The Coca-Cola Scholars Program is an achievement-based scholarship awarded to students in their final year of high school in the United States. Each year, 150 students are selected to receive a $20,000 college scholarship, recognised for their capacity to lead and serve and for their commitment to making a real impact in their schools and communities. The 2027 application is now open for high school students graduating in the 2026-2027 academic year. With the 2026 class, the Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation will have supported more than 7,200 Coke Scholars nationwide with over $90 million in scholarships, celebrating 40 years of impact since it was founded in 1986.
What You Receive
💰 A $20,000 college scholarship, awarded to 150 students each year
🤝 Membership in a national network of Coca-Cola Scholars and access to a wider community of leaders
🌱 Also open in the United States: Fellowship in 🇺🇸 the United States: Cornell Atkinson Postdoctoral Research → https://youthworkshub.org/21047
Who Can Apply
To be eligible for the 2027 scholarship, you must be a currently enrolled high school or home-schooled student attending school in one of the 50 US states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, or select Department of Defense schools, and you must graduate during the 2026-2027 academic year. You must be a US citizen, US national, US permanent resident, refugee, asylee, Cuban-Haitian entrant, or humanitarian parolee, based on the guidelines used by the US Department of Education for Federal Financial Aid eligibility. You need to be expecting your high school diploma this academic year, planning to pursue a degree at an accredited US post-secondary institution, and able to verify a minimum overall B or 3.0 GPA. International students, students at American or expat schools abroad, high school graduates, temporary residents, and children or grandchildren of Coca-Cola company employees are not eligible.
🌍 Another one worth a look: Scholarship in 🇿🇦 South Africa: One Young World Leading Scholarship 2026 → https://youthworkshub.org/20069
How the Selection Works
The process runs in four phases. Phase 1 is the online application, open from 3 August to 30 September, which requires no essays, no transcript and no recommendations. By the end of October, all applicants are notified of their status, and about one percent are named Semifinalists and invited to complete a Phase 2 application in November with essays, a transcript and a recommendation. From roughly 1,200 Semifinalists, 250 advance as Regional Finalists for a final interview with Coke Scholar alumni and staff in late January or early February. Following interviews, 150 Regional Finalists are invited in April to the required Coke Scholars Weekend in Atlanta to confirm their selection.
How to Apply
Complete the Phase 1 online application through the Coca-Cola Scholars web portal before the deadline. Phase 1 requires no essays, transcript or recommendations; those are only requested from Semifinalists at Phase 2.
Deadline
⏳ 30 September 2026 (5pm Eastern)
Links
🔗 Official page: https://www.coca-colascholarsfoundation.org/apply/
🔗 Application portal: https://webportalapp.com/sp/login/cokescholar
