Welcome > Prospective Students > Financial Assistance > FAQ's

Cost and Financial Assistance

About Financial Assistance Program & Housing Fees University Arrangements State and Commonwealth Funding Private Funding Financial Assistance Policy Financial Information FAQ's

Frequently Asked Questions

A Washington Center internship is an important investment in your future. It can give you a significant advantage once you embark on a search for full-time employment. It gives you substantive experience in a field of your choice and the access to networking opportunities it provides are invaluable. Many students are actually offered full-time positions from their internship organization upon completion of the internship or upon graduation. This program should not be regarded as just a “semester off” or a “summer job,” but a once in a lifetime academic experience that can help pave the way to the future you seek.

What does it cost to attend The Washington Center? How much is the application fee? Is the amount refunded if I don't get accepted? Are the internships offered through The Washington Center paid or unpaid? What is included in the program and housing fees? Can I decide not to attend The Washington Center and be granted a refund after having paid these fees? What amount should I budget per week? I won't be able to come to D.C. unless I receive a scholarship, but none of those listed on the website apply to my situation. Is there any need-based aid given through The Washington Center? I already receive financial aid at my school. Can I use it to pay for my program fee? I participate in the Federal Work-Study Program at my home school. Would I still be eligible for Federal Work-Study in Washington? Can students work a second job while they participate in this program to earn extra money? The website says that my state provides assistance for the program. What paperwork do I need to complete in order to be considered for this funding? How do I apply for a financial assistance through The Washington Center? When and how will I be billed? When will I be notified if I got a scholarship and how will I receive the money if I am selected? I want to compete for a scholarship but I plan to live on my own. Do I have to stay in Washington Center housing facilities to collect the award? I'm applying for the Postgraduate Professional Development Program, as I have already received a degree and do not plan to earn graduate credit. Do I qualify for any financial assistance? Do internship sites offer placement provided financial assistance? Is there financial aid for PPDP interns?

What does it cost to attend The Washington Center?

Program and housing fees are listed in our current publications and on our website. However, the total cost of a semester or summer term in D.C. cannot be calculated as a general figure; it varies from one student to the next. In many cases, students from affiliated schools are able to participate in the program for an amount that is comparable to a semester or summer spent on campus since credit and fee arrangements are already in place. To learn more, contact your campus liaison. Or, if you are from an unaffiliated school, contact info@twc.edu for further direction. Program and housing fees are listed separately, as students are not required to live in the facilities provided by The Washington Center. Scholarship awards may reduce one or both of these costs, and additional details are found here: http://www.twc.edu/students/financial_assistance.shtml

How much is the application fee? Is the amount refunded if I don't get accepted?

The application fee for The Washington Center is $60 for students who are applying through domestic institutions. This amount is refunded if you meet our minimum eligibility requirements (including a minimum GPA of 2.75), submit a complete, on-time application and are not accepted. Although we MAY consider students with GPA below 2.75 if a third letter of recommendation is submitted, the application fee will not be refunded should the student not be accepted. The fee for international applicants is $125, which includes processing and J-1 Visa FEDEX delivery. This amount is non-refundable.

Are the internships offered through The Washington Center paid or unpaid?

Given the academic nature of The Washington Center’s program, students are receiving credit and, as on their own campuses, assistance is likely to be in the form of scholarships that offset fees. The majority of internship opportunities in Washington, D.C. are unpaid positions. The demand for internships in the nation’s capital is high, so as a practical matter, few organizations need to pay to secure the interns they seek. The Washington Center works to encourage its partner agencies to provide some level of support to ensure that internships are accessible to people from all economic backgrounds. And there are in fact a growing number of internship positions that do provide financial assistance to students. Currently, on average about 20 percent of all students work in positions that provide assistance. In general, positions that involve the most funding are found within the federal government, are highly competitive and occur in the summer. Placements with some federal agencies require an early application to The Washington Center (some due to the need for a security clearance which will be opened by the respective agency only after an offer is made to and accepted by the student, and others because a separate application is required).

