62,000 Students Earn Academic Honors from College Board National Recognition Programs
National Recognition Programs Help Underrepresented Students Stand Out on College and Scholarship Applications
This year, 62,000 students across the country have been awarded academic honors from the College Board National Recognition Programs. The African American, Hispanic American, Indigenous, and Rural/Small Town National Recognition Programs grant underrepresented students with academic honors that can help them stand out on college and scholarship applications and connect them with universities across the country.
This is the third year of the National Recognition Programs. More than 180,000 students from all 50 states were eligible to apply for the College Board National Recognition Programs, which grant students with academic honors that can be included on college and scholarship applications. Colleges and scholarship programs identify students awarded National African American, Hispanic, Indigenous and/or Rural/Small Town Recognition through College Board’s Student Search Service.
Students should apply because:
- It’s easy. National Recognition Programs reward the hard work they’ve already completed in high school.
- They can access financial aid. Many colleges have specific scholarships for National Recognition Program awardees.
- It can help them stand out. Putting the award on their applications demonstrates significant academic achievement.
- It connects them with colleges. Colleges and scholarship organizations are looking for Recognition Program participants.
Students may be eligible for the National Recognition Programs if they have a GPA of 3.5 or higher and have excelled on the PSAT/NMSQT or PSAT™ 10, or earned a score of 3 or higher on two or more AP® Exams—and are African American or Black, Hispanic American or Latinx, Indigenous, and/or attend school in a rural area or small town.
We want to honor the hard work of these students through the College Board National Recognition Programs. This program creates a way for colleges and scholarship programs to connect directly with underrepresented students who they are hoping to reach. We hope the award winners and their families celebrate this prestigious honor and it helps them plan for their big future.
Tarlin Ray, Senior Vice President, BigFuture, College Board
Research shows that National Hispanic Recognition Program recipients are more likely to enroll at a four-year institution. National Hispanic Recognition Program eligibility also increases attendance at out-of-state colleges and at public flagship institutions.