Jack Kent Cooke College Scholarship Program Opening Soon
Offered by Jack Kent Cooke Foundation
About This Scholarship
The Jack Kent Cooke College Scholarship is one of the largest need-based awards in the country: up to $55,000 a year for four years, applied as last-dollar funding toward tuition, living expenses, books, and fees after institutional aid. Money is only part of the package — Cooke Scholars also get personal college advising throughout their undergraduate years, a network of fellow scholars, and eligibility for internship, conference, and travel stipends plus a separate graduate scholarship.
The foundation looks for high-achieving students with financial need: a minimum 3.75 unweighted GPA and family income up to $95,000. Selection weighs academic ability, unmet financial need, persistence, and leadership. It's a demanding pool — recent scholars averaged a 3.99 unweighted GPA — and the class is small: 60 new College Scholars were selected in April 2026, alongside 56 seniors from the foundation's Young Scholars pipeline.
The Jack Kent Cooke Foundation began operations in 2000, established after the 1997 death of its namesake benefactor, and has since awarded $356 million in scholarships to nearly 4,000 Cooke Scholars spanning eighth grade through graduate school. The next application opens August 19, 2026.
Eligibility
- High school senior planning to enroll in a four-year accredited college
- Minimum 3.5 unweighted GPA
- Demonstrated unmet financial need
How To Apply
- Complete the online application with academics, activities, and essays
- Submit transcripts, a recommendation, and financial information
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this scholarship renewable?
Yes — up to four years of undergraduate study, with continued eligibility requirements.