QuestBridge National College Match

About this scholarship

The 2026 QuestBridge National College Match gives high-achieving, low-income high-school seniors a free route to early admission and a full four-year scholarship at one of 55 partner colleges. A Match Scholarship is worth more than $360,000 and covers tuition and fees, housing and food, books and supplies, and travel with no parent contribution and no student loans. QuestBridge uses holistic review and has no absolute GPA, test-score, or income cutoff. Typical Finalists earn mostly A grades in demanding courses, rank in the top five to ten percent, and come from a four-person household earning under $65,000 with minimal assets, but these are profiles rather than hard rules. Applicants must be current seniors attending high school in the United States; U.S. citizens and permanent residents living abroad may also apply, while international students outside the United States may not. The application covers academics, activities, household finances, and writing and requires two core-subject teacher recommendations, transcripts, a counselor School Report, and optional test reports and School Profile. Applicants may rank up to 15 colleges. Ranking normally creates a binding early-admission commitment if matched, except at MIT, and restricts certain other early applications. The application closes October 1, rankings and the signed Match Agreement are due October 15, Finalists are announced October 21, partner requirements are due November 1, and Match Day is December 1.

Eligibility

• Be a current high-school senior planning to begin college in fall 2027
• Attend high school in the United States, or be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident living abroad
• Demonstrate strong academic achievement together with significant financial need
• Complete the academics, activities, household, financial, and writing sections of the free application
• Arrange 2 recommendations from teachers in core academic subjects
• Submit current and any additional transcripts plus a School Report from the current high-school counselor
• Submit the National College Match application by October 1, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. Pacific Time
• If ranking colleges, submit rankings and the signed Match Agreement by October 15 and all partner requirements by November 1