Can I use DCTAG at a private college?

Only at two types: a private Historically Black College or University anywhere in the U.S., or a private nonprofit college whose main campus is in DC; in Alexandria, Falls Church, Fairfax city or county, or Arlington, Virginia; or in Montgomery or Prince George's County, Maryland. The college must also participate. Other private colleges are not eligible.

How much is DCTAG at a private college?

Up to $3,750 a year with an $18,750 lifetime cap, starting with the 2026-27 award year. That's up from $2,500. Unlike the public-college award, it isn't tied to an in-state/out-of-state gap -- it's a fixed maximum toward tuition and fees.

Can I use DCTAG at Georgetown or George Washington University?

Yes. Both are private nonprofits with main campuses in DC, and both appear on OSSE's 2026-27 participating list, along with American, Catholic, Gallaudet, Howard, and Trinity Washington.

DCTAG at Private Colleges and HBCUs: $3,750 a Year at Howard, Georgetown, Spelman, and Morehouse

DCTAG works at private colleges, but only two kinds: private Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) anywhere in the country, and private nonprofit colleges based in DC or the inner Maryland and Virginia suburbs. At those schools, DC residents can get up to $3,750 a year toward tuition and fees for 2026-27 -- up from $2,500, the first increase since the program began -- with an $18,750 lifetime cap. Every other private college, from Duke to NYU, is outside the program. For how DCTAG works at public colleges, where the award is much larger, see the DCTAG overview.

Which private colleges qualify

The federal law behind the private-college award (D.C. Code § 38-2704) defines two groups:

Private nonprofit colleges whose main campus is located in:
- the District of Columbia;
- Montgomery or Prince George's County, Maryland;
- Arlington or Fairfax County, or the cities of Alexandria, Falls Church, or Fairfax, Virginia.
Private HBCUs, anywhere in the U.S.

In both cases the college also has to participate in federal student aid and sign an agreement with DC. The grant goes toward the full cost of tuition and fees, up to the cap -- there's no in-state/out-of-state calculation, because private colleges charge everyone the same tuition.

DC-area private colleges on the 2026-27 list

OSSE's 2026-27 list includes all seven private universities in DC:

Suburban private colleges on the list include Marymount University in Arlington, plus Capitol Technology University and Washington Adventist University in Maryland.

Private HBCUs on the 2026-27 list

Private HBCUs qualify wherever they are. Among those on OSSE's 2026-27 list:

Spelman College, Morehouse College, and Clark Atlanta University in Atlanta
Hampton University and Virginia Union University in Virginia
Tuskegee University and Talladega College in Alabama
Xavier University of Louisiana and Dillard University
Fisk University, Claflin University, and Bethune-Cookman University
Johnson C. Smith University, Saint Augustine's University, Shaw University, Livingstone College, and Bennett College in North Carolina; Benedict College in South Carolina; and Wiley College in Texas

One caution about OSSE's list itself: its public/private and HBCU columns contain visible errors (it labels some public universities "Private" and some non-HBCUs "HBCU"), so use it only to confirm a college appears, and confirm the college's type yourself.

Public HBCUs -- Morgan State, Bowie State, Norfolk State, NC A&T -- fall under the public-college award instead, which is usually far larger. See what DCTAG pays at public HBCUs and other public colleges.

How much $3,750 covers

At private colleges, $3,750 is a small share of the sticker price. Its real value is as one layer in a package -- and because DCTAG isn't need-based, it sits on top of whatever need-based and merit aid the college offers. For students at participating DC-area colleges with family income under the program's limits, DC's Mayor's Scholars Undergraduate Program adds up to $4,000 a year more, and its most recently published approved list (labeled for 2025-26) includes several of the same private colleges: American, Catholic, Gallaudet, George Washington, Georgetown, Howard, Marymount, Trinity Washington, Capitol Technology, and Washington Adventist.

What this means for you

If your list is mostly selective private colleges outside DC, DCTAG won't apply unless the school is an HBCU.
Apply anyway if you're considering a DC private. The application is the same DC OneApp used for public colleges, and the award is now 50% larger.
Live in Virginia instead? Virginia's own grant is far larger at its private HBCUs -- up to $12,750 at Hampton and Virginia Union through VTAG.
Weigh the public option too. A DC resident at a public HBCU can get several times the private award, because the public grant covers the full out-of-state gap up to $15,000.
Reapply every year between February and August, and keep your DC domicile documented -- see the domicile rules.