The American Council of the Blind’s (ACB) Scholarship Program was established in 1982. The American Council of the Blind (ACB) in partnership with other organizations and individuals offers educational scholarships ranging from $2,000 to $7,500 for entering freshman, undergraduate and graduate students, and those attending technical college.
This program awards students with scholarships to help with post-secondary education financial needs such as tuition, fees, room and board and other additional costs associated with assistive technology.
To be eligible for a scholarship, applicants need to be legally blind, maintain a 3.0 GPA to be eligible for most scholarships, be a full-time student or a part-time student who works at least 32 hours per week, and be involved in their school and local community. Scholarships are awarded to students who attend post-secondary institutions in the United States.
In 2025, ACB awarded over $111,400 in scholarships to 24 students.
Congratulations to our 2025 Scholarship recipients! Please click here to read the full list of winners.
You will need to include the following documents with your completed application:
- Certification of legal blindness from an ophthalmologist, optometrist or physician. Legal blindness is defined as an individual who cannot see better than 20/200 in the best eye with glasses or contact lenses or whose visual field in the best eye is 20 degrees or less at the widest diameter with glasses or contact lenses.
- A transcript(s) from the school you are currently attending. Entering freshmen will need to include their high school transcripts and graduate students will need to include undergraduate transcripts. Unless extenuating circumstances exist, a 3.0 cumulative grade point average is required.
- Two letters of recommendation from a current or recent instructor, career counselor or employer. Please submit each letter of recommendation separately.
- Proof of acceptance from a post-secondary school. Entering and transferring students must submit a notice or letter from the admissions office certifying acceptance or consideration for admission. If this is not available when the application is submitted, it must be submitted as soon as it is available. Students continuing at the same school attended during 2025/2026 do not need to submit this document.
Applications for the 2027 - 2028 school year can be submitted online from Saturday, November 1, 2026 to Saturday, February 14, 2027 11:59 pm (CST). The application period for the 2026-2027 school year is now closed.
All interested candidates must register for an ACB account prior to submitting a scholarship application online. Once you have created an account with ACB, please login and then you can access the scholarship application from the link at the top of the site. Visit this link to create an account or login.
Scholarship winners will experience firsthand ACB’s National Conference and Convention in July, where you will meet other students who share the same life experiences, create lasting friendships and network with individuals who understand what you are going through and can help you with your journey. There are also many sessions where you can learn about new technology and what is happening in our community.
For more information, please contact the ACB Office at (612) 332-3242 or (800) 866-3242 or send an email to scholarships@acb.org. We look forward to receiving your application materials.
Scholarship Awards
To maximize the financial impact, scholarship awardees may receive a combined AFB and ACB award.
Blacksburg Breakfast Club of Virginia
Duane Buckley - ACB
Undergraduate who has overcome major difficulties.
Dr. Bradley Burson - ACB
Studying in the field of science or technology.
Kellie Cannon - ACB
Studying in the field of computer science, data processing, programming, web development, etc.
William G. Corey - ACB
Pennsylvania resident.
Charles Dillman - AFB (4 scholarships)
Studying in the field of disability rehabilitation or teaching.
Rudolph Dillman - AFB (4 scholarships)
Studying in the field of disability rehabilitation or teaching.
Caesar Eghtesadi - ACB
Majoring in a science, technology, engineering, or mathematics (STEM) program.
Eunice Fiorito - ACB
Studying in advocacy or disability services.
R.I. Gillette, Gladys C. Anderson and Karen D. Carsel Memorial - AFB
For an undergraduate woman studying music.
John Hebner - ACB
Must be working full time and enrolled in substantial courses.
James R. Olsen Memorial - ACB
Undergraduate studying business, computer science, or information technology and involved in community service.
ACB Oregon - ACB
Oregon resident.
Ross N. Pangere Foundation - ACB (3 scholarships)
Studying in the field of business, computer science or information technology.
Floyd Qualls Memorial - ACB (5 Scholarships)
General studies.
Paul W. and Ellen M. Ruckes - AFB (2 Scholarships)
Studying physical or computer sciences or engineering.
Norma Schecter - ACB
General studies.
Arnold Sadler - ACB
Studying in the field of disability rehabilitation, education, law & etc.