Jack Kent Cooke Foundation College Scholarship Program

The Cooke Foundation College Scholarship Program is the largest undergraduate scholarship program available to high-achieving high school seniors with financial need who seek to attend the nation’s best four-year colleges and universities. In addition to the monetary award, Cooke Scholars receive comprehensive educational advising, significant cohort-based programming, and graduate school funding, as well as a thriving network of nearly 3,200 fellow Cooke Scholars and Alumni.

Each award is intended to cover a significant share of the student’s educational expenses – 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 he or she 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 college student experience

Eligibility 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 2025.
• Fall College Enrollment – Intend to enroll in an accredited four-year college beginning in fall 2024.
• GPA – Earn a minimum, cumulative unweighted GPA of 3.75 or above.
• Demonstrate Unmet Financial Need – We will consider applicants with family annual 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 Criteria

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.
• 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 a median family income of approximately $40,000.  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.