QuestBridge National College Match

full four-year scholarship to a partner college (worth $360,000+; tuition, room/board, no loans)

How much

full four-year scholarship to a partner college (worth $360,000+; tuition, room/board, no loans)

Who qualifies

• No absolute cutoffs (holistic review). Typical finalists: primarily A's in the most challenging courses, top 5-10% of class, household income under $65,000/yr for a family of four with minimal assets, often free/reduced-price lunch eligible. Matching is binding (except MIT).
• For high school seniors
• Any high school senior currently attending high school in the US, plus US citizens and permanent residents living abroad; international students living outside the US are not eligible
• Need-based: your FAFSA decides how much you get.

When to apply

Opens later annual; opens late summer, application due Oct 1 (11:59pm PT); rankings due Oct 15, finalists Oct 21, Match Requirements Nov 1, Match Day Dec 1

How to apply

1. Free National College Match application (opens late summer, due Oct 1): essays, transcript, teacher and counselor recommendations, financial information
2. Rank up to 15 college partners (Match Rankings Form + Match Agreement due Oct 15)
3. Finalists submit Match Requirements to ranked colleges by Nov 1
4. Match Day Dec 1
5. Test scores not required by QuestBridge (some partners require them)

What you'll need

essay + recommendation + transcript

Last checked

October 5, 2026, against the official page (questbridge.org), page 2, page 3 and page 4