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Scholarships That Require an ACT Score

LAST UPDATED Aug 15, 2025
Going Merry

Categories: Applying for Scholarships, Scholarship Lists

If you’ve taken the ACT, your score could be your ticket to thousands of dollars in free money for college. Many scholarships require an ACT score as part of their eligibility criteria. Some require that you have a specific minimum required score, while others simply require you to submit your score report. Whether you scored a 21 or a perfect 36, there are plenty of scholarships out there waiting for you to apply!

About ACT

ACT is transforming college and career readiness pathways so that everyone can discover and fulfill their potential. Grounded in more than 65 years of research, ACT’s learning resources, assessments, research, and work-ready credentials are trusted by students, job seekers, educators, schools, government agencies, and employers in the U.S. and around the world to help people achieve their education and career goals at every stage of life. Visit at act.org.

act.org
act.org

Browse this list of scholarships that ask for your ACT score as part of the application.

Hansen Leaders Of Tomorrow

Provider: Dane G. Hansen Foundation

Award Amount: Up to $40,000
ACT Score: 23 or higher

The Hansen Leaders of Tomorrow award provides $10,000 annually for four years to Kansas high school seniors who exhibit strong moral character, leadership, and diligence in academics and extracurricular activities.

Goshen County Commissioner’s Scholarship

Provider: Goshen County Commissioners

Award Amount: $1,000

The Wyoming County Commissioners’ Scholarships are available to students who plan on attending one of the seven Wyoming Community Colleges or the University of Wyoming. The scholarships are not specific to graduating high school students. Non-traditional students are eligible. This includes graduate students, professional program students and independent students. Applicants must reside in Goshen County, Wyoming.

Marshall H. & Nellie Alworth Memorial Fund Scholarship

Provider: Marshall H. & Nellie Alworth Memorial Fund

Award amount: $24,000
ACT Score: 24 or higher

Over the past 75 years, the Alworth Memorial Fund has granted a total of $55 million in scholarships to more than 5,400 students in Northeastern Minnesota. Applicants must be pursuing a STEM major.

Catching the Dream Scholarship

Provider: Catching the Dream

Award Amount: Up to $5,000

Catching the Dream’s objective is to recognize and reward outstanding student achievement. This supplemental award is intended to help Native American Indian students who are 1/4 or more degree American Indian and an enrolled member of a U.S. tribe. All awards are based on merit, academic achievement and ambition.

Catching the Dream Scholarship – Summer Semester (March deadline)

Catching the Dream Scholarship – Fall Semester (April deadline)

Scholarships that require an ACT score. act.org

Engebreston Foundation Scholarship

Provider: Engebreston Foundation

Award amount: $20,000

The Engebretson Foundation offers a $20,000 one-year scholarship to a high school senior demonstrating exceptional academic performance, financial need, and leadership potential.

Engineers Foundation of Ohio Scholarship

Provider: Engineers Foundation of Ohio / Ohio Society of Professional Engineers

Award amount: Up to $2,500

The Engineers Foundation of Ohio Scholarship supports Ohio high school seniors entering ABET-accredited engineering programs, with up to $2,500 awards for those showing academic achievement and commitment to the engineering profession.

Daniel G. Calugar Foundation Merit Scholarship Program

Provider: Daniel G. Calugar Foundation Merit Scholarship Program

Award Amount: $10,000

The Daniel G. Calugar Foundation is proud to offer the Academic Achievement Scholarship providing an opportunity for ten outstanding freshmen entering college in the upcoming fall semester to receive $10,000 each to be applied to their college tuition. This scholarship program aims to recognize academic excellence, motivation, and clear career objectives.

Celler Legal P.A. Employment Skills Scholarship Program

Provider: Celler Legal, P.A.

Award Amount: $1,000

Celler Legal offers a financial award in the amount of $1,000 to Florida high school seniors and freshman enrollees seeking a degree in an accredited Florida four year university, college or community college. Created in 2016, the program will continue annually to support young exceptional young students looking to advance their work and career skills with the intent of using their education in service of their community.

McKee Scholarship

Provider: McKee Scholarship Committee

Award Amount: Varies

The McKee Scholarship supports fatherless male high school seniors from select Pennsylvania counties, offering variable award amounts to those with financial need who plan to attend a four-year college full-time.

The Flinn Scholarship

Provider: Flinn Foundation

Award Amount: Tuition, Fees, Room and Board

Valued at more than $130,000, the Flinn Scholarship covers tuition, fees, housing, and meals at an Arizona public university. The award includes opportunities for study abroad and mentorship for exceptional Arizona seniors.

Watson Brown Scholarship

Provider: Watson-Brown Foundation

Award Amount: Up to $6,000

The Watson-Brown Foundation awards up to $6,000 annually to students from select Georgia and South Carolina counties to attend accredited four-year colleges in the U.S.

Amarillo Area Foundation (TX) Scholarships

Provider: Amarillo Area Foundation

Award Amount: Varies

The Amarillo Area Foundation offers numerous scholarships for students from the Texas Panhandle, varying by award, eligibility, and institution.

Community Foundation of Western Nevada (NV) Scholarships

Provider: Community Foundation of Western Nevada

Award Amount: Up to $5,000

The Community Foundation of Western Nevada (NV) Scholarships support students in Western Nevada who are attending college in the U.S. Scholarships are awarded based on both merit and need.

Scholarships that require an ACT score. act.org

Navy League Foundation Scholarship

Provider: Navy League Foundation

Award Amount: Up to $20,000

Awarding up to $20,000, the Navy League Foundation offers scholarships for high school seniors who are dependents or descendants of current or former U.S. sea service members, including Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, and Merchant Marines.

Susanna and Lucy DeLaurentis Charitable Foundation Memorial Scholarship

Provider: The Susanna and Lucy DeLaurentis Charitable Foundation

Award Amount: $1,000

The Susanna and Lucy DeLaurentis Memorial Scholarships are awarded each year to college-bound high school seniors with superior academic and extracurricular achievements who contend with a chronic disease or other serious challenge to physical or mental health. 

The Maude and Alexander Hadden Scholarship

Provider: Youth Foundation

Award Amount: $5,000

Established in 1968, the Maude and Alexander Hadden Scholarship is awarded to exceptionally worthy high school seniors with demonstrated financial need, for up to four years of college undergraduate study. Hadden Scholars must be U.S. citizens matriculating at a four-year accredited college or university established in the United States.

Adoption STAR Academic Scholarship Program

Provider: Adoption STAR

Award Amount: Varies

Through its academic scholarship program, Adoption STAR recognizes college bound individuals who were adopted by providing academic scholarships. 

Tips for Applying to ACT Score-Based Scholarships

1. Know what you’re required to submit.
Check the scholarship’s ACT threshold before applying. Some have specific section score requirements (like Math 29+), not just composite scores.

2. Retake the ACT if you’re close to the cutoff.
 Even a one-point boost could qualify you for thousands in extra funding.

3. Pair your ACT score with strong supporting materials.
Letters of recommendation, personal essays, and résumés can help you stand out.

4. Apply to both national and local scholarships.
 Local and regional awards often have fewer applicants, giving you better odds of winning.

Register for the ACT here

Disclaimer: This blog post provides personal finance educational information, and it is not intended to provide legal, financial, or tax advice.

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