American College Foundation
Making Higher
Education Possible

Delivering valuable insight and
vital college planning procedures
to high school students and parents.

17th Annual Visionary Scholarship
$200,000+ Total Awarded
10 Awards / Year 5 per Bi-Annual Deadline
Free to Apply Oct 31, 2026 Deadline
ACF Visionary Scholarship
17th Annual Visionary Scholarship

A bi-annual award recognizing outstanding high school students.
Five awards given per deadline — ten annually — ranging from $1,000 to $2,500 each. Over $200,000 awarded to date.

High School Students — Apply Now

All high school students are eligible to apply — classes of 2027, 2028, 2029, and 2030. Financial need is NOT considered. The application process is free, quick, and easy.

Apply Now for Free

$12,500+ Award Annually

October 31, 2026 is the Fall application deadline for the 2027–2028 award year. Awards range from $1,000 to $2,500 each with multiple winners selected per deadline.

More Award Details
Visionary Scholarship
Recent Grand Prize Winners
Matthew Bartel
2026 Winners — Spring Matthew Bartel Grand Prize Winner All 2026 Winners
Jade Hanson
2026 Winners — Fall Jade Hanson Grand Prize Winner All 2026 Winners
Lauren Tyree
2025 Winners — Spring Lauren Tyree Grand Prize Winner All 2025 Winners
Belen Martinez
2025 Winners — Fall Belen Martinez Grand Prize Winner All 2025 Winners
High School Students
Prepare, Explore, Apply & Decide

ACF's college planning pathway walks you through every step from freshman year to decision day.

Prepare
Explore
Ready Student

Find out how to most effectively prepare yourself not only to gain admission but to also be offered a lucrative funding package that will make your attendance feasible.

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PSAT, SAT & ACT

To help evaluate student candidates, most all colleges and universities will require either the SAT or ACT. Testing multiple times is one thing you can do to improve.

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Career Ideas

Spend as much time as possible exploring career options. It's much easier and much less costly to make changes now, rather than after you start college.

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College Options

Beginning the college search process early will give you much more time to gather data, evaluate your findings, and make the most well-informed decision.

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Apply
Decide
Admission Apps

Your college admission applications should do an effective job of accurately portraying your high school accomplishments, including all your achievements and associated activities.

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College Funding

Who really receives the most college funding and why? What key factors do colleges consider when awarding financial aid packages? What amount should your family really pay?

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Campus Visits

Campus visits allow you to get a real feel for the overall atmosphere of the school; while making that vital first impression with both the Admissions Officer and Financial Aid Officer.

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Student FAQs

Get answers from your perspective to the most important college planning questions. A better understanding of the process is important in getting the best education for the money.

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Student Loan Debt Statistics
43% Graduates with Student Loans
$43,521 Average Student Loan Debt
10.0% Student Loan Delinquency Rate
$1.863T Total US Student Loan Debt
Student Strategies
Students
Student Strategies

Innovative Ways to Pay and Borrow Less for College

Details
Parent Strategies
Parents
Parent Strategies

Creative Methods to Help Your Family Save Money on College

Details
Average Annual Earnings
$48,360 High School Diploma
$80,236 Bachelor's Degree
$95,680 Master's Degree
$122,876 Professional Degree
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