Please remember, because Washington Center financial assistance is not cumulative, should you receive funding from the placement organization you will, in most cases, not qualify for certain scholarships provided by The Washington Center such as The Washington Center match to the state awards, diversity awards, civic engagement awards and other private sector awards. Placement-provided assistance will first be used to cover any housing assistance otherwise guaranteed by The Washington Center, and then to cover any balance remaining on your bill.

What is included in the program and housing fees? Can I decide not to attend The Washington Center and be granted a refund after having paid these fees?

The program fee includes: development and cultivation of internship opportunities, individualized attention to each student in identification of suitable internship opportunities meeting students’ academic and professional goals, individualized mentoring provided to all students, planning and development of networking opportunities, academic courses, Leadership Forum activities, evaluation of students’ work, professional development training provided to all students, and indirect costs related to the administration of the program.

The housing fee includes: identification and lease of space in Washington Center-secured apartment facilities, furniture, utilities (excluding long-distance phone), electronic and kitchen equipment, high-speed internet service, resident assistant staff available 24-7, organized activities (excluding admission fees, travel, expenses, etc), and housing and student life staff.

Please review our internship refund policy and housing refund policy (tables A and B respectively) on the application form for a detailed explanation. Depending on whether or not you have confirmed an internship offer orally, in writing or via e-mail, and the proximity to the check-in date of your refund request, you could potentially receive a full or partial refund.

What amount should I budget per week?

We suggest that you budget roughly $150-$200 per week to cover living expenses. The two most expensive items are food and transportation. The majority of students take the Metro to work and the average ride costs $2.10 based on the location of our apartment facilities in Northern Virginia and Maryland. There are full kitchens available in the apartment facilities so that students can cook for themselves, as restaurants can be quite pricey in Washington. Interns fill their free time with lots of inexpensive activities. Smithsonian museums are free, and exploring the city is a must.

I won't be able to come to D.C. unless I receive a scholarship, but none of those listed on the website apply to my situation. Is there any need-based aid given through The Washington Center?

While we are unable to offer need-based assistance, The Washington Center is committed to making its program accessible to students from all economic backgrounds. Each year, The Washington Center provides nearly $2 million of financial assistance to some 85 percent of its participating students. We are proud of the assistance we provide, but realize we can't help all students at the levels that they need. So we want to suggest three strategies that may help some students close the gap between their resources and the cost of The Washington Center.

1. Recalculation of need:

Students who attend The Washington Center continue in most cases to receive federal financial aid. Students who anticipate that their costs will be higher when they are in our program than when they are in residence on their home campuses may also want to request a recalculation of their financial need. As with each of the strategies here, supportive professionals in the institution's financial aid office will be one of the student's best resources, and the earlier they are involved on the student's behalf, the better.

2. Application of Work-Study funds to the internship program:

The Federal Work-Study Program provides jobs for undergraduate and graduate students with financial need, allowing them to earn money to help pay education expenses. The program encourages community service work and work related to each student's course of study. Students must apply for and receive Federal Work-Study benefits through their home institution.

Federal Work-Study jobs can be on-campus or off-campus. Working in Washington, D.C. can be considered an off-campus job. However, the work performed must be in the public interest. Working for a non-profit organization or a local or federal government agency would qualify.

Below are the steps students should take to apply their Federal Work-Study award to The Washington Center's program:

The college or university determines student eligibility for Work-Study. Students should check with their office of financial aid to see if they qualify for Work-Study.
Students should inform The Washington Center that they are transferring their Work-Study benefit to their semester in Washington, D.C.
Students should inform The Washington Center that they are receiving a Work-Study award and therefore seek a placement with an independent sector organization (non-profit organization) or one in the public sector that provides a stipend equaling 25% of the total Federal Work-Study award.
If a student is working in an organization that does not provide a stipend, the student can use a scholarship provided by The Washington Center scholarship to cover the 25% of the total Federal Work-Study award. However, if the student is not receiving Washington Center financial assistance, the student must agree to be placed with an organization that provides a stipend covering 25% of the total Federal Work-Study award.
Students cannot be paid for more than 20 hours per week. However, students participating in The Washington Center program will work 36 hours per week.
The Washington Center verifies in writing the time worked at the placement.

