The Jack Kent Cooke Foundation College Scholarship supports high-achieving high-school seniors with financial need who plan to pursue a bachelor’s degree. For students entering college in fall 2027, the application is open and the official deadline is November 11, 2026. The Cooke scholarship profile summarizes the award and process. It is a private national scholarship, not a state grant or an automatic prize for a high GPA.
Applicants must graduate in spring 2027 after completing all four years of high school in the United States, a U.S. territory, or a U.S. military base, and plan to enroll full time at an accredited four-year college. The minimum cumulative GPA is 3.75 unweighted. The Foundation says it has no minimum test score, but applicants must report results from the SAT, ACT, AP, or IB.
The scholarship targets unmet need: families with annual gross income up to $95,000 may be considered, though the review also examines family assets and income. Selection considers academic performance, intellectual curiosity, persistence, leadership, and service. The application requires two teacher or professor recommendations, including one from an 11th-grade core-subject teacher, plus a transcript and financial information. U.S. citizenship is not required, but students must live in the U.S. or a territory and attend high school there.
The award is last-dollar aid after institutional funding and may reach $55,000 per year. That is a ceiling: the amount depends on college cost and other grants or scholarships. It may help with tuition, housing, books, and required fees, and includes advising on college choice and financial aid. Do not budget around an assumed award amount before receiving the final college package.
Apply through Common App. Recommendations must be submitted by the November 11 deadline; the Foundation expects to notify semifinalists in January 2027 and recipients in March. Gather grades, test results, family tax information, and recommender names now. There is no application fee. If an unusual financial event affects tax information, ask the Foundation what documentation it accepts rather than changing figures on your own.
Cooke College Scholarship Program: current cycle and award — Jack Kent Cooke Foundation.
How to Apply: 2027 cohort — Jack Kent Cooke Foundation.
College Scholarship Program FAQs — Jack Kent Cooke Foundation.
Common App — Common App.
Informational guide checked against official sources on October 12, 2026. Applications, funding, and criteria change; confirm your cohort deadline with the institution before submitting personal information.
The Cooke scholarship may provide up to $55,000 a year, but requires strong academics, financial need, and a complete application by November 11, 2026.
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Jack Kent Cooke Foundation College Scholarship Program
44325 Woodridge Parkway, Lansdowne, VA 20176
A last-dollar scholarship of up to $55,000 per year for college costs after institutional aid. The 2027 cohort requires a high-school senior, at least a 3.75 unweighted GPA, SAT/ACT/AP/IB score submission, and financial need; families with gross income up to $95,000 may be considered after financial review.
National private scholarship for high-school seniors with financial need
Sources & references
Sources for the information and reporting discussed in this guide.
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Official website ↗
Primary source
Jack Kent Cooke Foundation · Accessed October 12, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official website ↗
Primary source
Jack Kent Cooke Foundation · Accessed October 12, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official website ↗
Primary source
Jack Kent Cooke Foundation · Accessed October 12, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official website ↗
Primary source
Common App · Accessed October 12, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official application and program information ↗
Primary source
Jack Kent Cooke Foundation · Accessed October 12, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official website of Jack Kent Cooke Foundation College Scholarship Program ↗
Primary source
Jack Kent Cooke Foundation · Accessed October 12, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official website of Jack Kent Cooke Foundation College Scholarship Program ↗
Primary source
Jack Kent Cooke Foundation · Accessed October 12, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official website of Jack Kent Cooke Foundation College Scholarship Program ↗
Primary source
Common App · Accessed October 12, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.