ACS Catalyst Scholarship
Offered by American Chemical Society · Free to apply
The ACS Catalyst Scholarship provides renewable funding of $10,000 for graduating high school seniors and current undergraduate college students pursuing degrees in chemistry and related fields. Applicants must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents with at least a 3.0 GPA and intend to pursue a career in the chemical sciences. Application requirements include transcripts, a resume, personal essays, FAFSA submission details, and two letters of recommendation.
Other deadlines near this one
How hard is the ACS Catalyst Scholarship to win?
A large applicant pool chases this award. Apply if the student is a genuinely strong fit, but build the plan around better-odds awards first. No published applicant or winner counts exist for this award, so Solyo shows no odds figure.
- Odds
- no published selection data
- Paperwork
- ~4.3 hrs to file
What drives the odds here
Odds on a scholarship are mostly a question of how many students can enter. Each rule below changes the size of that field.
- More rivalsOpen nationwide, so the field is large
- Fewer rivalsAn essay is required, which filters out casual applicants
- Fewer rivalsRecommendation letters are required, a step many applicants skip
- Fewer rivalsAn official transcript is required
- Fewer rivalsRequires at least a 3 GPA
- More rivalsA five-figure award attracts a bigger field
How Solyo estimates this: We model the applicant field from how narrow the eligibility rules are, then divide the awards available by that field. Requirements such as essays and recommendation letters improve a serious applicant’s odds, because most browsers never complete them. These are estimates derived from each award's published structure, not reported acceptance rates, which almost no scholarship provider discloses. Treat them as a way to rank where the hours go, not as a guarantee.
Who can apply for the ACS Catalyst Scholarship?
These are the eligibility rules Solyo verified against the official award page, translated into plain English. Your student must meet each one.
- Open to high school seniors and current college students
- GPA of 3 or higher (unweighted)
- Open to U.S. citizens or permanent residents (green card)
- Must intend to major or be majoring in chemistry, biochemistry, chemical engineering, chemical technology, or another chemistry-based science and plan to pursue a chemical sciences career.
- Students enrolled in pre-med programs or pursuing nursing or pharmacy degrees are not eligible.
- Must be enrolled full-time at an accredited U.S. high school, college, university, or community college.
- Applies to the 2026-2027 academic year application cycle.
Personalized matching
Does your student actually qualify?
Not sure your student clears every rule above? Solyo checks 20+ criteria against their real profile: GPA, state, grade level, intended major, and more, across every award in this directory at once.
What the application takes
- Essay required.
- 2 letters of recommendation. Ask teachers or counselors early; good letters take time.
- Transcript required. Request it from the school registrar ahead of the deadline.
Deadline and application cycle
The current deadline is February 2, 2027. This award runs on an annual cycle, with deadlines around February 2 each year. Applications typically open in November.
- Applications open
- November 2026
- Applications close
- February 2, 2027
Free to apply. Legitimate scholarships never charge a fee. We use your student's information only to build their plan.
Common questions about the ACS Catalyst Scholarship
How much is the ACS Catalyst Scholarship worth?
The ACS Catalyst Scholarship awards $10,000 per year and is renewable in later years.
When is the ACS Catalyst Scholarship deadline?
The current deadline is February 2, 2027. This award runs on an annual cycle, with deadlines around February 2 each year. Applications typically open in November.
When do ACS Catalyst Scholarship applications open?
Applications typically open in November, and close February 2, 2027.
Who is eligible for the ACS Catalyst Scholarship?
Key requirements: Open to high school seniors and current college students; GPA of 3 or higher (unweighted); Open to U.S. citizens or permanent residents (green card).
Does the ACS Catalyst Scholarship require an essay?
Yes. The application requires an essay, 2 recommendations, and a transcript. Expect to spend about 4.25 hours on it.
How hard is it to win the ACS Catalyst Scholarship?
A large applicant pool chases this award. Apply if the student is a genuinely strong fit, but build the plan around better-odds awards first. No published applicant or winner counts exist for this award, so Solyo shows no odds figure. What is known: an essay is required, which filters out casual applicants and recommendation letters are required, a step many applicants skip. Plan on about 4.3 hrs of work.
Is the ACS Catalyst Scholarship free to apply?
Yes. The ACS Catalyst Scholarship is free to apply. Legitimate scholarships never charge an application fee, and Solyo verifies every listed award against its official page.
More field of study
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- APWU Vocational ScholarshipUp to $3,000 · due May 31, 2027
- ASME High School Senior Scholarships$2,000 · due March 15, 2027
- AWS Foundation National Scholarships$2,500 to $10,000+ · due March 1, 2027
- Alabama Farmers Agriculture Foundation Scholarship$2,000 · due February 1, 2027
Lists this award appears on
Award details are curated by Solyo and verified against the official scholarship page. Deadlines and requirements can change between cycles, so always confirm on the provider's site before applying.