The American College of Sofia

The American College of Sofia is in Sofia, Bulgaria, at Floyd Black Lane, Mladost 2, 1799. The campus is located in the Mladost district and is accessible by public transport. By bus, take

76 or 111 with a transfer if needed, and follow local landmarks such as the HIT store and the yellow gate at the end of the street to reach ACS. The campus is near the MVR Police Academy Simeonovo area as a reference point.

Grades 9–12. All students pursue the USA High School Diploma Programme (Grades 9–12). Bulgarian students in Grades 11–12 enter the Bulgarian Diploma Programme (academic stream) with profiles such as Humanities, Foreign Languages, Mathematics & Physics, Software & Hardware Sciences, Natural Sciences, or Entrepreneurship. International students participate in the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme.

Private, coeducational, language high school. The college is described as a private, language-based American-style preparatory school offering American and Bulgarian/IB diplomas.

Bulgarian students make up about 96% of the student body, with international students comprising about 4%.

Student Support Team provides counseling and programs for social-emotional development and mental health. Services include Confidential Individual Counseling, Group Counseling, Academic Support Groups, Health Courses, and mentorship for clubs and events; the team collaborates with faculty and families.

Affiliated with the United States as the oldest American educational institution outside the USA.

Public transit serves the campus area. Bus routes include

76 (to Mladost) and 111; a subway connection can be used with a transfer to reach ACS. Directions note landmarks and a gate at the end of the street for campus entry.

English is the primary language of instruction. Grades 9–10 Bulgarian and international students follow almost the same ACS curriculum. In Grades 11–12 Bulgarian students pursue the Bulgarian Diploma Program with advanced profiles, while international students are admitted to the two-year IB Diploma Programme. International students begin the IB Diploma Programme in 11th grade and can earn the American High School Diploma by completing ACS coursework and the CAS portfolio. The IB Diploma Programme has been offered since 2005. Bulgarian Diploma Profiles cover Humanities, Foreign Languages, Mathematics and Physics, Software & Hardware, Natural Sciences, and Entrepreneurship; all profile courses are advanced honors, and every student completes a 75-hour CAS portfolio.

SAT middle 50%: 1310-1470; Highest SAT score: 1580. Scores for SATs were reported for 102 students in the class of 2024, August 2022–October 2023. National Exams (matura) were taken by more than 50% of ACS students (class of 2023). On average, 92% of ACS seniors apply to non-Bulgarian colleges and universities, and typically 100% earn the American Diploma and either the Bulgarian or IB Diploma.

ACS graduates attend universities around the world. On average, 92% of ACS seniors apply to non-Bulgarian colleges and universities. Institutions attended include Brown University, Columbia University, NYU, and University of California campuses, among others. Bulgarian universities such as Medical University of Sofia and Sofia University also enroll ACS graduates.

Bulgarian Diploma Profiles are advanced honors programs with concentrations in Humanities, Foreign Languages, Mathematics & Physics, Software & Hardware, Natural Sciences, and Entrepreneurship. International students on the IB Diploma Programme undertake English A Literature and other higher-level subjects. All students complete a 75-hour CAS portfolio.

The Student Support Team prioritizes student well-being and provides counseling and programs to support social-emotional development and mental health. The team comprises psychologists and social-emotional counselors. Services include confidential individual counseling, group counseling, academic support groups, health courses, and mentorship for clubs and events. They work closely with faculty and families to support students' academic and personal journeys. Contact: studentsupport@acsbg.org.

Mental health support is provided through confidential counseling, group counseling, and health education. The team includes psychologists and social-emotional counselors. They address adolescent development and mental health needs. They collaborate with families and faculty to support student well-being. For support, contact: studentsupport@acsbg.org.

The school has a Child Protection Officer as part of the Student Support Team. The Student Support Team includes highly trained professionals, including psychologists and social-emotional counselors. Safeguarding work is conducted in collaboration with faculty and families to protect students. Confidential individual counseling and group counseling are among the safeguarding and wellbeing services. For support, contact: studentsupport@acsbg.org.

The American College of Sofia is the oldest American educational institution outside the USA. In 2025, it celebrated its 165th anniversary. The College is a language high school with admissions after grade 7, accredited in Bulgaria by the Ministry of Education and Science, and in the USA by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools (MSA) and the International Baccalaureate Organization (IB). The College also accepts Bulgarian students who have completed grade 8 in Bulgarian schools within the Republic of Bulgaria, after passing an entrance exam in English. The College welcomes applications from Bulgarian students who have studied at foreign schools (in Bulgaria or abroad) during the previous year, as well as applicants with foreign or dual citizenship. Admissions for these students are year-round and depend on available spots and academic results. We teach all subjects in English, with the exception of Bulgarian Language and Literature and foreign languages. We offer specialized education in mathematics, software & hardware technology, humanities, foreign languages, natural sciences, and entrepreneurship. We work with highly qualified teachers, 35% of whom are foreigners, primarily from the USA, Great Britain, and Canada. 934 students; 31% of faculty are international; 87% of financial aid applications approved. HIGH QUALITY EDUCATION. We admit students based on the academic results of the applicants, only after successfully passing the College's entrance exam. Once accepted, students embark on a challenging academic journey that emphasizes both the acquisition of knowledge and its practical application. In addition to rigorous academics, the College offers a well-rounded extra-curricular program designed to complement students' studies and foster their personal development. This holistic approach helps students build academic skills while also growing into well-rounded individuals. The College's high standards are maintained by a diverse faculty, consisting of both experienced Bulgarian and international professionals, who bring a variety of teaching methods and global perspectives to the classroom. These progressive educational practices, centered on interactive learning, form the foundation of the College curriculum. American College of Sofia graduates are equipped to think critically and solve complex problems. They set clear goals, achieve them, and are socially conscious, ready to compete with top students around the world.

Who Have Successfully Passed the Entrance Exam after Grade 7. 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. FULL SCHOLARSHIPS. 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; Oberbauer Scholarship; Gipson Scholarship; 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. The Sunrise 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 Sunrise Scholarship is awarded with preference to a student from Plovdiv whose family demonstrates financial need. Bulgarian students from outside Sofia who are awarded the Sunrise 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. 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. Partial Scholarships. 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. This scholarship grants 5,000 euros annually to an excellent student for each of the five years of 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."