Extra Entries Based on Family Income
BigFuture Scholarships are open to all students but half of all awards are reserved for students who qualify as lower-income. Any student can either automatically qualify or self-identify that they qualify as lower income, if any of these apply:
- Received or used a fee waiver from College Board for one of our assessments
- Attends a high school where 75% or more of the student body qualifies for free or reduced-price lunch
- Annual family income is less than $60,000
If you do not automatically qualify as low-income but your family earns $60,000 or less annually, please self-identify by completing the following steps:
- Login to your BigFuture Dashboard
- If you are currently eligible for BigFuture Scholarships, you will see a module at the top with your current entries and a link that reads: Earn Double Entries
- Click that link and complete the brief form
FAQ
Does my family income affect my chances?
Each time a student completes a step, they automatically earn one entry into the monthly scholarship drawing for a $40,000 and $500 scholarship. Students who qualify as lower income earn two entries to each monthly scholarship drawing when they complete a step. Students may opt out of the drawings at bigfuturescholarships.org/opt-out.
How do I automatically qualify for extra entries?
A student automatically qualifies for extra entries when they complete a step to qualify for drawings for BigFuture Scholarships, if they:
- Have received a fee waiver from College Board for one of our assessments
- Attend a high school where 75% or more of the student body qualifies for free or reduced-price lunch
When a student automatically qualifies for extra entries, there are no further action required for the students.
How do I self-identify that I qualify for extra entries?
If a student does not automatically qualify for extra entries, they may self-identify that they qualify for extra entries. If the student's annual family income is less than $60,000 or if they qualify for a fee waiver, they should self-identify through this form here. When a student who self-identifies as lower income is selected for a scholarship, they may be asked to verify income using a secure document system.
Who's eligible for fee waivers?
Students can talk to their school counselor about receiving a fee waiver from College Board, if any of these statements apply to them:
- You're enrolled in or eligible to participate in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP).
- Your annual family income falls within the Income Eligibility Guidelines set by the USDA Food and Nutrition Service.
- You're enrolled in a federal, state, or local program that aids students from low-income families (e.g., Federal TRIO programs such as Upward Bound).
- Your family receives public assistance.
- You live in federally subsidized public housing or a foster home, or are homeless.
- You're a ward of the state or an orphan.