Scholarships •
Complete guide to the QuestBridge National College Match
The QuestBridge National College Match connects low-income students to top colleges and offers full-ride scholarships.
In this article, we’ll cover all of the essential details about the QuestBridge National College Match, including how it works, its eligibility criteria, how you apply, and how much financial aid you can get.
We’ll also show you some similar scholarships you may be eligible for too.
What is the QuestBridge National College Match?
QuestBridge describes itself as a platform for connecting the nation’s brightest students from low-income and other disadvantaged backgrounds to the nation’s best educational institutions and opportunities.
It’s no secret that college is expensive, and many feel like they shouldn’t even bother applying to top schools. As many as 30,000 low-income students are academically eligible for these schools each year but fail to apply to even one.
The QuestBridge National College Match lets you apply to selective colleges for free and offers up to $200,000 to cover tuition, fees, room and board, travel, and other expenses, which may be enough to cover the entire cost of your education.
How to apply for the QuestBridge National College Match
Here's what you need to know before you apply for college through the QuestBridge National College Match.
Eligibility requirements
The QuestBridge National College Match has a few strict eligibility requirements. At a minimum, you must be a graduating senior and a US citizen or permanent resident.
The program publishes other elements that are indicative of previous award recipients, including:
Primarily an A student
Top 5–10% of their class
SAT score of 1270 or better or ACT score of 28 or better
Strong writing ability
Household income under $65,000
Limited family assets
76% of finalists are first-generation college students
Participation in extracurricular activities
The application
The QuestBridge College Match has a unique application because it serves as both a scholarship application and a college application for the program’s partner colleges.
To apply, you’ll need to provide:
Personal information
Household information
2 letters of recommendation
School report from a school counselor
A school profile
A current transcript
Standardized test scores
Students who are selected as finalists may have to provide additional material to the colleges with which they match.
Important dates to remember
Before applying for the QuestBridge College Match, make sure you know these essential dates.
Applications open: Late summer
Applications close: September 28th
Deadline to rank schools: October 14th
Finalists notified: October 19th
Additional materials to matched schools due: November 1st
Match Day: December 1st
Regular decision deadline: December 12th
Other scholarships like the QuestBridge National College Match
If you’re looking for financial aid to afford the cost of college, there are many scholarship opportunities out there. If you’re considering the QuestBridge National College Match, you may also be interested in these opportunities.
Mos can help you get started applying for both government financial aid and scholarships, like the QuestBridge National College Match. Join us now.
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