A Complete List of State Scholarship Programs and their SAT Score Requirements

State scholarships can make a significant difference in the lives of students seeking higher education. They help ease the financial burden of tuition fees and offer opportunities to students who may not otherwise have access to higher education. Many state scholarship organizations use standardized tests such as the SAT, PSAT, and ACT to determine awards. This article will discuss the various state scholarship organizations, their websites, and the average SAT scores required to qualify for each program.

State Scholarship Organizations

1. Alabama - The Alabama State Department of Education offers the Alabama Student Grant Program. To apply, students must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and submit it by March 1st. The website is https://www.ache.alabama.gov/Content/Departments/StudentAsst/FinancialAidPrograms.aspx.

2. Alaska - The Alaska Commission on Postsecondary Education offers the Alaska Performance Scholarship. To qualify, students must achieve a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher and an SAT score of 1200 or higher or an ACT score of 26 or higher. The website is https://acpe.alaska.gov/PLANNING/Grants_and_Scholarships/APSTechnicalManual.

3. Arizona - The Arizona Commission for Postsecondary Education offers the Arizona Leveraging Educational Assistance Partnership (AzLEAP). To apply, students must complete the FAFSA and meet the eligibility requirements. The website is https://azgrants.az.gov/.

4. Arkansas - The Arkansas Department of Higher Education offers the Governor's Distinguished Scholarship Program. To qualify, students must achieve a composite score of 32 or higher on the ACT or a combined SAT score of 1410 or higher. The website is https://scholarships.adhe.edu/scholarships-and-programs/a-z/.

5. California - The California Student Aid Commission offers the Cal Grant Program. To apply, students must complete the FAFSA or the California Dream Act Application and meet the eligibility requirements. The website is https://www.csac.ca.gov/.

6. Colorado - The Colorado Department of Higher Education offers the Colorado Opportunity Scholarship Initiative (COSI). To qualify, students must meet the eligibility requirements and complete the FAFSA. The website is https://highered.colorado.gov/Finance/Scholarships.html.

7. Connecticut - The Connecticut Office of Higher Education offers the Roberta B. Willis Scholarship Program. To qualify, students must achieve a composite score of 28 or higher on the ACT or a combined SAT score of 1250 or higher. The website is https://www.ctohe.org/SFA/SFAwillis.htm.

8. Delaware - The Delaware Higher Education Office offers the Delaware Higher Education Scholarship. To qualify, students must achieve a combined SAT score of 1290 or higher or a composite ACT score of 29 or higher. The website is https://www.doe.k12.de.us/Page/2349.

9. Florida - The Florida Department of Education offers the Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program. To qualify, students must meet the eligibility requirements and achieve a minimum score on the SAT or ACT. The website is https://www.floridastudentfinancialaidsg.org/.

10. Georgia - The Georgia Student Finance Commission offers the HOPE Scholarship Program. To qualify, students must meet the eligibility requirements and achieve a minimum score on the SAT or ACT. The website is https://www.gafutures.org/hope-state-aid-programs/hope-scholarship/.

11. Hawaii The Hawaii Community Foundation offers a number of scholarships for Hawaii residents, including the HCFF College Scholarships. To be eligible, students must have a minimum 2.7 GPA and either a minimum SAT score of 1050 or minimum ACT score of 21. For more information, visit the Hawaii Community Foundation website: https://www.hawaiicommunityfoundation.org/scholarships

12.  Idaho The Idaho State Board of Education offers the Idaho Opportunity Scholarship, which provides up to $3,500 per year to eligible students. To be eligible, students must have a minimum 2.7 GPA and either a minimum SAT score of 1060 or minimum ACT score of 21. For more information, visit the Idaho State Board of Education website: https://boardofed.idaho.gov/scholarships/opportunity.asp

13.  Illinois The Illinois Student Assistance Commission offers a number of scholarships and grants for Illinois residents, including the Monetary Award Program (MAP) Grant. To be eligible, students must have a minimum ACT score of 22 or SAT score of 1110 (evidence-based reading and writing + math). For more information, visit the Illinois Student Assistance Commission website: https://www.isac.org/students/during-college/types-of-financial-aid/grants/monetary-award-program.html

14.  Indiana The Indiana Commission for Higher Education offers the 21st Century Scholars Program, which provides up to four years of undergraduate tuition and fees to eligible students. To be eligible, students must have a minimum 2.5 GPA and either a minimum SAT score of 930 or minimum ACT score of 18. For more information, visit the Indiana Commission for Higher Education website: https://www.in.gov/che/4505.htm

