Draft listing — facts drafted from public sources and pending verification by The College Investor editorial team.

Coca-Cola Scholars Program

Offered by The Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation

Award

$20,000

Deadline

Oct 1, 2026

Awards

150

Grade Level

High School Senior

Essay

Not required

About This Scholarship

One of the largest and most recognized merit scholarships in the country, the Coca-Cola Scholars Program awards $20,000 to 150 high school seniors each year. Selection emphasizes leadership, service, and academic achievement. The initial application has no essay; essays enter at the semifinalist stage.

Eligibility

Current high school senior in the United States
U.S. citizen or permanent resident (and select other statuses)
Planning to enroll in an accredited U.S. post-secondary institution
Minimum 3.0 unweighted GPA

How To Apply

Complete the online application, including activities and achievements
Semifinalists complete essays and provide transcripts and recommendations
Regional finalist interviews determine the final 150 Scholars

Apply Now →

Frequently Asked Questions

Is an essay required to apply?

Not for the initial application. Essays are only required if you advance to the semifinalist round.

Can international students apply?

No. Applicants must be U.S. citizens, permanent residents, or hold certain other eligible statuses.

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Why Trust The College Investor

The College Investor has helped millions of readers navigate paying for college and student loans since 2009. Every scholarship in our database is individually reviewed by our team before it goes live, and re-checked regularly so deadlines and links stay current.

Our Scholarship Standards

A listing here means our team checked that the award is real, currently active, and actually pays out. We won't list a scholarship that:

Charges any kind of fee to apply
Makes you join a paid membership, or sign up for an app or service, just to be eligible
Has a privacy policy that would let the sponsor sell or misuse your information
Collects essays, ideas, or contact details mainly to feed the sponsor's marketing
Can't show a winner from the past 12 months, or offers no way to reach the sponsor

One nuance: established companies and nonprofits that run applications through their own systems may still be listed, even though creating an account there is part of applying.

Spot a listing that doesn't meet this bar? Email [email protected] and we'll review it. You can also read our editorial guidelines.