You qualify for the BigFuture $40K scholarship by meeting the program’s basic eligibility and then completing qualifying steps on your BigFuture dashboard; there’s no essay, no minimum GPA, and no test-score requirement. Students in the class of 2027 and 2028 are eligible if they have a College Board account and attend public, private, or homeschool in the U.S., Puerto Rico, or another U.S. territory, with DoDEA students also included.

How to check

  1. Sign in to your College Board/BigFuture account.
  2. Open your scholarship or dashboard section.
  3. Check whether your class year is eligible.
  4. Complete one or more qualifying steps shown there, such as building a college list, starting a scholarship list, completing FAFSA, or applying to colleges.

What matters most

  • Completing qualifying steps earns entries into monthly drawings for $500 or $40,000.
  • The earlier you finish steps, the more chances you get.
  • Students whose family income is under $60,000 can get extra chances, according to BigFuture materials.

Quick eligibility checklist

  • You have a College Board account.
  • You are in an eligible class year.
  • You attend an eligible school type or are otherwise eligible under the program rules.
  • You complete at least one qualifying step on your BigFuture dashboard.

One important note

BigFuture says drawings happen monthly, and completing steps by the listed deadlines keeps you eligible for more entries.