College Board Opportunity Scholarships

The College Board Opportunity Scholarships, now known as BigFuture Scholarships, offer high school students a chance to earn scholarships by completing key college and career planning steps. These scholarships are open to students in grades 10 through 12, including the Class of 2027, and are available nationwide, including in California.

🏆 Scholarship Overview

  • Monthly Drawings: Each month, students can enter drawings for $500 scholarships.

  • Grand Prize: Every two months, one student wins a $40,000 scholarship.

  • No Essay or Test Scores Required: There are no GPA, test score, or citizenship requirements.

  • Extra Entries for Low-Income Students: Students whose families earn less than $60,000 annually receive additional entries.

✅ How to Qualify

Students earn entries by completing six key steps on the BigFuture dashboard:

  1. Start Your Career List: Explore careers that match your interests.

  2. Start Your College List: Find 2- or 4-year colleges that interest you.

  3. Start Your Scholarship List: Identify other scholarships to help pay for college.

  4. Strengthen Your College List: Ensure your list includes a mix of reach, match, and safety schools.

  5. Complete the FAFSA®: Fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid.

  6. Apply to Colleges: Submit applications to the colleges you want to attend.

The earlier you complete each step, the more chances you have to win. Each completed step earns one entry, and entries roll over to subsequent months if you don't win. 

📅 Important Dates for the Class of 2026

  • Start Your College List: Opens December 4, 2023; Deadline June 30, 2025

  • Start Your Career List: Opens December 4, 2023; Deadline February 28, 2026

  • Start Your Scholarship List: Opens July 1, 2025; Deadline February 28, 2026

  • Strengthen Your College List: Opens July 1, 2025; Deadline October 31, 2025

  • Apply to Colleges: Opens October 1, 2025; Deadline February 28, 2026

  • Complete the FAFSA: Opens October 1, 2025; Deadline February 28, 2026

🎯 Tips for Success

  • Create a BigFuture Account: Sign in to track your progress and earn entries.

  • Complete Steps Early: The more steps you complete and the earlier you start, the more chances you have to win.

  • Check Your Dashboard Regularly: Monitor your entries and see which steps you can complete next.

  • Stay Informed: Scholarship drawings occur monthly, with winners announced on the 15th of each month. 

By participating in the BigFuture Scholarships program, you're not only earning chances to win scholarships but also taking important steps toward planning your future. Remember, the earlier you start, the more opportunities you have to succeed.

For more information and to get started, visit the BigFuture Scholarships page.