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Dreaming of studying at a top university in the United States? You’re not alone! But let’s be honest, the biggest hurdle for many Indian students is the high cost of tuition and living. The good news? A strong score on the ACT exam can be your golden ticket to unlocking thousands of dollars in scholarships.
This guide will show you how your ACT score can do more than just get you admitted—it can help pay for your education. Forget the myths and confusing information; here’s what you actually need to know.
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What are Merit-Based Scholarships?
In the US, scholarships mainly come in two flavors:
- Need-Based: Given to students who demonstrate financial need.
- Merit-Based: Awarded to students for outstanding achievements.
For most Indian students, merit-based scholarships are the primary source of funding. These are the university’s way of rewarding you for your hard work. The two most important factors they consider are:
- Your High School Grades (Class 9, 10, 11, and 12 board marks)
- Your Standardized Test Scores (ACT or SAT)
A high ACT score signals to universities that you are academically prepared for their programs, making you a competitive candidate for their scholarship funds. These scholarships can range from a few thousand dollars to covering your entire tuition!
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The Best Place to Find Scholarships: The Universities Themselves!
While you might search for “national scholarships,” the hard truth is that most of those are reserved for US citizens. Your best strategy is to target the scholarships offered directly by the universities you are applying to.
Many US universities have automatic merit scholarships for international students. This means if your GPA and ACT score meet a certain threshold, you are automatically awarded a scholarship. Here are some popular universities known for offering generous merit-based aid to Indian students and the typical scores needed to be competitive.
| University | ACT Score for Scholarships | Estimated Annual Scholarship |
|---|---|---|
| Arizona State University | 28+ | USD 8,000 – USD 15,000 |
| University of Arizona | 27+ | USD 5,000 – USD 22,000 |
| University of Alabama | 27+ | USD 6,000 – USD 28,000 |
| Iowa State University | 26+ | USD 4,000 – USD 10,000 |
| Michigan State University | 28+ | USD 10,000 – USD 15,000 |
Pro Tip: Always check the “International Admissions” and “Financial Aid” pages on a university’s website. They will have the most accurate and up-to-date information on the scholarships they offer and the scores required.
What is a Good ACT Score for Scholarships?
A “good” score is relative, but we can break it down into tiers:
- Good (27-29): This range makes you eligible for some merit scholarships at many large state universities, often in the $5,000 to $10,000 range per year.
- Very Good (30-33): Now you’re talking! Scores in this range make you a competitive applicant for more significant scholarships ($10,000 to $20,000+) at a wider variety of universities.
- Excellent (34-36): This is the top tier. With a score like this, combined with excellent grades, you are in the running for the most prestigious and largest scholarships offered, including full-tuition awards at some institutions.
Remember, your ACT score doesn’t exist in a vacuum. Universities will look at it alongside your board exam results, essays, and extracurricular activities.
How to find ACT Scholarships?
Individuals intending to apply for ACT scholarships can visit popular scholarship websites to find scholarships based on ACT scores. Some of the most popular websites to find ACT scholarships are the College Board’s BigFuture Scholarship Search and scholarships.com.
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FAQs
Ans. A “full-ride” (covering tuition, housing, food, etc.) is extremely rare and highly competitive. However, a full-tuition scholarship is more achievable. It typically requires an ACT score of 35-36, near-perfect grades, a fantastic application essay, and strong extracurriculars.
Ans. No, they are both critical. Your board marks show your academic performance over several years, while the ACT provides a standardized measure to compare you with students from around the world. You need to do well in both.There are scholarships available for every ACT score range, so much so, you’ll find scholarships for an ACT score as low as 10 and as high as 30.
Ans. Besides universities, you can use online scholarship search engines. Be sure to use the filter for international students.
There are numerous scholarships available for meritorious young minds with good ACT scores. These scholarships are provided to individuals on the basis of their acquired scores on the ACT test.
Visit the Leverage Live page of Leverage edu or contact our study abroad experts at 1800-57-2000 to strengthen your scores and application to secure your spot in your dream college.
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