You must receive a DSF Scholarship award by December 31 of the year after you graduate high school to stay eligible for DSF in the future. Â
For example, if you graduate high school in spring 2025, you must receive a DSF award by December 31, 2026, or else you will not be considered for DSF in the future.
How do I renew my DSF Scholarship?Â
You must complete a short renewal application for each school year. The application for the next school year becomes available in your DSF Student Portal account in February and closes on May 1. It only takes a few minutes!
Remember, besides submitting a renewal application, you must meet other requirements to maintain your scholarship:
- Complete your Student Success Requirements each termÂ
- Meet your college’s Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) requirements by completing your courses and keeping your grades upÂ
- Finalize your college choice in the DSF Student Portal by July 15Â
- Complete your financial aid requirements (including your financial aid application and any verification documents) by July 15Â
- Enroll full-time each term, or get DSF’s advance approval for part-time enrollment – Learn moreÂ
Use the roadmap at the bottom of this page as a guide!Â
NOTE: You do NOT need to submit proof of your completed FAFSA or CASFA to DSF. Your college will report your FAFSA or CASFA status to DSF.Â
How long can I receive the DSF Scholarship?Â
You can renew your scholarship for up to 5 years in a row, or until you receive your first bachelor’s degree. Your DSF eligibility begins when you first apply and become a Finalist assigned to a DSF cohort.
For example, new applicants who become Finalists in 2026 are members of the 2026 Cohort. Their first year of eligibility is the 2026-27 school year, and they may continue to renew through the 2030-31 school year or until they receive a bachelor’s degree.
Within your 5 years of DSF eligibility, there are limits to how long you can receive DSF at some college types:
| DSF College Partner Type | Year 1 | Year 2 | Year 3 | Year 4 | Year 5 |
| 4-Year College/University | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ |
| Community College | $ | $ | $ | No Award* | No Award* |
| Technical College | $ | $ | No Award | No Award | No Award |
| Not Enrolled/Did Not Apply | No Award | No Award | No Award | No Award | No Award |
* You can continue receiving DSF at a community college in years 4 and 5 if you are in a Bachelor’s of Applied Science program.
can i get an extra year of eligibility at my college?
If you are enrolled in a Bachelor’s of Applied Science (BAS) degree at a community college, you may receive DSF at that college through your 5th year of DSF eligibility or until you receive your BAS degree, whichever comes first.
What happens if I take time off from school?Â
If you don’t enroll for one or more terms after becoming a DSF Finalist, the time you take off from college still counts as part of your years of DSF eligibility, and you can’t get it back.
If I transfer to a different DSF College Partner, will my DSF Scholarship transfer to my new college?
If you transfer between school years, simply select your new college in your DSF Scholarship renewal application for the upcoming school year.
If you transfer in the middle of the school year, you must meet DSF’s requirements for a mid-year transfer and get DSF’s approval to transfer your scholarship to your new college. Learn more about transferring mid-year.
What if I am applying to a competitive program to continue my postsecondary education and must wait for the program start date?
If you are a DSF Scholar who has been completing prerequisites to apply to a competitive program and must pause your education to wait for program acceptance or the program start, you may submit an appeal to request a pause in your DSF eligibility until the program starts.
For instructions on how to request an appeal for a pause in DSF eligibility, click here.
