ACBL Educational Foundation College Scholarship
Offered by ACBL Educational Foundation
About This Scholarship
The ACBL Educational Foundation, the charitable arm of the American Contract Bridge League, awards a non-renewable college scholarship of up to $2,500 to graduating high school seniors with a connection to the game of bridge. Winners are chosen through a holistic review that weighs academic merit, financial circumstances, and — fittingly for a bridge organization — the applicant's potential to advance the bridge community.
Bridge has a serious youth pipeline: the ACBL runs youth memberships, school clubs, and the Youth North American Bridge Championships, and the Educational Foundation backs that pipeline with real scholarship money. Unlike the ACBL's tournament-based awards (such as the Collegiate Bridge Bowl prizes, which are earned by competing), this scholarship is application-based, so a student who plays casually at a local club has the same shot as a tournament regular who can make the stronger case on paper.
The current cycle closes December 31, 2026 — a winter deadline that lands right in the middle of regular college application season, so seniors can largely reuse materials they have already assembled. The ACBL also runs the King or Queen of Bridge award for senior bridge players on a separate spring timeline.
Eligibility
- Graduating high school senior
- Selected through holistic review of academic merit, financial circumstances, and potential to advance the bridge community
- Award is non-renewable and paid toward college costs
How To Apply
- Review the scholarship details on the ACBL scholarships page
- Complete the ACBL Educational Foundation application, including the essay and supporting academic materials
- Submit by the December 31, 2026 deadline
- Questions go to the ACBL Educational Foundation ([email protected])
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to be an ACBL member or a tournament player?
The college scholarship is judged holistically on academics, financial circumstances, and your potential to advance the bridge community — it is not a masterpoint contest. Active involvement in bridge strengthens the application, and the ACBL's separate King or Queen of Bridge award does require ACBL membership.
How much is the award?
Up to $2,500, paid once (non-renewable).
Is this the same as the Collegiate Bridge Bowl?
No. The Bridge Bowl awards prize money to college students based on competition results, while this scholarship is an application-based award for graduating high school seniors.