Coca-Cola Scholars Program College Scholarship 2026 – $20,000 Award

Scholarship Description

The Coca-Cola Scholars Program is the largest corporate-sponsored, achievement-based scholarship program in the United States. Each year, 150 high school seniors are selected to receive a $20,000 college scholarship and join a vibrant community of over 7,200 alumni who are leading positive change in their communities and around the world.

The program is a joint effort of Coca-Cola bottlers across the country and The Coca-Cola Company. Since its founding in 1986, the Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation has awarded over $90 million in scholarships to more than 7,200 students. Students are recognized for their capacity to lead and serve, as well as their commitment to making a significant impact on their schools and communities.

In addition to receiving college scholarships, Coca-Cola Scholars are welcomed into a lifelong network of high-achieving alumni, gaining access to events, mentoring, and professional development opportunities, including a coaching program that partners seasoned alumni with first-year Scholars as they transition to college.

Scholarship Location

The scholarship is open to students attending high school in the United States, including the 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and eligible Department of Defense (DoD) schools. The scholarship is for study at accredited U.S. colleges and universities.

Scholarship Deadline

For the 2027 application cycle (for students graduating in the 2026-2027 academic year), the application will be available August 1 - September 30, 2026.

Host Institution / Organizer

The Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation, a nonprofit organization founded in 1986, administers the program. The program is supported by Coca-Cola bottlers across the country and The Coca-Cola Company.

Level and Fields of Study

Level: High School Senior (applying for undergraduate study).

Fields: All fields of study are eligible. The scholarship is achievement-based and recognizes leadership, service, and academic excellence across all disciplines.

Target Group

The scholarship targets U.S. high school seniors who demonstrate leadership, service, and academic excellence. Eligible applicants include:

• U.S. citizens, U.S. nationals, permanent residents, refugees, asylees, Cuban-Haitian entrants, or humanitarian parolees
• Current high school seniors attending school in one of the 50 U.S. states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, or select DoD schools

Scholarship Amount

Award Amount: $20,000 per selected Coca-Cola Scholar.

Total Program Impact: With the addition of the 2026 class, the Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation will have awarded over $90 million in scholarships to more than 7,200 students since 1986.

Additional Benefits:

• Invitation to Coca-Cola Scholars Weekend in Atlanta, Georgia
• Access to a lifelong alumni network of "Coke Scholars"
• Professional and personal development programming
• Coaching program for first-year Scholars

Scholarship Eligibility

Essential criteria:

• Citizenship: U.S. citizen, U.S. national, permanent resident, refugee, asylee, Cuban-Haitian entrant, or humanitarian parolee.
• Enrollment: Current high school senior graduating in the 2026-2027 academic year.
• Location: Attending a high school in one of the 50 U.S. states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, or eligible DoD schools.
• GPA: Minimum 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale at the time of application.
• Future Plans: Planning to pursue a degree at an accredited U.S. college or university.

Not eligible:

• Children or grandchildren of current employees, officers, or owners of Coca-Cola bottling companies or The Coca-Cola Company
• Children or grandchildren of former employees receiving retirement benefits from those entities
• Students attending school outside the U.S. (except select DoD schools)
• Students who have already graduated from high school
• International students (unless attending an eligible DoD school)

Application Procedure

1. Check eligibility – Ensure you meet all citizenship, enrollment, and GPA requirements. If you are a child or grandchild of a Coca-Cola employee, you are not eligible.
2. Visit the official website – Go to www.coca-colascholarsfoundation.org/apply when applications open on August 1, 2026.
3. Create an account and take the eligibility quiz – Sign up and complete the short eligibility quiz to confirm you qualify. The quiz must be completed by the deadline.
4. Complete the online application – You only need to complete the online application. No essays, transcripts, or recommendations are required at the initial application stage. The focus is on your achievements and impact.
5. Submit by the deadline – The full application must be submitted by September 30, 2026, at 5:00 PM Eastern Time.
6. Selection process – An independent selection committee reviews applications and selects semifinalists, then regional finalists, and finally 150 Coca-Cola Scholars.
7. Coca-Cola Scholars Weekend – Selected students attend Scholars Weekend in Atlanta, Georgia, where they are officially named Coca-Cola Scholars.

Important notes: The application is achievement-based and does not require essays or transcripts initially. The selection process is highly competitive — from over 107,000 applications, only 150 are selected (less than 1/7th of 1%).

Official Website & Application Link

Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation – Official Application Page

Contact Email: [email protected]

Official Website: www.coca-colascholarsfoundation.org