CollegeCounts Scholarship Alabama 2025: How to Secure $4,000 for Your Freshman Year

College is thrilling, messy, life-changing—and expensive. If you’re an Alabama high school senior or a first-time freshman who worries that tuition bills will drown the excitement, the CollegeCounts Scholarship can act like a life ring for your first year. It’s a need-based award that pays $4,000 for students headed to four-year colleges and $2,000 for those attending two-year schools. Not enough to pay every bill, but often the difference between stressing about money and being able to focus on classes.

This guide walks you through everything the application doesn’t tell you in plain language: who wins, what the reviewers are really looking for, how to frame your financial story without sounding dramatic, and a realistic timeline so you don’t get stuck at 11:45 PM on the deadline day. Read this, follow the steps, and you’ll have a much better shot at turning that $4,000 into books, a laptop, and sleep.

At a Glance

What This Scholarship Offers

The CollegeCounts Scholarship is designed to ease the immediate financial burden of starting college in Alabama. The $4,000 four-year award and $2,000 two-year award are disbursed to your school and applied against qualified education expenses—tuition, mandatory fees, books, supplies, required equipment (yes, that includes a laptop if your program requires one), and room and board when you’re enrolled at least half-time.

Think of it as tactical cash for year one: it won’t wipe out a full bill at a large public university, but it can cover a hefty chunk of tuition at a community college or pay for essential materials and a portion of housing at a four-year campus. That first year is often when students either sink under worry or find their footing. This scholarship is aimed at making that transition smoother so you can spend less time figuring out how to pay and more time getting oriented to college life.

A useful feature: you don’t have to have a CollegeCounts 529 savings account to apply. Despite the name, the award is open to eligible Alabama students regardless of prior savings behavior. The money goes straight to your college account—no hoops about receipts—so administrative friction is low. Remember: this is a one-off freshman-year payment, not a multiyear guarantee, so plan how you’ll supplement future years if needed.

Who Should Apply

This award is for Alabama students who are academically capable and financially constrained. If you’re an Alabama resident, a U.S. citizen, a high school senior or first-time college freshman planning to enroll in fall 2025 at an accredited nonprofit Alabama institution, you’re in the pool—provided you meet the GPA and testing rules.

A few real-world profiles of good fits:

• A student with a 3.0 GPA at a public university who’s working part-time and whose family income places them in need—this scholarship can reduce loans and hours at work.
• A home-schooled senior who has documented coursework and a 2.8 GPA pursuing a two-year technical program—eligible and likely competitive.
• A student whose ACT is 28 and whose family experienced recent hardship (e.g., job loss) showing substantial need—this application will speak to both readiness and need.

Who should not apply: students who have already started college (transfer students generally aren’t eligible), those whose ACT score is 30 or above if applying for the four-year award, and non-Alabama residents. If your ACT is 30+ and you’re going to a four-year school, resources are typically better spent on highly competitive merit scholarships tailored to top test scores.

Insider Tips for a Winning Application

The CollegeCounts program weighs financial need heavily, but the way you present your story matters. Below are practical, tested tips that separate decent applications from funded ones.

1. Start the process early and create your account on day one.
   The portal opens December 1. Don’t wait until the final week. Create your account, view every question, and compile supporting documents. Early creation gives you time to fix rejected uploads and to ask guidance counselors for help without the last-minute panic.

2. Tell a clear, specific financial story.
   Financial need is not a single number. If your family experienced a pay cut, medical bills, or other sharp changes, state those facts with dates and brief context. Don’t dramatize—be factual. If you work to support the household, explain hours and responsibilities. The reviewers aren’t trying to judge you; they’re trying to allocate limited funds fairly.

3. Use numbers and timelines in your activity descriptions.
   When listing work, volunteer, or extracurricular involvement, avoid vague phrases like “helped with community events.” Instead write, “Worked 15 hours/week at my family’s restaurant from June 2023–May 2024; earned X, handled inventory and customer service.” Concrete details make your contribution believable and credible.

4. If your GPA dipped, own it and explain, briefly.
   A single sentence that says, “GPA dropped to 2.6 in spring 2023 due to my parent’s hospitalization; I returned to a 3.0 the next semester” is stronger than silence. Reviewers respond to resilience and evidence of recovery.

5. Treat your application like a compact personal statement.
   This is the part where you connect need, effort, and college plans. Say why the school you chose matters—how its programs or location fit your goals. A paragraph that ties your intended major to career objectives demonstrates seriousness and increases your credibility.

6. Be strategic about the ACT.
   For four-year applicants, submission of an ACT score above 29 disqualifies you. If you have multiple test dates, you may choose which score to submit. If the lower score makes you eligible and you’re still competitive academically, submit it. Don’t submit a higher score if it rules you out.

7. Safelist the program email and monitor your account.
   Add [email protected] to your safe senders. Notification arrives by email and you must accept through the portal, so missing the message could cost you the award.

These steps are small investments of time that multiply your odds. Treat the application like a job interview—pack the facts, show responsibility, and make it easy for reviewers to say yes.

