ACT what's the lowest score to qualify for scholarship $$

[runwad]

We are just starting down this path with our HS Jr. I know the higher the score the better but what's the lowest score that would qualify for scholarship money? Thanks

 

[piglet too]

Honestly? I think that will all depend on the school (for merit scholarships) and the individual scholarship requirements. My son scored a 31, and that helped him get a merit scholarship, but it was also based on grades and class rank.

 

[Hannathy]

depends on the school! You could get money from one school with an act that you wouldn't even get admitted to another school with.

Most schools look at the whole package in determining merit scholarships.

 

[LisaR]

While I am sure every school is different, I've yet to see one that awards decent money for scores below 30.

 

[bgirl29]

It depends so much on the school. I have seen what I consider decent money for a 28 and I know someone that got a lot of money at an awesome private school with a 29. He was helped by his ranking and gpa however. Just look at the websites of some schools you think your son could be interested in to get a better idea of whats available.

 

[erincon23]

It really depends not only on the school, but on the program. DS20 was going into a music program at a state school, and had a 26 on his ACT, which seemed to excite the admissions person, until she found out that his GPA was just a smidge under 3.0. She said that if his GPA had been more in the 3.4 area, he would have qualified for a scholarship. Anywhere else at this same school, the 26 would have gotten him a . (there was no point in having him take it again with that GPA --had the GPA been higher, he would have taken it until he got a 30!)

 

[shortbun]

A friend's son got a 27 and had a 3.0 with a double athletic letter and got 50% and a small school here in Ohio. He's doing well academically and also in his sports. I was suprised that both numbers were so low because I knew he'd gotten a nice scholarship. I know a 27 is horrible but a 3.0 combined with a 27 seems like an unlikely combination for a large scholarship. He IS an excellent pitcher and hoops player.

 

[runwad]

Ok good glad to hear there maybe some chance of some $$ for a 26 or 27. Long story but she took ACT end of her sophomore year with no studying or prep and got a 21. The school she wants to go to has a requirement of a 21 so didn't know if we should bother testing again. But I think we will the end of this year. Sounds like it could be worth it. I'm hoping with some studying and prep she could do better; plus she said there was a lot of material on the test she'd never learned. She has some pretty hard honors classes this year so being exposed to that extra material ought to help too.

 

[Southernmiss]

I second what everyone else has said about getting scholarships at a 4 year college with the ACT score.

Here's another thought--the community colleges in our area are very good and offer scholarships for scores of about 25 or 26. So if community college is an option, this may work for your DD.

 

[Minnesota!]

Granted it's been 16 years ( ) but I had a 26 and got lots of offers. DH (DBF at the time) had an 18 0r 19 and still received good offers. HIs GPA was miserable, too. Mid 2's. But he played sports

 

[Southernmiss]

Granted it's been 16 years ( ) but I had a 26 and got lots of offers. DH (DBF at the time) had an 18 0r 19 and still received good offers. HIs GPA was miserable, too. Mid 2's. But he played sports

Things have changed. DS is a college freshman so we just went through this all. There are so many bright kids now competing that schools really do look at the ACT, GPA and class rank and the higher the better.

 

[Christine]

My son got a 28 on his ACT and carries an 4.1 (weighted) GPA and and 3.7-ish unweighted and I don't expect he will be offered a dime. It seems that at the schools we apply to they are looking for something over 30.

 

[jbcheerchick93]

I scored a 33 on the ACT and had a GPA in the 3.5-3.6 range, with an SAT of 2040 (1440 on the 1600 scale) and my scholarship was about 20% of the total cost of tuition. I am going to a large state school, so that was a pretty awesome scholarship for around here. I did get bigger scholarships at other schools, and I got nothing at others. It really depends on the school. If your daughter got a 21, even when the school says that they would accept her with that, it does not mean she is guaranteed a spot. The higher the better and these days, every single thing counts. Recommendations, GPA, ACT & SAT scores, class rank, extra curricular activities, personal essays/statements, and rigor of your class schedule is very important.

 

[Hyonlyf]

Free tuition and books with a 24 at our local JC. State schools give out good money at 29+, private too. Talk to school guidance counsellor.

 

[Buckalew11]

I'll give you hope.

My DD scored a 31 on her ACT.Her college of choice started giving merit scholarships at a 24, I think. The highest was $19,000 for a 28. So DD did not get anything for having that 31.
The give more scholarship $$ for music majors than academics right now. She can barely play the radio! lol

Her college is a small private college with a terrific reputation and with everything costs around 42,000. So 19,000 was a little short, ya know? However, when the financial package was done and all scholarship money was given, we owed nothing but books.

I was really surprised at the ACT scores and what they got you. Of course, GPA was also factored in also.

So keep your/her options open about schools. Do not think just because you see a hugh price tage that it can't happen. Kids at DD's college get a better deal quite often than kids that go to UT (TN), a state school. And small colleges also love transfer students and CC/JC kids too.

And yes, take the tests again. DD took it at least 3 times because she was homeschooled and was required to take the ACT to be held accountable to her umbrella school. 28, 27, 31. The 31 came after we sent her to a week long "test prep" course. Those teach kids how to better take the test and not much about the info they already know. She said it was quite helpful.

Oh and also check her schools required scores periodically ( 1 or 2 x a year)--it can go up or go down. My friend's DD thought she had a score hugh enough for merit help and they had changed it and it went up a point and she got nothing!

Good luck!

 

[rascalmom]

My dd had a 31 and received only $500 each semester of her freshman year based on those scores (top 2% of a large hs class, salutatorian). She attended a large state school. The threshold for scholarships change each year and are based on the some average calculated of all hs students taking the test that year. In other words, this year the minimum might be a 31.....next year the state average score moves up and the new minimum would move to 32.

My friend's daughter had a 34 and she got a full ride from the same school 6 years ago. Her younger sister, same score, same great high school grades and honors did not. I'd really like to know what that family is feeding their kids!!

 

[Gumbo4x4]

While I am sure every school is different, I've yet to see one that awards decent money for scores below 30.

Man, the scores have really zinged up over the years. In my day, 30 was almost unheard of. 27 + good grades could mean a full ride back then

 

[Buckalew11]

Man, the scores have really zinged up over the years. In my day, 30 was almost unheard of. 27 + good grades could mean a full ride back then

And so many schools aren't (can't) give full rides anymore.

My niece's top choice used to give 5K and when she applied, they were only giving 1,500. Plus, they were in such demand, they didn;t need to give big $$. DN could not afford to go though and she went with #2 choice and has LOVED it!

 

[Gumbo4x4]

And so many schools aren't (can't) give full rides anymore.

True, but it was more a comment on how times have changed re: the scores. There was no real prep for the ACT "in my day", which ages me some I'm sure And what was an exceptional score in those days, is barely average today. 27 "back then" would have been beyond 90th percentile.

On another note, I was thinking in terms of a specific scholarship that I know still exists


edit: although looking it up now, there is now a dollar value attached. Previously, it was 100% tuition, though the dollar value now would have BEEN 100% tuition "back then" LOL.

 

[jsmith]

There are soooooooooooo many other factors than just ACT scores involved in scholarship awards-just an ACT -even of 26 or 27 many not net you any $$$$ in some places and a full ride in others-in a music or theater program if your student has a great back ground you will do well. In a top teir engineer school not only will that not get you any money it wont get you admited. It sounds like lots of folks here are doing good in that range tho so you can probably feel pretty good about her chances espeically if she is an athelete-there are tons of dollars for female athletes.
Just a note on the person who said her husband got good money with a 19 for sports-the NCAA clearinghouse now does not allow DI or DII schools to award money to students scoring under 21.