Scholarships for Washington DC Students

Posted On Nov 29, 2021 |

The nation's capital is best known for the politics and the education. Here are some of the top colleges and financial aid options for residents.

Scholarships in Washington DC

Other than being home to the Capitol and Smithsonian, Washington D.C. is known for its highly educated population. As far as its population aged 25 or older, 58.5% of residents hold a bachelor’s degree or higher, as of 2019. The national average for this age range is 32.1%. That’s quite the difference! With 46% of Washington D.C. students attending charter schools as of 2019, the high expectations for education aren’t all that surprising. Washington D.C.’s population also has the smallest high school dropout rate in the region at only 9%.


The colleges in Washington D.C. don’t disappoint. Georgetown University, George Washington University, and American University. Georgetown is known as the oldest Catholic university in the country, so if you’re looking for the private, religious school experience, that might be the place for you! George Washington University is another private institution, smack in the middle of city life. It’s walking distance from the Washington Monument and National Mall museums, and has a wide variety of clubs and organizations students can join to get out and about. American is another private university (sensing a trend yet?) that has numerous social and political opportunities. These three rank in the top 100 in National Universities, but they come with a fairly hefty price tag. If you’re currently a Washington D.C. student, check out these scholarships to bring down the price:

Amount: $3,000

Deadline: December 10, 2021

Eligibility: Must be a citizen of the United States, must reside in a location within the ASA Northeast region (CT, DE, the DC, PA, ME, MD, MA, NH, NJ, NY, RI, VT), must be sponsored by an ASA member company located in the ASA Northeast region, focus in a business or technical field of study that can be applied towards establishing or advancing a career in the plumbing, heating, cooling, and industrial piping (PHCP) and/or pipes, valves and/or fittings (PVF) industry, currently enrolled or planning to enroll in a PHCP-PVF related apprentice program, accredited two-year community college, accredited technical college or accredited trade school OR currently enrolled or planning to enroll in a full-time undergraduate degree program (12 semester hours of credit or as defined by the institution) at an accredited four-year college or university.

Description: The ASA Northeast Annual Scholarship Program is geared to Washington, D.C. students as well as those who live in other northeastern states. The application itself is only two pages long and asks for general information, where your scholarship funds would go, a resume or CV, and a typewritten, double-spaced, 1,000 word maximum essay explaining why you’re applying and your career goals. The hardest part of this scholarship is gaining a sponsorship by an ASA member company in your region.

Amount: $5,000 per year

Deadline: April 15, 2022

Eligibility: Resident of the District of Columbia, completing high school in a public, charter, or private school in the District or the surrounding region and entering a degree program at a school of architecture as a college freshman in Fall 2021 OR currently a technical school or community college student, who has completed high school, and will transfer to a degree program in architecture in Fall 2021

Description: The Barbara G. Laurie Scholarship is presented annually by the AIA|DC and the Washington Architectural Foundation in honor of Barbara G. Laura. This scholarship is particularly attractive because you can renew it every year for $5,000 each year, as long as you maintain a good GPA and stay in the architecture program. The application requires a completed form, a transcript of all your high school and college records, a copy of your SAT or ACT or other standardized test scores, an acceptance letter from an architecture program, a personal statement outlining your interest, experience, and plans related to architecture and an outline of extracurricular activities, a school budget and financial information, and one free-hand drawing of an 8.5 x 11 page, depicting and subject, but not a computer aided design or floor plan. If you have a passion for architecture and live in Washington, D.C., this is the scholarship for you!

Amount: $2,000

Deadline: May 1, 2022

Eligibility: High school male senior, currently living within the Greater Washington D.C. Metropolitan area (VA, DC, MD), have a minimum GPA of 2.5, plan to attend a four-year college or university, not a son or male dependent of members of Xi Alpha Lambda Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha

Description: The Ira Dorsey Scholarship is offered to specifically male high school seniors for their “academic excellence and contributions to their school and community.” The application must be completed in order to be reviewed, so make sure you have all your materials together! This application calls for a copy of official or unofficial transcripts, two Recommendation Forms from a teacher or counselor or community member, a high quality photo that’s passport size or larger, an 800 word essay about how important your college major and community service are to you, detailed information about your extracurriculars and community service experience, and your Expected Family Contribution from your FAFSA.

Amount: $1,000

Deadline: May 28, 2022

Eligibility: Must be on track to graduate from a Maryland or Washington D.C. high school in spring 2021, intend to enroll in an accredited two-year or four-year college/ university/ technical school beginning in fall 2021.

Description: The Miss Utility Scholarship Program is geared toward graduating Washington D.C. high school seniors. The application includes general contact information, an essay describing the importance of Miss UTility/ District One Call and how it could relate to a future career path, and a high school transcript (could be official or unofficial). The essay is relatively short with a maximum of 500 words.

Worried that you don’t qualify for any of these options? Don’t have a lot of time to apply for scholarships when you’re busy enjoying your senior year of high school? Luckily, there’s a tool to help. The 5 Day Scholarship Accelerator drastically increases your chances of winning a scholarship or even multiple scholarships. The professionals walk you through the supplementary materials as well as what scholarship committees are looking for in an applicant. Don’t let the tedious application process get in the way of your dream college!

Categories: scholarships, state scholarships

About the Author

Christen is the founder of Hive Education. She is passionate about helping families navigate the college application and admissions processes. She helps students set goals to work towards their own debt-free degrees with her personalized scholarship searches, scholarship courses, and by sharing her scholarship strategies that won her over $900,000 in for her own college education. With four years of experience in higher education, two years working with teens in inner city high schools in New Orleans, and starting her first college consulting company during a pandemic in 2020 she strives to make college accessible for everyone, especially for first generation, low income, and minority students. In her spare time she loves to share her love for books with her daughters. You can find her on Facebook.

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