Jack Kent Cooke Foundation

The Jack Kent Cooke Foundation focuses on high-achieving students with financial need and supports several stages of education: high school seniors, community college students seeking to transfer and graduate students. For families comparing aid, its distinctive feature is the combination of funding and educational advising. It is not a walk-in office that awards scholarships on a first-come basis, nor is every program open to every student. Each scholarship has its own criteria and calendar, so the first step is to select the right program on the foundation’s official website.

The 2027 College Scholarship Program, for students graduating from high school in spring 2027 and beginning a four-year college in fall, is open through November 11, 2026. Applicants need a cumulative unweighted GPA of at least 3.75, a score from the SAT, ACT, AP or IB exams—with no minimum score—and evidence of financial need. The foundation considers families with gross income up to $95,000, but conducts a full financial review; that figure does not guarantee approval. Applications go through Common App and include a transcript, school report, teacher recommendations and a counselor recommendation. The award can provide up to $55,000 a year after institutional aid, with the actual amount based on college costs and other resources.

The foundation also offers an undergraduate transfer scholarship for community college students; the 2027 cycle closes December 9, 2026. Requirements include sophomore standing by January 2027 or graduation since spring 2022, a college GPA of 3.50, financial need and full-time enrollment in a bachelor’s program in fall 2027. Previous attendance at a four-year institution generally makes an applicant ineligible, with limited exceptions that should be confirmed directly. The foundation’s address is 44325 Woodridge Parkway, Lansdowne, Virginia 20176; applications are online, and the foundation lists different email contacts for each program. Both awards are competitive: read the full rules, request recommendations early and complete the FAFSA when relevant, without assuming the published income ceiling guarantees eligibility.