Some financial aid offices will ask that a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) be established between the school and The Washington Center. The Washington Center is able to provide a sample MOU upon request, which can be adapted.

3. Private loans

Some students may not qualify for federally subsidized assistance or loans but still need to close the gap between their home school tuition and living expenses and the costs they'll have at The Washington Center. Depending on their need and current indebtedness, such students may want to consider a private educational loan. Numerous low-interest, non-need based loan options are available from private financial institutions. The Washington Center does not endorse these lenders or their products, but we encourage students to explore carefully any that might be appropriate. Below is a partial list of institutions that provide such loans.

PNC Bank
For more information visit: http://www.eduloans.pncbank.com/programs/resource/resourceloan.htm

Bank of America
For more information visit: http://www.bankofamerica.com/studentbanking/index.cfm?template=stb_bac_loans

Wells Fargo Collegiate Loans
For more information visit: http://www.wellsfargo.com/student/loans/undergrad/collegiate

Wachovia Education Loan.
For more information visit: http://www.educaid.com/privateloan.htm?entry=index.

US Bank Supplemental Educational Loans.
For more information visit: http://www.usbank.com

This is not an exhaustive list of resources. Students should also speak with their local financial institution about the educational loan packages they provide.

I already receive financial aid at my school. Can I use it to pay for my program fee?

Students who attend The Washington Center continue in most cases to receive federal and state-based financial aid. Students who anticipate that their costs will be higher when they are in our program than when they are in residence on their home campuses may also want to request a recalculation of their financial need. In some cases, awards granted by individual colleges or universities will not apply to study off-campus. As with each of the strategies here, supportive professionals in the institution's financial aid office will be one of the student's best resources, and the farther in advance they are involved on the student's behalf, the better.

I participate in the Federal Work-Study Program at my home school. Would I still be eligible for Federal Work-Study in Washington?

Below are the steps students should take to apply their Federal Work-Study award to The Washington Center's program:

The college or university determines student eligibility for Work-Study. Students should check with their office of financial aid to see if they qualify for Work-Study.
Students should inform The Washington Center that they are transferring their Work-Study benefit to their semester in Washington, D.C.
Students should inform The Washington Center that they are receiving a Work-Study award and therefore seek a placement with an independent sector organization (non-profit organization) or one in the public sector that provides at a stipend equaling 25% of the total Federal Work-Study award.
If a student is working in an organization that does not provide a stipend, the student can use a scholarship provided by The Washington Center scholarship to cover the 25% of the total Federal Work-Study award. However, if the student is not receiving Washington Center financial assistance, the student must agree to be placed with an organization that provides a stipend covering 25% of the total Federal Work-Study award.
Students cannot be paid for more than 20 hours per week. However, students participating in The Washington Center program will work 36 hours per week.
The Washington Center verifies in writing the time worked at the placement.

Can students work a second job while they participate in this program to earn extra money?

Some students do find a second job in order to earn extra money while they intern in D.C. This is not encouraged, as The Washington Center's program is intensive and balancing academic requirements with full-time work can be challenging. Ideally, students work on the weekends should they need to hold a second job.

The website says that my state provides assistance for the program. What paperwork do I need to complete in order to be considered for this funding?

You will automatically be considered for a state scholarship if you meet the various qualification requirements that vary depending on the state. Individual institutions may be allocated a certain number of scholarships. Your invoice will reflect the state scholarship award. Some state scholarships are made up of two sources: money from the state and a Washington Center match. Please remember that if you receive placement-provided assistance, you are not eligible to receive both The Washington Center match to the state aid AND another Washington Center scholarship or placement-provided assistance. You will receive the largest of these amounts.

