USA Scholarships
Partial Funding Undergraduate the USA

Burger King Scholars Program 2027 - $1,000 to $60,000

Deadline December 15, 2026 (or when 30,000 applications are received) 87 days left · Hosted by Burger King Foundation (Scholarship America) · Published

The Burger King Scholars Program 2027 is the General Track for graduating high school seniors who want college help without working at Burger King. Scholarship America runs the portal for the Burger King Foundation, and the form is short: no long essay, a 2.0 GPA minimum, and three equal scoring buckets for academics, activities or work, and financial need. Most winners receive $1,000 grants, while the top few compete for three James W. McLamore WHOPPER Scholarships at $60,000 each plus a $20,000 Nancy McLamore award. The program also serves past BURGER KING scholarship recipients who are current undergraduates. For 2027-28 enrollment, apply between October 15, 2026 and December 15, 2026, but file early because the entire program closes after 30,000 applications.

Most awards $1,000; 3 at $60,000
$1K–$60K
2.0 GPA; no BK job required
High school seniors
2027-28 cycle deadline
Dec 15, 2026
Also Canada; citizens for top prize
U.S. & territories
How to apply Am I eligible? Official website

What is the Burger King Scholars Program?

The Burger King Scholars Program is the public face of a scholarship machine that has moved more than $60 million to students since 2000. The Burger King Foundation raises money across the restaurant system, and Scholarship America handles the application, scoring, and checks. For most searchers, "Burger King Scholars" means the General Track: graduating seniors with a 2.0 GPA who need a straightforward form instead of a ten-page essay.

That simplicity is deliberate. The foundation wants volume and access, so thousands of $1,000 grants go out each year while a small group of WHOPPER Scholarship finalists chase $60,000. You are scored in thirds on grades, activities or work, and financial need, which means a student with a B average but a real job and real community hours can still land an award.

The catch is timing. Applications open October 15 each year and hard-stop at 30,000 submissions, often weeks before the posted December 15 deadline. If you are a 2027 senior, treat the first two weeks of October like a registration event, not a winter break task. And if someone in your household wears a Burger King name tag, read the employee guide too, because the family track uses the same website but different award pools.

Who can apply

Eligibility

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    Graduating high school senior or past recipient
    First-time applicants must be graduating 2027 high school seniors in the U.S., Puerto Rico, or Guam, grade 12 graduates in Canada, or homeschool graduates in those regions. Past BURGER KING scholarship recipients who are current college undergraduates may also apply under program rules.
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    Minimum 2.0 cumulative GPA
    You need a cumulative high school GPA of 2.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale, or the equivalent. James W. McLamore WHOPPER Scholarship contenders need at least a 3.5 unweighted GPA plus leadership and substantial work experience.
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    Residency in the U.S., Puerto Rico, Guam, or Canada
    Applicants must live in the United States, Puerto Rico, Guam, or Canada. You must plan to enroll at an accredited two- or four-year college, university, or vocational-technical school, or CEGEP equivalent, in one of those locations.
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    Full-time enrollment for 2027-28
    Plan to enroll full-time without interruption for the entire 2027-28 academic year. Part-time enrollment is not eligible on the General Track.
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    No Burger King employment required
    Unlike the Employee-Based Track, the General Track does not require you or your family to work at Burger King. Employees and their families should use the employee track inside the same portal for additional award pools.
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    Complete application in English, Spanish, or French
    Submit the full Scholarship America application by the deadline. Incomplete or unsubmitted files are not processed.
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    U.S. or Canadian citizenship for WHOPPER Scholarship tier
    The three $60,000 James W. McLamore WHOPPER Scholarships require U.S. or Canadian citizenship, a 3.5+ GPA, leadership, substantial work experience, financial need, and plans to attend a four-year accredited college full-time as a freshman.
What you get

Benefits

  • Standard scholarship $1,000 (most recipients)
  • James W. McLamore WHOPPER Scholarship Up to 3 awards at $60,000 each
  • Nancy McLamore Scholarship $20,000 (one award)
  • Franchisee-funded general awards Varies by region and fundraising
  • Use of funds Tuition and costs at accredited postsecondary schools
  • Payment Check payable to your school
  • Renewability Most awards are one-time; past recipients may reapply as undergrads
  • Full cost of attendance Not guaranteed; $1,000 grants are partial funding
What to prepare

