The Jack Kent Cooke College Scholarship is the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation’s award for high-achieving high school seniors with financial need, worth as much as $55,000 per year toward tuition, living expenses, books and required fees. The 2026-27 application opened August 19, 2026, and closes November 11, 2026.
Facts here come from the foundation’s College Scholarship Program page and its How to Apply page, checked in November 2026.
Who is eligible for the Jack Kent Cooke College Scholarship
The foundation lists these requirements:
- “Earn a minimum, cumulative unweighted GPA of 3.75 or above.”
- “Submit standardized test score(s) from one of the following: SAT, ACT, AP, or IB exam.” No minimum score is published, but you must have at least one.
- Family income: “We will consider applicants with family annual gross income up to $95,000.” Elsewhere the page says “adjusted gross income,” so ask the foundation which figure it means if your family is near the line.
- “Complete four years of high school in the U.S., a U.S territory, or on a U.S. military base.”
The GPA rule is unweighted. A 4.2 weighted GPA with a 3.6 unweighted does not qualify. The page also notes that current participants have a 3.99 average unweighted GPA, which tells you how competitive the pool is.
What the award pays
The scholarship “can provide as much as $55,000 per year,” covering tuition, living expenses, books and required fees. It is last-dollar funding: the foundation applies it after all institutional aid from your college.
That has a practical effect. At a college that already meets full need with grants, the Cooke award fills what is left, including living costs. At a school that leaves a big gap, the award can be larger. Either way, it replaces loans and work in a way most outside scholarships do not.
Scholars also receive:
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- “Personal advising about selecting a college and navigating financial aid.”
- Advising on the transition to college.
- Freedom to pursue any area of study.
How selection works
A committee of educational professionals reviews each application individually. The foundation looks at:
- Academic ability, judged in part by whether the applicant “maintains a strong academic record and receives outstanding recommendations from teachers.”
- Leadership
- Persistence
- Unmet financial need, including a full review of student and parent income and assets.
The foundation’s FAQ says 60 new College Scholars were selected in April 2026. It does not publish an applicant count, so there is no official acceptance rate.
Deadlines and timeline
| Step | 2026-27 cycle |
|---|---|
| Application opens | August 19, 2026 |
| Submission deadline | November 11, 2026 |
| Semifinalists announced | January 2027 |
| Recipients announced | March 2027 |
Recommenders are part of the deadline, so ask them weeks ahead.
How to make a strong application
- Pick recommenders by the rules. You need two academic recommendations. One must come from an 11th grade teacher in a core academic subject. The second can be another core-subject teacher or professor who has worked with you since ninth grade. You also need a counselor recommendation; if your school has none, a principal or other official who has overseen your progress may write it.
- Show persistence, not just results. It is a named criterion. Explain what you did when something got hard: a class, a family responsibility, a job.
- Document leadership with specifics. What did you start, run or change, and what happened?
- Have financial documents ready. The foundation reviews income and assets in full, so gather tax returns and asset figures with your parents early.
Similar programs to consider
- The Cooke Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship, if you start at community college.
- The Coca-Cola Scholars Program, a merit award with no income limit.
- The Horatio Alger National Scholarship for students who have overcome adversity.
- Our CSS Profile guide, since many colleges Cooke Scholars attend require it, and the scholarship finder.
Jack Kent Cooke College Scholarship FAQ
Is the GPA requirement weighted or unweighted?
Unweighted. The minimum is a cumulative unweighted 3.75.
Do I need an SAT or ACT score?
You need a score from one of the SAT, ACT, AP or IB exams. An AP or IB exam score can satisfy the rule.
How many students win?
The foundation reports 60 new College Scholars selected in April 2026.
Does the award replace my college’s aid?
No. It is last-dollar funding applied after all institutional aid.