National College Match: Who Should Apply
We are looking for high school seniors who have shown outstanding academic ability despite financial challenges. We 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.
Be sure to review carefully:
Eligibility | Academic Achievement | Financial Qualifications | Personal Circumstances | FAQs
Eligibility
Class Year Eligibility
In order to be eligible to apply to the National College Match in the fall of 2023, applicants must graduate from high school during or before the summer of 2024 and plan to enroll as a first-year student in college in the fall of 2024.
Citizenship Eligibility
Any high school senior, regardless of citizenship, currently attending high school in the U.S. is eligible for the National College Match. Additionally, U.S. Citizens and Permanent Residents living abroad are eligible. International students living outside the U.S. are not eligible.
Students attending high school in the U.S. as undocumented or international students are eligible to apply, but should review the Additional Citizenship Requirements to see which QuestBridge college partners will consider them for the Match Scholarship.
Academic Achievement
We seek students who have demonstrated a level of academic achievement that meets or exceeds the admissions standards of our colleges. The following is based on profiles of past Finalists 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 reported) |
Please note: Test scores are not required to apply, and around 40% of QuestBridge applicants in the past year did not have test scores. All applications are reviewed holistically, so students who have not taken standardized tests can still be selected as Finalists; however, they should ensure they meet the standardized testing requirements for each college partner they're interested in. Middle 50% SAT score: 1290 - 1460 We encourage students to report any SAT, ACT, AP, IB, or TOEFL scores available. |
|
Additional criteria |
Evidence of strong writing ability, intellectual spark, and determination. |
Financial Qualifications
Finalists typically come from households earning less than $65,000 annually for a household 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.
QuestBridge will thoroughly review the financial information in each student's application. Students who are selected as Finalists will need to submit official documentation verifying their financial situation directly to the colleges to which they apply.
| Financial Criteria | |
|---|---|
|
Household income |
All sources of household income are taken into account, including, but not limited to:
|
|
Assets |
All assets held by the household are taken into consideration, including:
|
|
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. 💡 Visit AskQB to learn more. |
|
Household circumstances |
Individual household circumstances are taken into consideration, including:
|
Personal Circumstances
We also take the following factors into account when reviewing applications:
| Personal Circumstances | |
|---|---|
|
Parents' level of education |
78% of Finalists 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. |
Eligibility FAQs
What does QuestBridge consider low-income?
What does QuestBridge consider high-achieving or academically outstanding?
How are National College Match applications evaluated?
Can I apply to the National College Match if I am not a U.S. Citizen or Permanent Resident?