The 2022 College Prep Scholars Program application is now open! The deadline is Thursday, March 24. Start your application today >>

The Questbridge College Prep Program is looking for high school juniors who have shown outstanding academic ability despite financial challenges. They take a holistic approach to reviewing applications, and we do not have absolute criteria or cut-offs for GPA, standardized test scores, income, or other factors.

Eligibility

Any high school junior, regardless of citizenship, currently attending high school in the U.S. is eligible for the College Prep Scholars Program. Additionally, U.S. Citizens and Permanent Residents living abroad are eligible for the program. International students living outside the U.S. are not eligible.

Applicants must be high school juniors who are planning to apply to college during the fall of their senior year.

Academic Achievement

We seek students who have demonstrated high academic achievement. The following is based on profiles of past College Prep Scholars, and are not strict cut-offs:

ACADEMIC CRITERIA
Grades and rigor of high school curriculum Primarily A’s in the most challenging courses available (usually including Honors, AP, and/or IB level courses).
Class rank Top 5-10% of graduating class.
Standardized test scores (if taken) Please note: Test scores are not required to apply, and around half of QuestBridge applicants in the past year have not had test scores. The numbers below are general criteria based on successful applicants who reported test scores. 

77% of last year’s College Prep Scholars scored above 1270 on the SAT or 26 on the ACT (if reported).

We also recommend submitting any PreACT, PSAT, ACT Aspire, or AP Exams, if available.
Additional criteria Evidence of strong writing ability, intellectual spark, and determination.

Financial Qualifications

College Prep Scholars typically come from households earning less than $65,000 annually for a typical family of four and have minimal assets. This is not a strict cut-off and we encourage students who feel they have faced significant financial hardship to review these financial criteria carefully to see if they may qualify.

FINANCIAL CRITERIA
Household income All sources of household income are taken into account, including, but not limited to: 

  • Salaries, wages, and tips
  • Business and farm income
  • Rental income
  • Interest and dividend income
  • Retirement distributions
  • Alimony
  • Child support received
Assets All assets held by the family are taken into consideration, including: 

  • Home ownership
  • Business or farm ownership
  • Cash and savings
  • Investments
  • Additional properties
Non-custodial parent income and assets Students with divorced or separated parents must report the income and assets of their non-custodial parent, as this information is taken into consideration by our college partners when determining financial need. The only exception is when the student has not had contact with the non-custodial parent for an extended period of time.
Household circumstances Individual household circumstances are taken into consideration, including: 

  • The number of people supported by the household income
  • The number of students in college (undergraduate only)
  • Unemployment or other changes to the household income
  • Eligibility for free or reduced-price school meals
  • Having been in foster care
  • Other non-discretionary financial commitments, such as high medical bills

Personal Circumstances

We also take the following factors into account when reviewing applications:

PERSONAL CIRCUMSTANCES
Parents’ level of education Many past College Prep Scholars are among the first generation in their family to attend a four-year college in the U.S.
Activities, including home or family responsibilities Participation in extracurricular, community, or other activities. 

Activities may include home or family responsibilities, such as part-time jobs to help pay bills, or caring for siblings if parents are absent or at work.
Honors, awards, and achievements Accomplishments and leadership roles in extracurricular or other activities.
Personal traits Strength in character and motivation to succeed.