The College offers full scholarships for newly admitted students who successfully pass the Grade 7 entrance exam. The scholarships are granted once and cover the full tuition fee for the five years at the American College.

All families of Bulgarian students who successfully pass the grade 7 entrance exam and are invited to enroll in the College may apply for the scholarships.

The Committee is guided by several criteria when awarding them, with financial need being the most important.

CRITERIA FOR AWARDING FULL SCHOLARSHIPS:

1. Approved documents for the tuition fee reduction program.

2. Essay results - essay answer to a question. Candidates will be invited to write the essay at the College.

3. Interview with candidates selected based on essay results.

4. Total score from the entrance exam.

The Polansky and Oberbauer Scholarships were established in 2008, and the Gipson Scholarship in 2018. They cover the full tuition fees for students who demonstrate a high academic level throughout their course of study.

Polansky Scholarship

The Polansky Scholarship is named after H.E. Sol Polansky (1926-2016), former US Ambassador to Bulgaria (1987-1990). Mr. Polansky played an important role in the College's restoration in 1992, continuing to work with institutions committed to the political, economic, and cultural development of Bulgaria. Mr. Sol Polansky was a member of the Board of Trustees of the American College of Sofia and the American University in Bulgaria.

Oberbauer Scholarship

The Oberbauer Scholarship is named after Joseph Oberbauer. An engineer and architect, Mr. Oberbauer arrived in Sofia from Austria in the 1890s. He was one of the chief architects who developed the urban plan for modern Sofia. Mr. Oberbauer lived in Bulgaria until his death in 1930.

Gipson Scholarship

The Gipson Scholarship is named after Nellie and Robert Gipson, devoted friends and long-time supporters of the College and remarkable philanthropists. The Gipson family strongly believes in the importance of education for building a civil and democratic society. Nellie Gipson worked at the College in the 1990s and joined the school's Board of Trustees in 2004. Robert Gipson is a recipient of the Order of Sts. Cyril and Methodius for his enormous contribution to the development of Bulgarian education, science, and culture.

Sts. Cyril and Methodius Scholarship

The Domuschiev Impact Foundation established the Sts. Cyril and Methodius Scholarship, which covers the full tuition fee for five Bulgarian students from the Class of 2030 at the American College of Sofia for the entire five-year period of study. The scholarship is awarded with priority to students with a single parent/guardian who have also demonstrated high financial need. Recipients of the Sts. Cyril and Methodius Scholarship who are from outside Sofia may be accommodated in the College dormitory as part of the financial support provided by the Domuschiev Impact Foundation.

Izgrev Scholarship

The Izgrev Scholarship was established in 2021 by an alumnus who wished to remain anonymous. The scholarship covers the full tuition fee for three Bulgarian students for the five years of study. The Izgrev Scholarship is awarded with preference to a student from Plovdiv whose family demonstrates financial need. Bulgarian students from outside Sofia who are awarded the Izgrev Scholarship also receive the opportunity to use the College dormitory free of charge.

Recipients of the scholarship must maintain a minimum average grade of 5.25 each semester and exemplary behavior during the five-year term of study at the American College of Sofia.

Robin Mittenthal Scholarship

The Robin Mittenthal Scholarship was created in 2023 by Daniela Mole, a 1997 graduate from the first class after the school's restoration, in memory of her late husband. The scholarship covers the full tuition fee for one Bulgarian student for the entire five-year term of study. The first recipient of the Robin Mittenthal Scholarship was an 8th grader in the 2023-24 academic year. The scholarship will be offered again in 2028 to a student from a minority, from a single-parent household, or living outside Sofia, whose family has high financial needs. Scholarship recipients who are not from Sofia receive the opportunity to reside in the College dormitory free of charge.

Recipients of the scholarship must maintain a minimum average grade of 5.25 each semester and exemplary behavior during the five-year term of study at the American College of Sofia.

Teodora and Darina Spasovi Scholarship

The Teodora and Darina Spasovi Scholarship, the first scholarship from Bulgarian citizens, is named after the sister-alumnae of the College, from the Classes of 2004 and 2005, respectively. The scholarship was established in 2005 and aims to partially support the neediest girl from the respective graduating class who maintains a minimum average grade of 5.00 and excellent behavior throughout the entire course of study.

Boris Lozanov and Maria Vladimirova Scholarships 

The Boris Lozanov Scholarship was established during the 2021-2022 academic year by a parent of a College student, Lyubomir Lozanov, in honor of his father, Boris Lozanov. This scholarship grants 5,000 euros annually to an excellent student for each of the five years of their study at the American College of Sofia. To be eligible, the student's family must demonstrate significant financial need, and the student must maintain an average grade above 5.00 and have no disciplinary issues throughout their stay at the College.

In 2024, Mr. Lozanov introduced a second scholarship – the Maria Vladimirova Scholarship – in honor of his mother. This scholarship follows the same application procedure and criteria as the Boris Lozanov Scholarship.

We express our sincere gratitude to all the donors for their generous contribution to education in Bulgaria and their long-standing support for the American College of Sofia.