College Board’s BigFuture Scholarships program for the Class of 2027 (this year’s seniors) ends at 11:59:59 p.m. Eastern Time on November 30, 2026, with the final drawing on December 1. Irvine seniors who are already submitting college applications and the FAFSA can earn entries by marking those steps complete in their BigFuture accounts.
Who Is Affected by the BigFuture Scholarships Deadline
Under the official rules, the program is open to students with a 2027 high school graduation date who attend a public, private or home school in the 50 states or U.S. territories. The scholarships require no essay, no test scores and no minimum GPA. According to College Board’s October 21 press release, each month the program awards two $40,000 scholarships and hundreds of $500 scholarships. Awards are paid by check to a Title IV eligible college chosen by the winner.
Each completed step earns one entry. Entries not selected in a month roll over to the next drawing until the final drawing on December 1. Students who are eligible for an SAT fee waiver, attend school in a high-poverty district, or have a family adjusted gross income of $60,000 or less are also entered in separate, additional drawings.
What to Do Now About BigFuture Scholarships
Of the six Class of 2027 steps, “Start Your College List” closed on June 30 and “Strengthen Your College List” closed on October 31. The four steps below remain open through November 30:
| Step | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Start Your Career List | Save at least three careers on BigFuture |
| Start Your Scholarship List | Save at least three scholarships |
| Complete the FAFSA | Submit the FAFSA; students who cannot file it may complete their state’s aid form or attest that they are ineligible for both |
| Apply to College | Mark at least two colleges as applied on the college list; a binding Early Decision application counts |
Winners must provide proof of FAFSA and college application submission, so students should confirm each submission before marking it complete.
The program for sophomores (Class of 2029) opened in October. Its first step is Vision Builder, which takes about 5 to 10 minutes, and all of its steps remain open until November 30, 2028.
For overall planning of the application season, see the EDUBUS college admissions planning service; for FAFSA dates and filing tips, see Brief: FAFSA Is Open, California Deadline Is March 2.
Sources
- College Board: BigFuture Opens Scholarship Opportunities for the Class of 2029 (accessed November 4, 2026)
- BigFuture: $40k BigFuture Scholarships for Seniors (Class of 2027) (accessed November 4, 2026)
- BigFuture: BigFuture Scholarships Official Rules Class of 2027 (accessed November 4, 2026)
- BigFuture: Start with Your Vision and Qualify for $40,000 (Class of 2029) (accessed November 4, 2026)
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