Updated October 2026 by Carson Flowers, from Wyoming's official program pages.
The short answer: Wyoming's top Hathaway tier, Honors, takes a 25 ACT, a 3.5 GPA, and the full Success Curriculum, and pays $2,360 a semester for up to 8 semesters. The lowest tier, Provisional, takes a 17 ACT and a 2.5 GPA. Every tier needs the score, the GPA, and the coursework together.
The score and GPA for each tier
| Tier | SAT | ACT | GPA | What it pays |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Honors | Not published | 25 | 3.5 | $2,360 a semester, up to 8 semesters |
| Performance | Not published | 21 | 3.0 | $1,770 a semester, up to 8 semesters |
| Opportunity | Not published | 19 | 2.5 | $1,180 a semester, up to 8 semesters |
| Provisional | Not published | 17 (or WorkKeys 12) | 2.5 | $1,180 a semester, up to 4 semesters |
Beyond the score:
- Honors: Full Success Curriculum: 4 years each of Language Arts, Science, Math, and Fine and Performing Arts, CTE, or World Language combined (2 years sequenced), plus 3 years of Social Studies.
- Performance: Same curriculum as Honors.
- Opportunity: Same curriculum, but only 2 years of Fine and Performing Arts, CTE, or World Language.
- Provisional: Math must include at least 2 of Algebra I, Algebra II, and Geometry, and the award must be used first at a Wyoming community college.
How the test score counts
Wyoming law requires ACT or SAT scores for Hathaway, and the ACT superscore is accepted. The official tier lines are published as ACT scores only, with no SAT equivalent listed. The Provisional tier also accepts a WorkKeys score of 12.
How the GPA is calculated
The GPA is your teen's high school GPA, and it may be weighted, so check with the school counselor. Each tier needs the GPA, the score, and the curriculum at the same time.
Which class year these rules cover
The published tier lines are not split by graduating class. The award amounts shown apply to college courses that begin on or after July 1, 2026.
Deadlines
| What | When |
|---|---|
| Meet the score, GPA, and curriculum requirements | By high school graduation |
Testing has its own clock: see every 2026-27 date in Wyoming SAT test dates.
Keeping it in college
Honors, Performance, and Opportunity pay for up to 8 full-time semesters. Provisional pays for 4, with up to 4 more at the University of Wyoming for associate degree transfer students or at a community college for certificate students. Ask your teen's college financial aid office for the college GPA and credit rules that keep the award each year.
Where it pays
The University of Wyoming or any Wyoming community college. Provisional awards must be used first at a Wyoming community college.
The misconception: the ACT score sets the Hathaway tier
Each tier needs the ACT score, the GPA, and the curriculum at the same time. A 25 ACT with a 3.2 GPA lands in Performance at best, if the curriculum is met. A thin course schedule can drop a strong scorer a tier or more.
Free tool
Which of these numbers is your teen's target? Pick the Wyoming 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 a 25 ACT guarantee Hathaway Honors?
No. Your teen also needs a 3.5 GPA and the full Success Curriculum. Missing either one drops your teen to a lower tier or out of the program.
What is the lowest score that gets any Hathaway money?
A 17 ACT, or a 12 on WorkKeys, with a 2.5 GPA qualifies for the Provisional tier. Provisional pays for 4 full-time semesters and must be used first at a Wyoming community college.
Can my teen use the SAT for Hathaway?
Yes, the SAT is accepted, but Hathaway publishes its tier lines as ACT scores only. Ask your teen's counselor how an SAT score places on the tiers.
How much is Hathaway Honors worth over four years?
$18,880. That is $2,360 a semester for 8 full-time semesters, for courses that begin on or after July 1, 2026.
What do the lower Hathaway tiers pay?
Performance pays $1,770 a semester and Opportunity pays $1,180, each for up to 8 semesters. Provisional pays $1,180 a semester for up to 4.
Can a low GPA cost my teen a tier even with the right ACT score?
Yes. On the high school path, the score, the GPA, and the curriculum are all required, and none of them substitutes for another.
Sources
- Hathaway Scholarship: High School Requirements
- University of Wyoming: Hathaway Scholarship
- Hathaway Scholarship: About
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 Hathaway line and the ranges at their Wyoming colleges, then build the six to twelve week plan to close the gap. More for Wyoming families: Wyoming SAT prep and SAT Scores for Wyoming Colleges.