Document checklist

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    Online BURGER KING Scholars application
    Register and apply at burgerking.scholarsapply.org when the cycle opens. Choose the General Track if you are a graduating senior without an employee connection.
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    High school transcript
    Upload a transcript showing cumulative GPA through your latest grading period. Homeschooled applicants follow portal instructions for equivalent records.
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    Activities, work, and community service list
    Document school clubs, sports, jobs, and volunteer hours. This section counts for one-third of your General Track score alongside GPA and financial need.
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    Financial need information
    Provide accurate household income and dependency data. Need is weighted equally with academics and activities, so under-reporting or errors can hurt your file.
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    College enrollment plans
    List the accredited two- or four-year or vocational program you plan to attend in 2027-28. Award checks are made payable to the institution.
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    Scholarship Acceptance Form if selected
    Potential recipients must return Scholarship America acceptance paperwork by the stated deadline or forfeit the award.
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    Additional verification for WHOPPER finalists
    Top-tier James W. McLamore candidates may need to document leadership roles, work history, and citizenship if selected as finalists.
Step by step

How to apply

Confirm you are a graduating 2027 senior (or eligible past recipient undergraduate) with a 2.0+ GPA and full-time college plans. If you or your parent works at Burger King, compare the Employee-Based Track before you submit.
Create an account at burgerking.scholarsapply.org as soon as the cycle opens. Past cycles hit the 30,000-application cap before December 15, so waiting until Thanksgiving is risky.
Enter GPA, activities, work history, and financial need. The form does not require a lengthy essay, which makes it one of the faster large national scholarships to finish.
Financial need is one-third of your score. Use the same household figures you would use for FAFSA planning so Scholarship America sees an accurate picture.
Electronically submit the full application by the deadline. The site stops accepting new files once 30,000 total BURGER KING Scholars applications are in.
All applicants hear back in May 2027. Selected students must return acceptance forms and any verification on time.
Scholarship checks go to your school, usually by late August 2027. Ask financial aid how external scholarships affect your aid package.
When

Deadline and timeline

Application deadline
December 15, 2026 (or when 30,000 applications are received)
87 days left
Oct 15, 2026
Burger King Scholars Program application opens for 2027-28 study.
Oct - Nov 2026
Peak submission period; cap may close the portal before December.
Dec 15, 2026
Official deadline unless 30,000 applications arrive sooner.
Jan - Apr 2027
Scholarship America reviews General Track pools and WHOPPER finalists.
May 2027
Email notification to all applicants; acceptance forms due for winners.
Aug 2027
Scholarship checks mailed payable to colleges for fall start.
Questions

FAQ

What is the Burger King Scholars Program?

The Burger King Scholars Program is the General Track of the BURGER KING Scholars initiative funded by the Burger King Foundation and administered by Scholarship America. It awards college grants to graduating high school seniors and eligible past recipients, with most winners receiving $1,000 and top applicants competing for $60,000 James W. McLamore WHOPPER Scholarships. You do not need to work at Burger King to apply.

How much is the Burger King Scholars scholarship worth?

Scholarships range from $1,000 for the majority of recipients up to $60,000 for up to three James W. McLamore WHOPPER Scholarship winners each cycle. There is also one Nancy McLamore Scholarship at $20,000. Franchisee fundraising can add named awards in specific regions.

What is the Burger King Scholars Program deadline for 2027?

For enrollment in the 2027-28 academic year, applications open October 15, 2026 and close December 15, 2026 unless the program receives 30,000 applications first. Notification emails go out in May 2027.

Do you need to work at Burger King to get the scholarship?

No for the General Track. Any eligible graduating senior can apply. Burger King employees, spouses, and dependent children should use the Employee-Based Track in the same portal for separate award pools, including employee King Awards up to $15,000.

Does the Burger King Scholars Program require an essay?

The standard application is form-based and does not require a long personal essay. Selection weighs GPA, participation in school and community activities plus work experience, and financial need. WHOPPER Scholarship finalists must show leadership and substantial work history.

What GPA do you need for Burger King Scholars?

The General Track requires a cumulative 2.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale. The James W. McLamore WHOPPER Scholarship tier requires at least a 3.5 unweighted GPA plus leadership, work experience, and financial need, and applicants must be U.S. or Canadian citizens heading to a four-year college.

Who administers the Burger King Scholars Program?

Scholarship America administers the online portal at burgerking.scholarsapply.org on behalf of the Burger King Foundation. Contact [email protected] or 507-931-8340 for application help.

Can Canadian students apply for Burger King Scholars?

Yes. Residents of Canada who are graduating grade 12 or equivalent may apply on the General Track if they meet GPA and enrollment rules. James W. McLamore WHOPPER Scholarships require U.S. or Canadian citizenship specifically.

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