification via DC OneApp

• 12-month (January – December 2020) Child Support Statement

• 12-month (January – December 2020) Retirement/Annuity Statement

• 12-month (January – December 2020) Social Security Disability Income (SSDI) or Social Security Income (SSI)

• 12-month (January – December 2020) Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)/Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)/Food Stamp Statement

• 12-month (January – December 2020) Unemployment Benefits or Worker’s Compensation Disability

• Unaccompanied Homeless Youth Documentation of Independent Student Status for the FAFSA & DCTAG (dated for 2021)

• Ward of the Court Letter (dated for 2021)

AND

One of the following (no older than 45 days, must have the following information on it- Parent/Legal Guardian’s Name, Date and Address):

• Bank or Mortgage Statement (Name, Date and Address Section)

• Pay Stub (Name, Date and Address Section)

• Utility Bill (gas, water, cable, electric, land line phone) – no cell phone

• Utility Letter (from landlord or on rental office letterhead, stating utilities are included in rent)

Academic Requirements

You meet all academic eligibility criteria. You need to show that you are making (or will make) satisfactory academic progress. Please note: The documents you must submit to show this are different across the type of applicant (returning awardee or a new applicant). OSSE uses this information to understand your commitment to higher education to show us that the funds will be used to support progress toward completion of a degree.

• New applicants who are current or recent high school students must provide their final transcript indicating a minimum GPA of 2.5. If you provide a current, but not final high school transcript, Mayor’s Scholars staff will request a final transcript prior to approval, if you meet all other eligibility criteria.

• New applicants who are currently seeking a GED/NEDP must provide a letter of recommendation from a teacher, professor, program director, principal, dean, or advisor at the high school, employer, or community-based organization.

• Returning applicants for Mayor’s Scholars Undergraduate Program must provide their final college transcript (unofficial or official) or other proof of Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) at their current college or university. SAP is defined by each college or university, and typically includes a GPA of 2.0 or higher in addition to minimum credits earned.

AND

• New and returning applicants who have already enrolled in a college or university, who are not current awardees, must also provide their final college transcript (unofficial or official) to demonstrate a college GPA of 2.0 or higher.

To maintain academic eligibility for Mayor’s Scholars once you enroll in an eligible institution of higher education (IHE) you must meet SAP each semester. If you do not meet SAP at the end of an academic year, you will not be eligible to apply for the next academic year. However, after one year of ineligibility based on academic minimums, you could re-apply for Mayor’s Scholars funds if your college or university determines you have met SAP.

Financial Need Requirements

You meet all financial eligibility criteria. Typically, an applicant's financial need is determined by their parent/guardian’s financial situation. OSSE follows guidance and policy of the federal government in regards to student/parent dependency situations. Eligible applicants must demonstrate financial need, and the amounts are updated each year. These are current for the 2021-22 award year.

• If eligible to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), you or your family) must have an Expected Family Contribution (EFC) of $9,872 or lower for the 2021-22 school year.

• If you are not eligible to complete the FAFSA (for age or citizenship reasons), you must submit a federal tax return for the most recent year, or be verified by OSSE to be categorically eligible based on your participation in DC’s Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program or the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). You may also demonstrate need through receipt of services through DC’s homeless services continuum of care system.

• Students and families whose EFC meets Pell Grant eligibility (EFC of $5,846 or less for the 2021-22 school year) will be given priority access to the funding.

Note: This information can be found on your Student Aid Report (SAR) you receive upon completion of the FAFSA.

Enrollment Requirements

You are enrolling or continuing at an eligible college or university. In order to be eligible for Mayor’s Scholars funds, you must be planning to attend an eligible college or university. For the 2021-22 award year, the following colleges and universities are eligible:

• American University

• Bowie State University

• Capitol Technology University

• Catholic University of America

• College of Southern Maryland

• Fairfax University of America (Previously known as Virginia International University)

• Gallaudet University

• George Mason University

• George Washington University

• Georgetown University

• Howard University

• Marymount University

• Montgomery College

• Northern Virginia Community College

• Prince George's Community College

• Trinity Washington University

• University of Maryland-College Park

• University of Maryland Global Campus

• University of the District of Columbia

• University of the District of Columbia – Community College

• Washington Adventist University

• Yeshiva College of the Nation’s Capital

^{*List updated March 12, 2021}

Note: If the list is updated and an institution is removed, OSSE will work with students currently enrolled at that institution who meet all other eligibility requirements to determine eligibility upon a case-by-case basis.

You are seeking your first associate degree OR your first bachelor’s degree. This may be an associate degree or bachelor’s degree, but it must be the first postsecondary degree of that type that you will earn.