15.  Iowa The Iowa College Student Aid Commission offers the Iowa Financial Aid Program, which includes the Iowa Grant and the Iowa National Guard Education Assistance Program. To be eligible for the Iowa Grant, students must have a minimum ACT score of 22 or SAT score of 1110 (evidence-based reading and writing + math). For more information, visit the Iowa College Student Aid Commission website: https://www.iowacollegeaid.gov/content/state-grants-and-scholarships

16.  Kansas The Kansas Board of Regents offers the Kansas Comprehensive Grant, which provides need-based aid to eligible students attending Kansas colleges and universities. To be eligible, students must have a minimum ACT score of 21 or SAT score of 1060 (evidence-based reading and writing + math). For more information, visit the Kansas Board of Regents website: https://www.kansasregents.org/students/student_financial_aid/scholarships_and_grants/kansas_comprehensive_grant

17.  Kentucky The Kentucky Higher Education Assistance Authority offers a number of scholarships and grants for Kentucky residents, including the Kentucky Educational Excellence Scholarship (KEES). To be eligible for the maximum award, students must have a minimum ACT score of 15 or SAT score of 720 (evidence-based reading and writing + math). For more information, visit the Kentucky Higher Education Assistance Authority website: https://www.kheaa.com/website/kheaa/keestc?main=1

18.  Louisiana The Louisiana Office of Student Financial Assistance offers the Taylor Opportunity Program for Students (TOPS), which provides merit-based aid to eligible Louisiana residents. To be eligible, students must have a minimum ACT score of 20 or SAT score of 1030 (evidence-based reading and writing + math). For more information, visit the Louisiana Office of Student Financial Assistance website: https://www.osfa.la.gov/tops_start

19. Maine The Finance Authority of Maine offers a number of scholarships and grants for Maine residents, including the Maine State Grant. To be eligible, students must have a minimum SAT score of 930 or minimum ACT score of 18. For more information, visit the Finance Authority of Maine website: https://www.famemaine.com/scholarships-grants/maine-grants/

20.  Maryland The Maryland Higher Education Commission offers a number of scholarships and grants for Maryland residents, including the Guaranteed Access Grant. To be eligible, students must have a minimum GPA of 2.5 and either a minimum SAT score of 1000 or minimum ACT score of 19. For more information, visit the Maryland Higher Education Commission website: https://mhec.maryland.gov/preparing/Pages/FinancialAid/descriptions.aspx

21.  Massachusetts The Massachusetts Office of Student Financial Assistance offers a number of scholarships and grants for Massachusetts residents, including the Massachusetts State Scholarship Program. To be eligible, students must have a minimum SAT score of 1100 or minimum ACT score of 26. For more information, visit the Massachusetts Office of Student Financial Assistance website: https://www.osfa.mass.edu/state-aid-programs/state-scholarship-program/

22.  Michigan The Michigan Student Financial Aid program offers a number of scholarships and grants for Michigan residents, including the Michigan Competitive Scholarship. To be eligible, students must have a minimum SAT score of 1200 or minimum ACT score of 26. For more information, visit the Michigan Student Financial Aid program website: https://www.michigan.gov/mistudentaid/0,4636,7-372-86854---,00.html

23.  Minnesota The Minnesota Office of Higher Education offers a number of scholarships and grants for Minnesota residents, including the Minnesota State Grant. To be eligible, students must have a minimum ACT score of 22 or minimum SAT score of 1220. For more information, visit the Minnesota Office of Higher Education website: https://www.ohe.state.mn.us/mPg.cfm?pageID=1385

24.  Mississippi The Mississippi Office of Student Financial Aid offers a number of scholarships and grants for Mississippi residents, including the Mississippi Eminent Scholars Grant. To be eligible, students must have a minimum ACT score of 29 or minimum SAT score of 1290. For more information, visit the Mississippi Office of Student Financial Aid website: https://riseupms.com/state-aid-programs/

25.  Missouri The Missouri Department of Higher Education and Workforce Development offers a number of scholarships and grants for Missouri residents, including the Access Missouri Grant. To be eligible, students must have a minimum ACT score of 18 or minimum SAT score of 940. For more information, visit the Missouri Department of Higher Education and Workforce Development website: https://dhewd.mo.gov/ppc/grants/accessmo.php

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    27. Nebraska Coordinating Commission for Postsecondary Education. (n.d.). Nebraska opportunity grant. Retrieved from https://ccpe.nebraska.gov/NebraskaOpportunityGrant

    28. Nevada System of Higher Education. (n.d.). Silver state opportunity grant. Retrieved from https://www.nevadatreasurer.gov/SilverStateOpportunityGrant

