Cooke College Scholarship

• A competitive undergraduate scholarship for high-achieving high school seniors with financial need. Eligibility does not guarantee selection.

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• Homeschooled students and students with diagnosed learning differences may apply. Homeschool applicants are strongly encouraged to obtain recommendations from educators other than their parents.

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• A diagnosed learning difference does not exclude an otherwise qualifying applicant.

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• Financial eligibility is assessed through a full review of both student and parental income and assets, not solely the income ceiling.

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• Applicants taking a post-high-school gap year are ineligible. After receiving the scholarship, some students may defer funding for one year, subject to college or university approval.

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• Last-dollar funding after institutional aid, up to $55,000 annually, determined by attendance costs and other grants or scholarships. Covers all or part of tuition, room and board, books and required fees, ordinarily for no more than four years.

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• Funds go directly to the institution; any included stipend is released to the scholar by the institution.

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• Includes college planning and advising, a scholar/alumni network, and eligibility to apply separately for internship, conference/travel and graduate awards; those additional awards are not guaranteed.

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• New scholars must attend the summer-before-freshman-year Scholars Weekend, usually a three-day event in early August in Northern Virginia. The Foundation pays trip expenses; family members are not invited. Scholars must work closely with their educational adviser.

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• Accredited online four-year programmes are not funded.

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• Only the undergraduate portion of a dual bachelor's/master's programme is covered; the graduate portion is excluded.

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• Funding beyond four years is considered only case by case.

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• Recipients must determine and report any taxable scholarship income.

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• College need not be in the United States, but must be a fully accredited four-year institution offering a baccalaureate degree. Early action or early decision does not affect scholarship eligibility.

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• Provide household AGI from the past three years' federal tax returns. Non-filers must provide estimated income for each year and an explanation of their financial circumstances.

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• If a second legal parent's financial information is requested, a waiver may be granted where that parent is incarcerated or their whereabouts are unknown and no contact can be established. Submit a waiver request for Foundation review; approval is not automatic and further information may be requested.

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• Two academic recommendations are required: one from an 11th-grade core-subject teacher, and one from another teacher or professor who worked with the applicant within the last four years. Recommenders should know the applicant's performance and character well.

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• A counselor recommendation is also required through Common App. If the school has no counselor, a principal or another school official overseeing academic progress may provide it.

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• The school counselor submits the required official high school transcript through Common App.

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• 1. Create a Common App and complete its general requirements. 2. Add Jack Kent Cooke Foundation as a school. 3. Complete the scholarship-specific eligibility, test scores, short essays, extracurricular activities/honors, intended major and household financial information.

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• 4. Self-report SAT, ACT, AP or IB scores in My Common App → Testing: select Yes, choose eligible test types, click Continue and enter each score.

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• 5. Invite teachers and the counselor through Recommenders and FERPA → Invite Recommenders, specifying their type, email address and name. They submit recommendations online.

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• 6. Submit the completed application by November 11, 2026. Check the confirmation email or the green check mark under Submit Application. Common App prevents submission of an incomplete application.

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• Responses must be truthful, wholly the applicant's own and written from their unique perspective. Report any generative AI usage in the designated application field.

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• AI usage disclosure is required.

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• Application submission is free.

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• Selection involves individual application review assisted by education professionals, considering academic achievement, unmet financial need, persistence and leadership. Financial review includes student and parental income and assets.

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• Renewal is not automatic. Annual review considers grades, financial eligibility, conduct, degree progress and cooperation. Renewal and mid-year revocation are at the Foundation's sole discretion.

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• Scholars must maintain a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 with appropriately challenging coursework, integrity, leadership, community engagement, good discipline and cooperation with Foundation staff, and sign a Scholar Agreement.

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• Scholars must apply for institutional financial aid each year. Other awards are generally permitted, with some restrictions.

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These details help you explore your options. Read the full eligibility requirements above, including any exceptions.

• Study level

  Listed: Undergraduate

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• Funding is for a baccalaureate degree, not a non-degree programme.

  What level of study will you pursue?

  Check your eligibility
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• U.S. or territorial residence is required; U.S. citizenship is not required.

  Do you reside in the United States or a U.S. territory?

  Check your eligibility
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• Fall 2027 entry into an accredited four-year college is required.

  For the 2027 scholarship cycle, do you intend to enroll in an accredited four-year college beginning in fall 2027?

  Check your eligibility
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• Enrollment must be full time.

  For fall 2027 entry after high school graduation, do you plan to enroll full time in an accredited four-year institution?

  Check your eligibility
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• Minimum cumulative unweighted GPA is 3.75.

  For the 2027 scholarship application, is your cumulative unweighted GPA at least 3.75?

  Check your eligibility
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• At least one eligible test score is required; there is no minimum score.

  For this application cycle, have you taken at least one SAT, ACT, AP or IB exam and will you submit its score?

  Check your eligibility
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• Unmet financial need and the family gross-income ceiling apply; final financial eligibility requires Foundation review.

  For the 2027 scholarship application, do you have unmet financial need and family annual gross income of $95,000 or less?

  Check your eligibility
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• Post-high-school gap-year applicants are excluded; post-award deferral is a separate possibility.

  Are you taking a gap year after high school graduation when applying for the 2027 scholarship?

  Check your eligibility
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• GED recipients are ineligible.

  Have you received a GED diploma?

  Check your eligibility
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• Applicants must not already be enrolled in a bachelor's programme.

  Are you enrolled in a bachelor's degree programme at the time of your scholarship application?

  Check your eligibility
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• Online four-year programmes are not covered.

  Is the four-year programme you intend to fund an online programme?

  Check your eligibility
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Check the dates for your intended intake. Previous-cycle dates are included for planning and do not confirm that applications are open.

Check the provider’s full terms for your citizenship, residence, course and intake. This overview is not a personal eligibility assessment.