• Students that have completed an associate degree and are seeking their first bachelor’s degree can apply as a returning student, but maximum award caps and time limits still apply.

• Please note, an individual who has previously received a bachelor’s degree may not be eligible to apply for a Mayor’s Scholars Undergraduate Program award.

Application Documents

Before you apply for Mayor’s Scholars you need to:

• Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), if eligible.

• Complete the DC Tuition Assistance Grant (DCTAG) application, if eligible.

• Gather electronic copies of all required documents. This means that you have each document you need in one of the following formats: .doc, .docx, .pdf, .jpeg

Required Application Documents

Applicant Type

Required Application Documents

Returning awardee

• Most recent college transcript (must include final grades for courses taken in last semester enrolled)

• Proof of DC residency (two domicile documents - unless already submitted through DCTAG application) see Residency Requirements section

• Proof of financial need (Student Aid Report from FAFSA, or alternate document – unless already submitted through DCTAG application)

• Financial aid award letter from the college/university in which you will enroll or a bill for tuition from the college/university in which you will enroll

New applicant – recent high school graduate (or anticipated graduate)

• Final high school transcript

• Proof of DC residency (two domicile documents - unless already submitted through DCTAG application) see Residency Requirements section

• Proof of financial need (Student Aid Report from FAFSA – unless already submitted through DCTAG application)

• Financial aid award letter from the college/university in which you will enroll or a bill for tuition from the college/university in which you will enroll

New applicant – adult/older youth

• Letter of recommendation

• Proof of DC residency (two domicile documents - unless already submitted through DCTAG application) see Residency Requirements section

• Proof of financial need (Student Aid Report from FAFSA, or alternate document – unless already submitted through DCTAG application)

• Financial aid award letter from the college/university in which you will enroll or a bill for tuition from the college/university in which you will enroll

Application Process for Eligible Students

Great job! You have reviewed the requirements, completed your FAFSA and DCTAG applications (if possible), and gathered the documents you need to show that you meet the requirements.

The next step is to complete the online application. The Mayor’s Scholars application is available on the OSSE website. You will be required to submit your personal information (name, contact information, parent/guardian information) through the online scholarship application. You will also provide the documents that show you meet the requirements such as transcripts with graduation year, GPA and/or test scores, and proof of enrollment. You can check the list of documents in the Requirements section.

Most applicants will complete the application between April and June in the year before they will get the funding. For example, if you apply in April 2021 and are eligible, you would receive the scholarship for the 2021-22 school year.

But timelines vary for semester-based applicants who complete their NEDP or earn a GED in the current school year. If you are an older youth or adult learner who passed the GED or earned a diploma through the National External Diploma Program (NEDP), within the years 2007-2021, then you may be able to apply for the summer or spring/summer application window.

Application Timeline

All applications (including all supporting documents) must be submitted before the appropriate deadline. Applicants are expected to submit all documents electronically, and will only be able to submit documents in-person in the case of an extenuating circumstance.

Download Application Guide

This guide provides a reference for completing the Mayor’s Scholars online application tool. Please note: There are steps to complete before submitting a Mayor’s Scholars application.

For additional assistance, please contact the Mayor’s Scholars program manager at Melanie.Fleming@dc.gov or (202) 741-6406.

Award Information

All applicants will be notified of their award status via email, on a rolling basis (this includes notification of denial because of ineligibility for any reason). Applicants on the waitlist who are granted an award will be notified via email.

OSSE will work with your college or university to process your award payment in advance of the semester that you are enrolled. The actual award amount will be determined by your college or university, and may be cancelled if your tuition and fees will be covered by other funding sources (e.g., Federal Pell Grant, scholarships, etc.).

Maximum Award Amounts and Time Limits

Once you meet eligibility requirements for the Mayor’s Scholars Undergraduate Program, you may receive funding on a first-come, first-served basis and as outlined under the program’s priorities, which are subject to change. OSSE reserves the right to make final funding determinations based on (1) information submitted regarding the student’s financial need, and (2) available funds. Maximum award amounts and time limits are related to the type of degree each student is seeking.

The Mayor’s Scholars Undergraduate Program provides funding to applicants pursuing their first associate degree or their first bachelor’s degrees as detailed below:

Program Type/ Annual Award Cap /Time Limit/ Lifetime Award Cap

Associate or two-year degree/ up to $4,000/ up to four years/ $16,000

Bachelor’s or four-year degree/ up to $4,000/ up to six years/ $24,000

Semester-based cycle* - up to $2,000 - one or two academic terms

The award will pay for tuition and fees until maximum award amount is reached.