National College Match

The 2022 National College Match application is now closed. View all dates and deadlines >>

The National College Match

Are you a low-income high school senior who has excelled academically, but feels that the nation’s best colleges are financially out of reach? The QuestBridge National College Match can be your pathway to a top college. Through this college and scholarship application process, you can apply for free to the nation’s best colleges and be considered for early admission and a full four-year scholarship. Watch our video to learn more:

 

 

Why apply through QuestBridge? The National College Match application gives you extra space to tell your unique story as a student who has excelled academically despite financial hardship. Our college partners are actively seeking students like you. If admitted to a college partner through the Match or QuestBridge Regular Decision, you will join a supportive community of thousands of other QuestBridge Scholars currently attending our college partners.


Attend a Top College for Free

The Match Scholarship

Match Scholarship Recipients are granted early admission to one of QuestBridge's college partners with a full four-year scholarship, worth over $200,000. Our college partners use a combination of their own funds as well as state and federal aid to fund the scholarship. Please view each college partner's Financial Aid section for further details and see a glossary of financial aid terms.

The Match Scholarship is offered as part of a generous financial aid package provided by the college that covers the cost of attendance, including:

  • Tuition and fees
  • Room and board
  • Books and supplies
  • Travel expenses

All Match Scholarship packages:

  • Have NO parental contribution
  • Have NO student loans
  • May contain a student contribution in the form of Federal work-study, summer work, or student savings

Admission through the National College Match

Last year, over 1,600 Finalists were matched (admitted early with a Match Scholarship). Finalists who do not match can apply through QuestBridge Regular Decision to be considered for admission and generous financial aid. Approximately 2,000 Finalists were admitted through QuestBridge Regular Decision last year.

To date, over 30,000 Finalists have been admitted to a college partner through QuestBridge, including over 10,500 who were admitted with full four-year scholarships. Finalists who attend our college partners are supported in their college years and beyond through on-campus chapters and nationwide opportunities offered through the QuestBridge Scholars Network and QuestBridge Alumni Association.

Seniors: Who Should Apply

Academically outstanding high school seniors from households earning less than $65,000 per year for a typical household of four.

Seniors: How to Apply

The free, online National College Match application is due on September 27, 2022.

Seniors: How it Works

After the application deadline, students rank up to 15 college partners for the Match.