The CollegeCounts Scholarship program will award up to $1,067,000 in scholarships to college-bound students in Alabama. CONTRIBUTED

MONTGOMERY – The application deadline is approaching for CollegeCounts Scholarship, the state of Alabama’s 529 savings fund that will grant more than $1 million to eligible Alabama students.

The CollegeCounts will award up to $1,067,000 in scholarships to select recipients attending higher education institutions in Alabama. March 1, 2017 will serve as the last day for online applications for the CollegeCounts Scholarship. To apply, the students must visit CollegeCountsAlabama.com.

“There is no denying the daunting cost of college, but we never want the cost alone to halt someone’s education journey,” Alabama State Treasurer Young Boozer said. Boozer also serves as board chairman for CollegeCounts. “This scholarship was established to encourage the students in Alabama to strive for higher education and continue working to enhance their futures.”

For eligibility, an applicant must be either a senior in high school or first-time college freshmen who plans to enroll in a college or university in Alabama in fall 2017. The student must have a minimum GPA of 2.75, an ACT score of 26 or less and demonstrate financial need.

Award amounts will be $4,000 for four-year college enrollees or $2,000 for two-year college enrollees and granted on a semester basis in the first academic year. Scholarships will be applied to tuition, fees and books required for course load at accredited, nonprofit colleges or universities in Alabama.

“The CollegeCounts Scholarship has assisted more than 700 students across the state of Alabama in their pursuit of higher education. The scholarship grows each year, and we look forward to continued interest,” Boozer said.

The CollegeCounts scholarship program does not use taxpayer funds. For more information, visit CollegeCountsAlabama.com.