The District of Columbia offers a variety of college scholarships to students who are based in the region and meet other eligibility criteria. To find the right option that would help you pursue a college education, the first step should be doing a thorough research on the internet.
After making a list of the ones you are eligible for, you should note down the application deadline for each program, then start collecting the required documents and submit them as soon as possible. Here are some of the best Washington, DC college scholarships:
AFCEA Washington, DC STEM Scholarship:
Amount: $12,000
Deadline for Application: May 1
The program supports the STEM fields of computer science, engineering, mathematics, physics, chemistry, cybersecurity and management information systems; and command, control, communications, computers and Intelligence (C4I)-related fields of study including electrical, computer, chemical, aerospace or systems engineering or electronics.
AFCEA Washington, DC has granted a total of 420 scholarships that amounts to $2,500,000 to students from 112 area high schools going to 71 colleges across the nation since 1989.
Eligibility:
- You must be a citizen of the United States or a permanent resident.
- You must be a resident within the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments.
- You must be a high school senior or a second year student in a two-year community college transitioning to a four-year college or university.
- You are not eligible if you are a winner of full tuition scholarships.
- You must be accepted to a US-accredited college or university in a four-year full time STEM curriculum for one of the supported fields.
Students whose family members include current members of the military, Veterans, and AFCEA DC chapter members are particularly encouraged to apply.
Email: scholarships@dc.afceachapters.org
For detailed information, click here.
Montford Point Marine Association Washington, DC 6 Chapter Scholarship:
Amount: $2,500
Deadline for Application: April 30
From 1942 to 1949, nearly 20,000 African American recruits received training at Montford Point Camp in North Carolina, after President Franklin D. Roosevelt issued a presidential directive allowing Black men to be recruited into the Marine Corps.
They later served in the Saipan, Guam, Tinian, Peleliu, Iwo Jima, and Okinawa campaigns during World War II, The Korean and Vietnam wars.
Eligibility:
- You must be a graduating high school senior and have a grade point average of 3.0 or above.
- You must be engaged in an extracurricular activity at school, community or church.
- You must submit one official (sealed) copy of your transcript.
- You must be accepted to an accredited trade school, junior college or university.
- You must provide two letters of recommendation highlighting outstanding leadership qualities.
- You must present a typed 1,000-word essay on a given topic.
Email: scholarshipdirector@montfordpointmarines.org
For detailed information, click here.
DC Tuition Assistance Grant (DCTAG):
Amount: Up to $10,000
Deadline for Application: September 17
The DC Tuition Assistance Program (DCTAG) was created by Congress in 1999 through the District of Columbia College Access Act. Students sponsored by DCTAG are currently attending more than 300 colleges and universities.
Through the program, eligible students may attend a school of their choice from among more than 2,500 public colleges and universities across the nation. As for private institutions, eligible students may use DCTAG (up to $2,500 per academic year) at any private Historically Black College or University (HBCU) or private not-for-profit colleges and universities in the Washington metropolitan area.
DC residents can’t use DCTAG funds for a private institution outside the Washington metropolitan area other than HBCUs.
Eligibility:
- You must be a US citizen or have an eligible non-citizenship status
- You must be attending an eligible public or private college or university
- You must be a resident of the District of Columbia for at least 12 consecutive months prior to your first time in college and maintain continued domicile throughout your college matriculation (If you are under the age of 24, domicile is established through your parent or guardian.)
- You must not be in a defaulted status with federal student loans.
- You must be a high school graduate or a General Equivalency Diploma (GED) recipient.
- You must be accepted for enrollment in, or working towards, a first undergraduate degree on, at least, a half-time basis as a regular degree-seeking student.
- You are not eligible if you have earned or received a bachelor’s degree.
- You are not eligible if you are a professional or graduate-level degree candidate.
- You must be in compliance with Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) as defined by the college/university of enrollment or accepted enrollment.
- You must not be older than 26 years of age.
- You must be in compliance with DCTAG maximum income thresholds.
Email: osse@dc.gov or Kenneth.McGhee@dc.gov
For detailed information, click here.
MD & DC Credit Union College Scholarship:
Amount: $12,000
Deadline for Application: March 31
The MD & DC Credit Union Association provides the scholarship based on results of essay, video or photograph contests.
Given topics of all three contests focus on promoting the significance of credit unions and how they can help individuals solve their financial problems. Judges select photos that are good enough to be used for lobby posters.
Eligibility:
- You must be a member of Maryland or District of Columbia-based credit unions or a member of credit unions that are affiliated with the MD & DC Credit Union Association. (Your parents’ membership is not sufficient.)
- You must enter one of the three contests — essay, video or photograph. (Eligible members may apply in all three categories.)
- You must be entering your freshman through senior year of college or trade school.
- You are not eligible if you are in a post-graduate program or payment of student loans.
Email: info@cufound.org
For detailed information, click here.
Alumnae Panhellenic Association of Washington DC Scholarship:
Amount: $750
Deadline for Application: February 28
The program provides scholarships specifically for “Panhellenic sisters,”who are young women with outstanding commitment to “the National Panhellenic Conference’s (NPC) core values of friendship, leadership, service, knowledge, integrity, and community in their daily lives.”
Recipients will be chosen at the discretion of Alumnae Panhellenic Association, based on a combination of the quality of the application, a short essay, and recommendations.
Eligibility:
- You must be a member in good standing of a fully participating sorority of the National Panhellenic Conference.
- You must be enrolled in classes beginning in Fall 2021.
- You must be from the Washington, DC metropolitan area or attending school in the Washington, DC metropolitan area.
Email: dcalumnaepanhellenic@gmail.com
For detailed information, click here.