Jack Kent Cooke Foundation Scholarships for High Achieving Students with Financial Need
By Muntasir • Published Sep 18, 2026 • Updated Sep 20, 2026 • US Financial Aid & Scholarships
The Jack Kent Cooke Foundation funds two scholarship tracks: the College Scholarship for high school seniors with financial need, worth up to $55,000 a year, and the Graduate Scholarship for its own alumni, worth up to $150,000 over four years.
🎓 College Scholarship: high school seniors, family income up to $95,000, 3.75+ unweighted GPA.
💵 Award: up to $55,000 a year, last-dollar funding after other aid.
⏱️ 2026-27 College Scholarship opens August 19, closes November 11, 2026.
📩 Graduate Scholarship is only open to Cooke Scholar alumni.
Two scholarship tracks
Both programs target students whose transcripts show they can handle rigorous coursework, paired with financial circumstances that would otherwise limit their college choices.
The Jack Kent Cooke Foundation, established from the estate of businessman Jack Kent Cooke, runs two main scholarship programs. The College Scholarship Program funds high school seniors headed into a bachelor's degree, and the Graduate Scholarship funds Cooke alumni who already completed their undergraduate degree with Cooke support. You cannot apply to the Graduate Scholarship without first being a Cooke College Scholar.
Both tracks work as last-dollar scholarships, which means the foundation calculates your unmet need after every other grant, scholarship, and institutional award is applied, then fills what remains up to the program's cap.
Who can apply for the College Scholarship
High school seniors only, not transfer or current college students
Family annual gross income generally up to $95,000, though last year's recipients had a median family income near $45,000
Minimum 3.75 unweighted GPA
At least one standardized test score, such as SAT, ACT, AP, or IB, with no minimum score required
What reviewers weigh beyond GPA
A high GPA alone does not guarantee an award, since two applicants with similar transcripts can score far apart once reviewers weigh need, persistence, and leadership together.
Cooke Foundation reviewers score applications on four factors, not GPA alone.
| Factor | What reviewers look for |
|---|---|
| Unmet financial need | Income and asset analysis compared to college costs |
| Persistence | Perseverance through obstacles and adaptability |
| Leadership | Initiative and meaningful service to others |
| Academic achievement | Course rigor, test scores, and intellectual curiosity beyond raw GPA |
What the College Scholarship covers
The award provides up to $55,000 a year as last-dollar funding, meaning it fills the gap left after your other grants, scholarships, and institutional aid. It goes toward tuition, required fees, books, and living expenses at any accredited four-year college or university you choose.
What the application includes
The Common App with Cooke-specific short-answer and essay questions
Your official high school transcript and school profile
At least one standardized test score
Financial documents that support your family's income and asset information
A list of leadership roles and community service activities
Support after you are selected
Cooke Scholars get more than funding. The foundation assigns advisors who help with course selection, internship searches, study abroad planning, and graduate school applications. Scholars also join a network of Cooke alumni across industries, which many use for mentorship and job connections after graduation.
2026-27 College Scholarship timeline
| Step | Date |
|---|---|
| Application opens | August 19, 2026 |
| Application deadline | November 11, 2026 |
The application runs through the Common App, so build your Cooke application alongside your regular college applications rather than as a separate process.
Knowing the shape of both tracks early helps you plan which deadlines and requirements matter at each stage of your education.
Comparing the two tracks
| Feature | College Scholarship | Graduate Scholarship |
|---|---|---|
| Who can apply | High school seniors with financial need | Cooke Scholar alumni within three years of their bachelor's degree |
| Maximum award | Up to $55,000 a year | Up to $150,000 over four years, capped at $75,000 a year |
| 2026-27 deadline | November 11, 2026 | Set separately each cycle for Cooke alumni |
| Funding type | Last-dollar, after other aid | Last-dollar, after other aid |
The Graduate Scholarship
The Cooke Graduate Scholarship provides up to $150,000 over four years, with a $75,000 annual cap, for Cooke Scholars finishing their undergraduate degree or recent alumni within three years of graduation. To qualify, you need a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or above, demonstrated unmet financial need, and you cannot already be enrolled in graduate school when you apply. Like the College Scholarship, it works as last-dollar funding that supplements rather than replaces institutional aid, and it cannot pay for certificates, post-baccalaureate programs, or fully online degrees.
How to prepare a strong application
Keep your unweighted GPA at or above 3.75 through senior year
Take the most rigorous courses available at your school
Document leadership roles and service work with specifics, not just titles
Write essays that show how you handled setbacks, since persistence is a named scoring factor
Gather your family's financial documents early so the need analysis goes smoothly
Common reasons applications get rejected
GPA below the 3.75 unweighted threshold, even with strong extracurriculars
Family income clearly above the guideline without an explanation of unusual family circumstances
Essays that list achievements without explaining persistence through a real obstacle
Incomplete financial documentation submitted after the November deadline
Applying for both tracks over time
Most Cooke Scholars only interact with one track at a time. You apply to the College Scholarship as a senior, use it through your bachelor's degree, and only become eligible for the Graduate Scholarship once you finish or nearly finish that undergraduate degree as a Cooke Scholar. Students who do not win the College Scholarship cannot apply directly to the Graduate Scholarship later, since Graduate Scholarship eligibility runs through the College Scholarship track.