How do I apply for financial assistance through The Washington Center?

You should carefully review the list of various financial assistance options on our website at http://www.twc.edu/students/financial_assistance.shtml Read the eligibility requirements and tailor your application materials to show how you qualify for various scholarships (except for state scholarships). On the application you have the option to check off the competitive awards for which you feel you qualify. For most scholarships, you will not need to submit any additional documents in order to be considered as a candidate.

Please remember that students receiving financial assistance must:

Be accepted and confirmed in a Washington Center internship program.
Receive at least one hour of academic credit.
In most cases, live in Washington Center-provided housing.
Successfully complete the Washington Center program (all work must be awarded a grade of C or higher).

Those who do not meet any of these requirements must return financial assistance monies to The Washington Center, and their invoice will be adjusted accordingly.

When and how will I be billed? When will I be notified if I got a scholarship and how will I receive the money if I am selected?

Billing is conducted following your acceptance into the program . Generally, scholarship notification will come at the time of your initial invoice. However, many placement-provided assistance awards are not finalized until weeks or, in many cases, days before check-in. We try to notify you as early as possible. Your Washington Center invoice should reflect that financial assistance amount unless the award is made after the invoicing occurs. If this is the case, we will adjust your invoice. You can always speak to your program advisor or the finance department at finance@twc.edu to inquire about your account balance. Any positive balance will ultimately be returned, provided that the student meets all requirements.

I want to compete for a scholarship but I plan to live on my own. Do I have to stay in Washington Center housing facilities to collect the award?

Many awards are dependent upon you living in Washington Center housing. Please read the eligibility requirements carefully on the Financial Assistance website http://www.twc.edu/students/financial_assistance.shtml to determine if your scholarship is restricted. Please remember that students who are eligible for multiple Washington Center scholarships, including Washington Center matches to state funding, will receive the largest award for which they qualify. Scholarships applied toward housing are NOT cumulative.

I'm applying for the Postgraduate Professional Development Program since I have already received a degree and will not be earning graduate credit. Do I qualify for any financial assistance?

Unfortunately, we have very limited financial assistance for students who are not participating in our program for academic credit. You can view a description of our ACHS scholarship at
http://www.twc.edu/students/docs/achs-partnership.pdf, which could provide $1000 toward your Washington Center costs. If you do not qualify or are not selected to receive this award, you are responsible for the costs of our program and housing fees. There is a possibility that you could receive placement-provided assistance to help cover those fees, but this alternative cannot be guaranteed and will not be determined until after you have been accepted to the program and have accepted an internship offer.

For general inquiries on Washington Center fees and financial assistance options write info@twc.edu or contact a member of our Institutional Relations Department at 202-238-7900. If you have already received an invoice and you have questions about your individual account, please contact our Finance Department at finance@twc.edu or 202-238-7974.

Do internship sites offer placement provided financial assistance?

Most internships do not offer stipends, but some do offer a Metro travel allowance or a small stipend. A few federal agencies cover the program fee and housing, and offer a bi-weekly stipend, but most require enrollment in school and US Citizenship.

Is there financial aid for PPDP interns?

There are four scholarships which may be awarded on a competitive basis to PPDP interns. The Association of College Honor Societies (ACHS) provides $1,000 towards housing for members of national honor societies that are members of ACHS (visit achsnatl.org for details). Applicants must verify membership through a copy of a membership certificate, a letter from the local chapter or national office, or an email from the local chapter representative. The other competitive awards are for applicants with disabilities (priority is given to undergraduate students); U.S. citizens of diverse backgrounds who are in the business and finance fields and are interning in the public or nonprofit sectors; and Muslim-Americans chosen by the Center for Global Understanding.

What’s behind our logo?