Jack Kent Cooke College Scholarship — Up to $55,000/Year (High-Achieving, Need-Based)

About This Opportunity

The Jack Kent Cooke College Scholarship Program is one of the largest and most generous private scholarships in the United States — up to $55,000 per year for up to four years of undergraduate study ($220,000 total maximum). This is not a lottery — it is an intensely competitive merit and need-based program. Approximately 60 scholarships are awarded nationally each year from a pool of roughly 4,000 applicants. The foundation specifically seeks students who have exhibited excellence in school while overcoming significant financial barriers. Recipients are selected not just for grades and test scores, but for intellectual curiosity, leadership, persistence, and service to others. Eligible students typically come from families with household incomes under $95,000 per year (smaller family sizes face a lower threshold). The award covers college expenses at any accredited U.S. institution — public or private. Omaha and Council Bluffs students have applied and won JKC scholarships. If you are a strong student from a lower-income family, this is one of the most impactful applications you can submit. The scholarship also provides mentoring, college counseling, and community access. Apply at jkcf.org.

Who Can Apply

High school senior. U.S. citizen or permanent resident. Unweighted GPA of 3.5 or higher. Demonstrated significant financial need (family income typically under $95,000, adjusted for family size). No specific racial or geographic restrictions — open to all eligible students including Omaha and Council Bluffs students. Application includes transcripts, essays, short answers, letters of recommendation. Apply at jkcf.org/our-scholarships/college-scholarship-program.