American Council of the Blind Scholarships
Scholarship Sponsored by American Council of the Blind
Overview
The American Council of the Blind (ACB) Scholarship Program, created in 1982, provides financial awards—ranging from $2,000 to $7,500—to students who are blind or legally blind. Offered in collaboration with partner organizations and private donors, these scholarships support entering freshmen, undergraduate and graduate students, and individuals attending technical colleges for study at accredited post‑secondary institutions within the United States.
Purpose of the awards
Scholarship funds are intended to help cover costs associated with post‑secondary education, including tuition, fees, room and board, and expenses for assistive technology and related needs.
Recent awards
In 2025, ACB distributed more than $111,400 in scholarship funds to 24 recipients.
Who is eligible
Applicants must meet all of the following:
- Be legally blind.
- Be enrolled, or planning to enroll, at a post‑secondary institution in the United States (entering freshmen, continuing undergraduate or graduate students, and technical college students are all eligible).
- Maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.0 for most scholarships (exceptions may be considered under extenuating circumstances).
- Be a full‑time student, or a part‑time student who is employed at least 32 hours per week.
- Demonstrate involvement in school and community activities.
Required application materials
Include these items with your completed application:
1. Proof of legal blindness: a certification from an ophthalmologist, optometrist, or physician. Legal blindness is defined as best corrected visual acuity no better than 20/200 in the better eye, or a visual field of 20 degrees or less in the widest diameter in the better eye.
2. Academic transcript(s): current students and transfers should submit transcripts from the school they are attending; entering freshmen must provide high school transcripts; graduate applicants must include undergraduate transcripts. Unless there are extenuating circumstances, a 3.0 cumulative GPA is expected.
3. Two letters of recommendation: from a current or recent instructor, a career counselor, or an employer. Each recommendation should be submitted separately.
4. Proof of acceptance: entering and transferring applicants must provide a letter or notice from the post‑secondary institution confirming acceptance or that they are under consideration. If this documentation is not available at the time of application, it must be sent as soon as it is received. Students who continue at the same school they attended in 2023 do not need to provide this document.
Conference opportunity
Recipients are invited to attend ACB’s National Conference and Convention in July. The conference offers opportunities to meet peers with similar lived experiences, build lasting connections, network with knowledgeable professionals and community members, and participate in sessions about emerging assistive technologies and developments within the blind community.