USA Scholarships
Fully Funded Undergraduate the USA

Cooke College Scholarship 2027 - Up to $55K/Year

Deadline 11 November 2026 53 days left · Hosted by Jack Kent Cooke Foundation · Published

The Jack Kent Cooke Foundation College Scholarship Program is built for seniors who excel in class but still face a real gap between college costs and what their family can pay. For students entering a four-year college in Fall 2027, the Foundation can provide last-dollar awards of up to $55,000 per year after other grants and scholarships, along with personal advising, cohort programming, and pathways to graduate school funding. The 2027 cycle runs 19 August through 11 November 2026 on the Common App. You will need a 3.75+ unweighted GPA, at least one SAT, ACT, AP, or IB score on your application, and financial documentation the Foundation can review. Questions go to [email protected]; the Foundation asks applicants not to call.

Last-dollar after other aid
Up to $55K/yr
Four-year college enrollment
Fall 2027
Common App deadline
11 Nov 2026
Financial need required
US high school seniors
How to apply Am I eligible? Official website

What is the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation College Scholarship Program?

The Jack Kent Cooke Foundation College Scholarship Program sits at the intersection of elite academic achievement and real financial pressure. Each year the Foundation selects high school seniors who have earned top grades and test participation but still cannot afford a four-year college without heavy borrowing. For the Fall 2027 entering class, the application opens 19 August 2026 and closes 11 November 2026 on the Common App.

Jack Kent Cooke, who built a fortune in cable television and sports teams, left his estate to expand educational opportunity for students with talent and need. The College Scholarship is now one of the largest private undergraduate awards in the country. Money matters, but so does the wraparound support: advisers help you compare financial aid packages, cohort events connect you with other scholars, and alumni pathways can extend into graduate school funding later.

If you are a senior with a 3.75+ unweighted GPA, documented test scores, and a family balance sheet that still leaves a gap after federal and institutional aid, this program deserves a place on your list alongside QuestBridge and institutional full-need packages. Start recommender conversations in late spring or early summer so your counselors and teachers are not scrambling in October.

Who can apply

Eligibility

Your progress 0 / 6
  • ✓
    Senior graduating spring 2027 from a US high school
    You must complete four years of high school in the United States, a US territory, or on a US military base and plan to graduate in spring 2027. The program targets current high school seniors, not students already enrolled in college.
  • ✓
    Plan to enroll at an accredited four-year college in Fall 2027
    You must intend to begin a bachelor's degree at an accredited four-year college or university in Fall 2027. Community college-only plans or gap years without a Fall 2027 college start do not match the published requirements.
  • ✓
    Unweighted GPA of at least 3.75
    The Foundation requires a minimum cumulative unweighted GPA of 3.75. Recent scholar cohorts averaged near 4.0, so the floor is strict and the competitive pool is stronger than the minimum.
  • ✓
    SAT, ACT, AP, or IB score on file
    You must submit standardized test score(s) from the SAT, ACT, AP, or IB exams. There is no published minimum score, but you cannot apply without having taken at least one of these tests and reporting the result in Common App.
  • ✓
    Demonstrated unmet financial need
    The Cooke College Scholarship is need-based. The Foundation states it will consider applicants with family annual gross income up to $95,000 and conducts a full review of student and parent income and assets. Recent new scholar cohorts had median family income around $45,000.
  • ✓
    Strong leadership, persistence, and character
    Selection weighs academic achievement plus leadership in school or community, persistence through obstacles, and engagement in learning. Recommendations should speak to how you handle challenges, not just your transcript.
What you get

Benefits

  • Annual award cap Up to $55,000 per year (last-dollar funding)
  • Tuition and required fees Covered within individualized award
  • Living expenses Included in award calculation
  • Books and required fees Included in award calculation
  • Educational advising College selection and financial aid guidance
  • Cohort programming and alumni network Included for Cooke Scholars
  • Graduate school funding pathway Additional Foundation support available later
  • Study abroad or extra travel stipend Not a separate guaranteed line item
What to prepare

