Coca-Cola Scholars Program
Offered by Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation
About this scholarship
The 2027 Coca-Cola Scholars Program awards 150 achievement-based scholarships of $20,000 to students graduating high school during the 2026–27 academic year. Selection emphasizes leadership, academics, service, and sustained positive impact rather than financial need. Applicants must currently attend a high school or home school in one of the 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, or an eligible Department of Defense school, hold at least a B or 3.0 overall high-school GPA, and plan a degree at an accredited U.S. postsecondary institution. Eligible status includes U.S. citizens, nationals, permanent residents, refugees, asylees, Cuban-Haitian entrants, and humanitarian parolees under federal-aid guidelines. Students at other U.S. territories or American and expatriate schools abroad are not eligible. Children or grandchildren of covered current Coca-Cola employees, officers, or owners—and of former personnel currently receiving retirement benefits—are excluded. Phase 1 is unusually accessible: it requires no essay, transcript, or recommendation. Approximately one percent of applicants advance to a November semifinalist application with essays, transcript, and recommendation; 250 regional finalists interview before 150 Scholars attend the required April Scholars Weekend in Atlanta. Recipients may use the award for approved education expenses over as many as ten years. The eligibility quiz closes one hour before the September 30 application deadline.
Eligibility
- Be currently enrolled in high school or home school and graduate during the 2026–27 academic year
- Attend school in a U.S. state, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, or an eligible Department of Defense school
- Hold U.S. citizen, national, permanent resident, refugee, asylee, Cuban-Haitian entrant, or humanitarian parolee status by the deadline
- Maintain at least a B or 3.0 overall GPA in high-school coursework
- Plan to pursue a degree at an accredited U.S. postsecondary institution
- Not be a child or grandchild of a covered current Coca-Cola employee, officer, or owner or a covered retiree receiving benefits
- Complete the official eligibility quiz by September 30, 2026 at 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time
- Submit the Phase 1 application by September 30, 2026 at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time