Updated October 2026 by Carson Flowers, from Nevada's official program pages.
The short answer: Nevada's Governor Guinn Millennium Scholarship runs mainly on a 3.25 high school GPA. A student who misses the 3.25 but meets every other requirement can qualify with a 1070 SAT or a 21 ACT. It pays per credit, $80 a credit at Nevada universities.
The score and GPA for each tier
| Tier | SAT | ACT | GPA | What it pays |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GPA route | No score needed | No score needed | 3.25, weighted or unweighted | $80 a credit at universities, $60 at state colleges, $40 at community colleges, up to 15 credits a semester |
| Test score route | 1070 | 21 | Below 3.25 is allowed with the qualifying score | Same per-credit amounts as the GPA route |
Beyond the score:
- GPA route: Complete the required core curriculum, be a Nevada resident and graduate from a Nevada high school.
- Test score route: Your teen must meet every other requirement. This route only replaces the GPA.
How the test score counts
Millennium does not accept the ACT superscore. Only the composite from a single test date counts. The SAT line is 1070 combined Reading, Writing and Math for tests taken in March 2016 or later.
How the GPA is calculated
The 3.25 is figured from all high school credit-granting courses, weighted or unweighted. The test score route exists for students who meet everything else but fall short of 3.25, under Assembly Bill 150 from 2015.
Which class year these rules cover
The test score route applies to the class of 2016 and every class after, including 2027 and 2028.
Deadlines
| What | When |
|---|---|
| High schools send eligible names to the Treasurer's office | Mid-July |
| Award packets mailed | Late July, usually by August 1 |
| Last day to use the scholarship | 6 years after high school graduation, with exceptions for military and religious or charitable service |
Testing has its own clock: see every 2026-27 date in Nevada SAT test dates.
Keeping it in college
Your teen needs a 2.75 GPA every semester and must be in a program leading to an associate degree, bachelor's degree or certificate. Minimum enrollment is 12 credits at a university or state college, or 9 at a community college. There is no yearly reapplication, and the award comes back automatically once the requirements are met again.
Where it pays
Nevada System of Higher Education schools, including UNLV, UNR, the state colleges and the community colleges. It is paid per credit through the school's financial aid office.
The misconception: Millennium is an SAT scholarship
Families often look for a Bright Futures style test cutoff. Millennium is a GPA scholarship first, and the 1070 SAT or 21 ACT is a backup for students short of 3.25. A higher score does not add money.
Free tool
Which of these numbers is your teen's target? Pick the Nevada colleges on their list and get a target score and the gap from today's score in under a minute.
Find my teen's target scoreQuick answers
Does my teen need an SAT or ACT score for Nevada's Millennium Scholarship?
Not if the GPA is 3.25 or higher. The 1070 SAT or 21 ACT only matters for students below 3.25 who meet every other requirement.
Does Millennium accept the ACT superscore?
No. Only the composite score from a single test date counts.
How much does the Millennium Scholarship pay?
It pays per credit. That is $80 a credit at Nevada universities, $60 at state colleges and $40 at community colleges, up to 15 credits a semester.
What GPA does my teen need to keep Millennium in college?
A 2.75 every semester. Your teen also needs at least 12 credits at a university or state college, or 9 at a community college.
How long does my teen have to use the Millennium Scholarship?
6 years from high school graduation. There are exceptions for military and certain religious or charitable service.
Sources
- Nevada State Treasurer: Governor Guinn Millennium Scholarship FAQs
- Nevada State Treasurer: Governor Guinn Millennium Scholarship
- UNLV Financial Aid: Millennium Scholarship
- NVigate: Governor Guinn Millennium Scholarship
Rules change by class year. Confirm with the program's own pages before you plan around any summary, ours included.
Turn the cutoff into a plan
Knowing the number is the easy part. In a free Strategy Session we put your teen's current score next to the Millennium Scholarship line and the ranges at their Nevada colleges, then build the six to twelve week plan to close the gap. More for Nevada families: Nevada SAT prep and SAT Scores for Nevada Colleges.