QuestBridge

QuestBridge prepares College Prep Scholars to gain admission and full four-year scholarships to 55 top colleges through the National College Match. College Prep Scholars can receive special awards and opportunities, including a full scholarship to a college summer program, a $1,000 award for educational resources, and more.

QuestBridge's mission is connecting outstanding students from low-income backgrounds to life-changing opportunities.

For Juniors, College Prep Scholars Program application opens in early February, and the deadline is March 24, 2026. 

Why apply as a Junior?

1. Head Start to a Top College: Get a head start on preparing to apply for full four-year scholarships to 55 college partners through the National College Match in your senior year. 

2. College Prep: Receive expert guidance and resources to develop a strong college application. 

3. Exclusive Access: Get access to summer program scholarships, college admissions conferences, personalized support, and even a chance to visit top colleges for free! 

4. Community: Gain a supportive community of motivated peers who are also applying to top colleges. 

For Seniors, the National College Match connects students with admission and full four-year scholarships with QuestBridge college partners. This application opens in late summer of your Junior year, and the application is due October 1, 2026.

1. Late Summer: Application opens - Students should go to apply.questbridge.org to start a free, online application. 

2. August and September: Complete Application - Students should connect with relevant teachers and their counselor early to request recommendations. Counselors are also asked to help procure transcripts, test scores, and a School Profile. 

3. Early-October: Submit and Rank - The complete application is due on October 1. After submission, students complete research and determine which colleges to rank. 

   • While every college partner will cover the full cost of attendance and guarantees no loans nor parental contribution, every school will determine financial aid differently. 

   • Take the time to understand how college partners you’re interested in ranking cover their cost of attendance by viewing sample Match Scholarship packages on the QuestBridge website by navigating to: questbridge.org > Our Partners > College Partners > [Any School] > Financial Aid 

4. Mid-October: Finalist Notification - All applicants are notified in mid October if they are Finalists. Those who rank need to finalize and submit additional requirements to colleges. Non-Finalists should move forward by applying to schools directly. 

5. November 1: Deadlines - Match Requirements are due to all ranked colleges by November 1; this includes financial forms and any documents, test scores, or reports. Any remaining documents must be sent directly to the colleges. 

Eligibility

• High school juniors and seniors, regardless of citizenship, currently attending high school in the U.S. and planning to attend college the fall after graduation, and U.S. Citizens and Permanent Residents living abroad

• Earning primarily A’s in the most challenging courses offered

• Demonstrating strong writing skills and intellectual curiosity, plus resilience, integrity, and motivation to succeed

• Exhibit strong character, such as resilience, integrity, and motivation to succeed.

• Typically from a household earning less than $65,000 annually for a household of four with minimal assets (assets include savings, investments, and homes, properties, or businesses owned), and often qualify for their school's free or reduced-price meals (this means qualifying beyond the whole school free or reduced-price meals).

  1. If a student comes from a household earning more than this amount but feels that they have faced economic hardship and fit the QuestBridge criteria of high-achieving students from low-income backgrounds, QuestBridge would encourage that student to apply. There is room on the application to explain the household's situation 

Referrals are not required to apply and students can opt out of QuestBridge communications at any time.