Cooke College Scholarship 2027

The Cooke College Scholarship Program is an undergraduate scholarship program available to high-achieving high school seniors with financial need who seek to attend and graduate from the nation's top four-year colleges and universities.

Table of Content

• Summary
• Benefits
• Requirements
• Interview Process
• Application Documents
• Application Deadline
• How To Apply

Summary

• Application DeadlineNovember 11, 2026
• Study LevelUndergraduate
• SponsorJack Kent Cooke Foundation
• Eligible CountryAll Countries

Benefits

Each award is intended to cover a significant share of the student’s educational experience – including tuition, living expenses, books and required fees. Awards vary by individual, based on the cost of tuition as well as other grants or scholarships they may receive. This highly competitive scholarship includes:

• The opportunity to graduate with as little debt as possible. The award, which is last dollar funding after all institutional aid, can provide as much as $55,000 per year to pursue a bachelor’s degree at any accredited undergraduate institution.
• Ability to pursue any area of study.
• Personal advising about selecting a college and navigating financial aid.
• Multifaceted advising about how to transition to college and maximize the student experience.

Requirements

Applicants must meet the following eligibility requirements:

• Senior Standing – Complete four years of high school in the U.S., a U.S territory, or on a U.S. military base and plan to graduate in spring 2027.
• Fall College Enrollment – Intend to enroll in an accredited four-year college beginning in fall 2027.
• GPA – Earn a minimum, cumulative unweighted GPA of 3.75 or above.
• Test Scores — Submit standardized test score(s) from one of the following: SAT, ACT, AP, or IB exam. There is no minimum score requirement to apply, however, applicants must have taken one (or more) of these tests and submit the score.
• Demonstrate Unmet Financial Need – We will consider applicants with a family adjusted gross income up to $95,000. During the selection process, the Foundation will conduct a full financial review which will take into account all income and assets of the student and the student’s parents.

Selection Process

The Jack Kent Cooke Foundation reviews each College Scholarship Program application individually with the assistance of a committee of educational professionals from across the nation. The criteria used in the selection process are:

• Academic ability and achievement: Maintains a strong academic record and receives outstanding recommendations from teachers, shows a desire to be challenged, and demonstrates enthusiasm for learning. Eligible applicants must have a minimum, cumulative unweighted GPA of 3.75 and submit test scores from one of the following tests: SAT, ACT, AP, IB.
• Leadership: Motivates others, takes initiative, and contributes positively to the community.
• Persistence: Exhibits determination when faced with obstacles, goal-oriented, and confronts challenges with an ability to adapt to change.
• Unmet financial need: We will consider applicants with a maximum annual gross income of $95,000. Last year’s cohort of new College Scholarship recipients had an average family income of approximately $42,000.  During the selection process, the Foundation will conduct a full financial review which will take into account all income and assets of the student and the student’s parents.

Application Documents

• Two Academic Recommendations: A complete application includes two academic recommendations which will be submitted through Common App. One recommendation must be from an 11th grade teacher in a core academic subject (English/language arts, mathematics, social studies/history, science, or foreign language). A second recommendation can come from another core subject teacher or professor who has worked with you any time since ninth grade. Both recommenders should be well-acquainted with your academic performance and character, and should be able to discuss your progress through class curriculum, challenges you faced, how you overcame them, and your overall academic engagement.
• One Counselor Recommendation: In addition to your academic recommendations, you are required to submit one counselor recommendation from your high school counselor through the Common App. If there is no Counselor at your school, you may list your principal or other school official, who has overseen your academic progress. You will also be required to invite this person to complete the School Report on the Recommenders and FERPA section located on the My Colleges tab.
• School Report: A School Report or School Profile is a document from your school, usually from the school counselor’s or registrar’s office, that includes information about the student body, the types of classes offered by your school, and other important data on the offerings available there. In Common App, the application requires that you invite your school counselor to submit this document to your application portal.
• Transcripts: You must submit unofficial transcripts and self-report your courses/grades accurately in Common App. If you are chosen as a semifinalist, we may request an official copy of your transcript later in the review process.
• Test Score(s): You must submit standardized test score(s) from one of the following: SAT, ACT, AP, or IB exam. There is no minimum score requirement to apply, however, applicants must have taken one (or more) of these tests and submit the score.

Check also:
Fairleigh Dickinson Scholarships for International Students 2026

Application Deadline

How To Apply

• Applications are made via the Application Portal.

For more information kindly visit the Cooke webpage.