The Cooke Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship is the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation’s award for top community college students moving to a four-year college, and it can provide as much as $55,000 per year for two to three years. The current application is open and closes on December 9, 2026.
This profile uses the foundation’s Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship page, checked in November 2026. That page does not list the detailed eligibility rules; read the How to Apply section on the foundation’s site before you start.
Who the Cooke Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship is for
The foundation describes the award as “for the nation’s top community college students seeking to complete their bachelor’s degrees at four-year colleges or universities.” In practice, that means you are:
- Currently studying at a community college.
- Planning to transfer to a four-year college or university.
- Aiming to finish a bachelor’s degree.
The page reports a 3.94 average community college GPA among participants. That is an average, not a minimum, but it shows how strong the pool is. Specific GPA, credit, income and citizenship rules are not printed on the program page, so we have left them out rather than guess. The foundation’s sister program for seniors, the College Scholarship, publishes its rules separately; do not assume the transfer program matches.
What the award pays
The scholarship “can provide as much as $55,000 per year for two to three years to complete a bachelor’s degree.” It covers tuition, living expenses, books and required fees.
It is “last dollar funding after all institutional aid.” Your four-year college’s grants are applied first, and the Cooke award fills the remaining cost. For transfer students, who often get less institutional aid than freshmen, that gap-filling matters.
Scholars also get:
📨 Get Free Scholarships Alerts
Free · No spam · Unsubscribe anytime
- “Personal advising about selecting a college and navigating financial aid.”
- “Multifaceted advising about how to transition to a four-year college and maximize the student experience.”
The transition advising is worth as much as the money for many students. Credit loss, new housing and a bigger campus are where transfer students often stall.
How selection works
The foundation calls the scholarship “highly competitive” and “highly selective.” The program page does not describe review stages or publish the number of scholars chosen, so there is no official acceptance rate.
Deadlines and timeline
| Item | Current cycle |
|---|---|
| Status | Open |
| Application closes | December 9, 2026 |
| Award length | Two to three years |
| Maximum per year | $55,000 |
The opening date is not posted on the program page. Because the window is already open, start now if you plan to transfer in fall 2027.
How to make a strong application
- Show the full transfer plan. The award is for finishing a bachelor’s degree. Name your target colleges and how your community college credits map to your major.
- Keep your GPA high this term. With a 3.94 average among participants, your current semester’s grades still matter.
- Use your college’s transfer office. Ask about articulation agreements with four-year schools, which make credits more likely to count.
- Know your aid picture. Since Cooke is last-dollar, file the 2027-28 FAFSA and any CSS Profile your target schools require so they can build institutional aid first.
Similar programs to consider
- Our adult learner scholarships guide, since many community college students are returning learners.
- The Live Más Scholarship, open to students ages 16 to 26 in post-secondary programs.
- The BURGER KING Scholars Program, which allows some past recipients in college to reapply.
- Our state grants guide and the scholarship finder.
Cooke Transfer Scholarship FAQ
How long does the scholarship last?
It covers the final two to three years needed to complete a bachelor’s degree.
What does it cover?
Tuition, living expenses, books and required fees, up to $55,000 per year, after institutional aid.
Is there a GPA minimum?
The program page does not print one. It reports a 3.94 average community college GPA among participants. Check the foundation’s How to Apply page for the current rule.
When is the deadline?
December 9, 2026, for the current cycle.