Application Timeline (Realistic, Work-Backwards)

• December 1, 2024: Portal opens. Create an account the same day. Review every question so you know what documentation you’ll need.
• December–January: Request your official transcript, order ACT scores if necessary, and collect household financial information. If you’re home-schooled, assemble your academic records now.
• Mid-January to early February: Draft written responses. Have a counselor, teacher, or family member read them. Correct typos and tighten language.
• February 16–26, 2025: Final checks. Confirm uploaded documents are legible and correctly labeled. Save screenshots of upload confirmations.
• February 26, 2025: Submit—no later than this date. That gives a 48-hour buffer before the official February 28 deadline.
• March–April 2025: Watch your email and portal for notifications. If selected, you must accept through the portal by the deadline in the notification.
• Summer 2025: Confirm enrollment with your college so the award can be applied to your account for fall and spring.

Set calendar reminders and give yourself buffer days for each step. Systems fail, travel happens, and procrastination is the enemy.

Required Materials (Prepare Ahead)

You’ll need the following items to complete the application:

• Official high school transcript showing GPA through at least the first semester of senior year. If you’re home-schooled, provide equivalent documentation of coursework and grades.
• ACT scores only if you’re applying for the four-year award. You can self-report initially, but be ready to provide official scores if you’re selected. Two-year applicants don’t need ACT scores.
• Family financial information. The application asks for household income details, number of dependents, and other indicators of financial strain. Have recent pay stubs, W-2s, or a summary of income ready even if you don’t upload them initially.
• A list of activities, employment, volunteer service, and honors with dates and a sentence or two about your role and time commitment. Specifics matter.
• Contact information for your high school counselor or school official; some verifications may be required.
• A working email address and the ability to add [email protected] to your contacts.

Make clear, legible scans or PDFs. Don’t upload photos of documents unless they’re high-quality and complete. If something is missing, request it immediately—official transcripts and test reports can take time.

What Makes an Application Stand Out

Here’s what separates funded applicants from the rest, based on patterns reviewers repeatedly reward.

Demonstrated need with documentation: The strongest candidates provide a coherent financial portrait—consistency between income figures, family size, and any recent hardships. Concrete evidence beats vague claims every time.

Academic readiness paired with trajectory: A steady GPA above 2.75 is required, but reviewers reward students who show upward trends or recovery after a setback. Consistency matters more than flash-in-the-pan achievements.

Sustained responsibility: Long-term employment or ongoing volunteer commitments signal maturity. A student who worked after school to help support siblings indicates a level of responsibility reviewers respect.

Clear, realistic college plans: Applicants who articulate why they picked their school and major—how it fits career goals or local needs—look more deserving. The committee wants to fund students who’ll use the award productively and persist.

Honesty and completeness: Missing sections or vague answers raise red flags. Complete applications that answer every prompt clearly earn trust and stand out.

Common Mistakes to Avoid (and How to Fix Them)

Missing the deadline. Solution: Submit at least 48 hours before February 28. Don’t be the last-minute panic story.
Submitting incomplete documentation. Solution: Make a checklist of required uploads and verify each file opens correctly after upload.
Applying when ineligible (ACT 30+ for four-year award, non-resident, or already enrolled). Solution: Double-check eligibility criteria before investing time.
Overstating or understating financial need. Solution: Be factual and precise—both exaggerations and vagueness undermine credibility.
Ignoring small details (typos, unclear role descriptions). Solution: Have two people proofread, including at least one non-family member. A clean, clear application reads as responsible.
Using poor-quality scans or photos. Solution: Use a scanner app or your school’s guidance office to create clean PDFs.

Fix these problems before you hit submit and you’ll avoid easily preventable rejections.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Do I need a CollegeCounts 529 account to apply?
A: No. The scholarship is open to eligible Alabama students regardless of 529 participation.

Q: Can I use the award at any Alabama college?
A: Yes, as long as the institution is an accredited nonprofit two- or four-year college or university in Alabama. For-profit schools are not eligible.

Q: Is the scholarship renewable?
A: No. This is a one-time award applied during your freshman year (fall and spring disbursements).

Q: My ACT is 29. Am I eligible for the four-year award?
A: Yes. The four-year award requires an ACT of 29 or below.

Q: Can I combine the CollegeCounts Scholarship with other aid?
A: Yes. The money counts toward your cost of attendance and will be coordinated by your school’s financial aid office. You can receive other scholarships, but your total aid cannot exceed your cost of attendance.

Q: Will the scholarship cover room and board?
A: It can, if you’re enrolled at least half-time and the housing charges are billed through the school. Room and board may have different tax implications—check with a tax advisor or your school.

Q: What if I change schools after being awarded?
A: Contact the CollegeCounts office. If you transfer to another eligible Alabama school, the program may be able to transfer the award, but you must notify them and follow their procedures.

Q: Is this taxable income?
A: Scholarships used for qualified education expenses are generally not taxable. Room and board may have tax implications for some students—consult a tax professional.

How to Apply (Next Steps)

Ready to take action? Follow this checklist:

1. Mark your calendar: application window December 1, 2024–February 28, 2025.
2. Create your account at the application portal as soon as the site opens.
3. Gather transcripts, test scores (if required), and financial documentation.
4. Draft and polish your written responses. Use specific numbers and dates.
5. Submit at least 48 hours before the February 28 deadline and save your confirmation email.
6. Add [email protected] to your safe sender list and monitor your email in March and April for the decision.

Ready to apply? Visit the official CollegeCounts Scholarship page for full program details and the application portal: https://treasury.alabama.gov/collegecounts-scholarship/

Questions or special circumstances? Contact the program administrators via the contact information on the official page. They can clarify eligibility, documentation requirements, and acceptance procedures.

Good luck. This scholarship won’t solve every financial puzzle, but for many Alabama students it makes the first year of college a lot less scary—and that first year matters more than you know.