Document checklist

Documents gathered 0 / 6
  • ✓
    Common App Cooke College Scholarship application
    Complete the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation College Scholarship section within the Common Application during the open window from 19 August through 11 November 2026.
  • ✓
    Two academic recommendations
    Invite two teachers through Common App. One must be an 11th-grade teacher in a core subject (English, math, social studies, science, or foreign language). The second may be another core teacher from ninth grade onward who knows your academic work well.
  • ✓
    Counselor recommendation and School Report
    Your school counselor (or principal if no counselor exists) must submit a counselor recommendation and the School Report. Use the Recommenders and FERPA section on the My Colleges tab to send invitations early.
  • ✓
    Unofficial transcript and course self-report
    Upload unofficial transcripts and accurately self-report courses and grades in Common App. Semifinalists may need to supply official transcripts later in the process.
  • ✓
    Standardized test score report
    Provide at least one score from the SAT, ACT, AP, or IB exams. There is no minimum score listed, but the application is incomplete without test documentation.
  • ✓
    Financial information for need review
    Be prepared to document family income and assets if you advance in selection. The Foundation reviews tax and financial data to confirm unmet need alongside academic merit.
Step by step

How to apply

Check that you will graduate in spring 2027, hold at least a 3.75 unweighted GPA, have SAT/ACT/AP/IB scores ready, and that your family income and assets fit the Foundation's need review. If you are unsure about need, read the FAQ on jkcf.org before you invest time in recommenders.
The Cooke College Scholarship Program accepts applications only through the Common Application. Set up your account before August if possible so recommender invitations are not rushed.
When the 2027 cycle opens on 19 August 2026, add the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation College Scholarship Program to your My Colleges list and work through each required section.
Request two academic teacher recommendations and one counselor recommendation plus the School Report weeks before the deadline. Counselors and teachers need time during a busy fall semester.
Attach unofficial transcripts, self-report courses accurately, and enter your standardized test results. Double-check that at least one SAT, ACT, AP, or IB score appears on the application.
Submit the complete Common App package before 11 November 2026. Late submissions are not accepted. Keep copies of everything you upload.
The Foundation notifies all applicants by email when semifinalists are named in January 2027 and when recipients are announced in March 2027. Semifinalists may be asked for additional materials such as official transcripts.
When

Deadline and timeline

Application deadline
11 November 2026
53 days left
Aug 19, 2026
2027 Cooke College Scholarship application opens on the Common App.
Aug - Nov 2026
Complete essays, invite recommenders, upload transcripts and test scores.
11 Nov 2026
Application submission deadline.
Jan 2027
Semifinalists announced; all applicants notified by email.
Mar 2027
Scholarship recipients announced; semifinalists notified of final status.
Aug - Sep 2027
New Cooke College Scholars begin four-year college with award applied.
Questions

FAQ

How much is the Jack Kent Cooke College Scholarship worth?

Award amounts vary by student because the program uses last-dollar funding after other grants and scholarships. The Foundation states awards can provide as much as $55,000 per year toward tuition, living expenses, books, and required fees at an accredited four-year college. Scholars also receive advising, programming, and access to graduate school funding opportunities through the Foundation.

What GPA do you need for the Cooke College Scholarship?

You must have a cumulative unweighted GPA of at least 3.75 to apply. The Foundation also expects strong academic engagement, advanced coursework where available, and excellent teacher recommendations. Recent scholar profiles on jkcf.org show average GPAs near 4.0, so meeting the minimum alone does not guarantee selection.

When is the Jack Kent Cooke College Scholarship deadline for 2027?

For students enrolling in college in Fall 2027, the application window runs from 19 August 2026 through 11 November 2026 on the Common App. Semifinalists are typically announced in January 2027, and recipients in March 2027.

Do you need SAT or ACT scores for the Cooke College Scholarship?

Yes. You must submit standardized test score(s) from the SAT, ACT, AP, or IB exams. There is no published minimum score, but the Foundation requires that you have taken at least one of these tests and include the score in your application.

What income limit applies to the Cooke College Scholarship?

The Foundation says it will consider applicants with family annual gross income up to $95,000 and then conducts a full financial review of student and parent income and assets. Recent cohorts had median family income around $45,000, so most selected scholars show substantial unmet need even when below the upper review threshold.

How do you apply for the Jack Kent Cooke College Scholarship?

Apply through the Common Application during the open cycle. You will complete the Cooke-specific sections, invite two academic teachers and your counselor, submit unofficial transcripts and test scores, and file before 11 November 2026. Email [email protected] with questions; the Foundation directs applicants not to call.

Is the Cooke College Scholarship renewable for four years?

The College Scholarship Program is designed to support you through a four-year bachelor's degree subject to continued eligibility and satisfactory progress. Awards adjust each year based on your college costs and other aid. Advising and cohort support continue throughout your undergraduate experience.

How competitive is the Jack Kent Cooke College Scholarship?

The program is highly selective. The Foundation selects several dozen new College Scholars each year from a large national applicant pool of high-achieving seniors with financial need. Strong grades, test participation, leadership, persistence, and compelling recommendations all matter in semifinalist and recipient decisions.

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