    29. New Hampshire Higher Education Assistance Foundation. (n.d.). New Hampshire state grants and scholarships. Retrieved from https://www.nhheaf.org/grants-scholarships.aspx

    30. New Jersey Higher Education Student Assistance Authority. (n.d.). Financial aid programs. Retrieved from https://www.hesaa.org/Pages/FinancialAidPrograms.aspx

    31. New Mexico Higher Education Department. (n.d.). New Mexico legislative lottery scholarship. Retrieved from http://www.hed.state.nm.us/institutions/lott-scholarship.aspx

    32. New York State Higher Education Services Corporation. (n.d.). New York state grants and scholarships. Retrieved from https://www.hesc.ny.gov/pay-for-college/financial-aid/types-of-financial-aid/nys-grants-scholarships-awards.html

    33. North Carolina State Education Assistance Authority. (n.d.). North Carolina resident undergraduate grant program. Retrieved from https://www.cfnc.org/paying/schol/info_schol.jsp

    34. North Dakota University System. (n.d.). North Dakota state grant program. Retrieved from https://www.ndus.edu/students/paying-for-college/grants/north-dakota-state-grant-program/

    35. Ohio Department of Higher Education. (n.d.). Ohio college opportunity grant. Retrieved from https://www.ohiohighered.org/oco

    36. Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education. (n.d.). Oklahoma's promise. Retrieved from https://www.okhighered.org/okpromise/

    37. Oregon Office of Student Access and Completion. (n.d.). Oregon opportunity grant. Retrieved from https://www.oregonstudentaid.gov/programs.aspx

    38. Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency. (n.d.). Pennsylvania state grant program. Retrieved from https://www.pheaa.org/funding-opportunities/state-grant-program/index.shtml

    39. Rhode Island Office of the Postsecondary Commissioner. (n.d.). Rhode Island state grant. Retrieved from https://www.riopc.edu/financial-aid/types-of-financial-aid/ri-state-grant/

    40. South Carolina Commission on Higher Education. (n.d.). South Carolina need-based grant program. Retrieved from https://www.che.sc.gov/Students,FamiliesMilitary/PayingForCollege/Need-basedGrants.aspx

    41. South Dakota Board of Regents. (n.d.). South Dakota opportunity scholarship. Retrieved from https://sdos.sdbor.edu/

    42. Tennessee Student Assistance Corporation. (n.d.). Tennessee student assistance award. Retrieved from https://www.tn.gov/collegepays/money-for-college/tn-grants-and-scholarships/tsaa.html

    43. Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. (n.d.). Texas grant. Retrieved from http://www.collegeforalltexans.com/apps/financialaid/tofa.cfm?kind=G&cpn=36

    44. Utah System of Higher Education. (n.d.). Utah promise scholarship. Retrieved from https://stepuputah.com/utah-promise-scholarship/

    45. Vermont Student Assistance Corporation. (n.d.). Vermont state grant program. Retrieved from https://www.vsac.org/pay/student-aid-options/grants/vermont-state-grant

    46. Virginia Department of Education. (n.d.). Virginia guaranteed assistance program. Retrieved from https

         Montana The Montana University System offers a number of scholarships and grants for Montana residents, including the Montana Higher Education Grant. To be eligible, students must have a minimum ACT score of 22 or minimum SAT score of 1100. For more information, visit the Montana University System website: https://www.mus.edu/financialaid/

    47. Washington Student Achievement Council. (n.d.). State need grant. Retrieved from http://www.wsac.wa.gov/state-need-grant

    48. West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission. (n.d.). West Virginia higher education grant. Retrieved from https://www.cfwvconnect.com/grants-scholarships/west-virginia-higher-education-grant

    49. Wisconsin Higher Education Aids Board. (n.d.). Wisconsin grant. Retrieved from https://heab.wisconsin.gov/programs/grants/wisgrant.html

    50. Wyoming Community College Commission. (n.d.). Hathaway scholarship program. Retrieved from https://www.wyomingccw.org/hathaway-scholarship-program/

     

     

    A note of caution re: average SAT scores required to qualify for a state scholarship

The average SAT scores required to qualify for state scholarships vary depending on the program and state. For example, in Connecticut, students must achieve a combined SAT score of 1250 or higher to qualify for the Roberta B. Willis Scholarship Program. In Alaska, students must achieve an SAT score of 1200 or higher to qualify for the Alaska Performance Scholarship. In Arkansas, students must achieve a combined SAT score of 1410 or higher to qualify for the Governor's Distinguished Scholarship Program.