The Coca-Cola Scholarship provides financial support for undergraduate study. Read this academic guide to learn about the eligibility requirements and the application deadline. This article provides a comprehensive guide to the Coca-Cola Scholarship to assist an applicant through the application process. A 2023 study by Dr. Alisha Vance at the Institute for Higher Education Policy (IHEP) examined the impact of a merit-based award on student persistence. The research found that a financial award increases the graduation rate by 15% among low-income students (first-generation students, minority students, Pell Grant recipients). The Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation administers this achievement-based program.
The Coca-Cola Scholarship Program selects 150 high school seniors (student council leader, club president, volunteer coordinator) annually. Each recipient receives a $20,000 undergraduate scholarship. The selection committee evaluates an applicant based on three specific criteria (academic achievement, capacity to lead, and community service). A successful applicant must demonstrate leadership within a local institution. This award helps a student secure funding for higher education.
The program creates a lifelong network for each recipient. A selected student attends the required Scholars Weekend in Atlanta, Georgia. The Coca-Cola Scholarship offers professional development opportunities (networking workshop, leadership seminar, career panel). An alumnus provides mentorship to a new scholar. This support helps a scholar highlight achievements (academic honors, leadership roles, volunteer projects) during undergraduate study.
Scholarship Summary
- Level of Study: Undergraduate degree
- Location: United States
- Institution(s): Accredited U.S. post-secondary institutions (four-year university, two-year college, technical school)
- Program Period: 4-year duration
- Course offered: All undergraduate majors (humanities discipline, STEM field, social science)
- Deadline: September 30, 2026
Scholarship Coverage
The Coca-Cola Scholarship provides a total monetary award of $20,000. This financial support covers educational expenses (tuition fee, required textbooks, and university housing). The foundation distributes this fund directly to the accredited post-secondary institution. A recipient does not receive a cash payout. The award functions as a merit-based stipend to reduce student debt.
Eligibility Criteria
An applicant must meet eligibility criteria (GPA threshold, citizenship status, graduation timeline) before submitting the application. There are five specific requirements (academic limit, residency mandate, family restriction) for the Coca-Cola Scholarship:
- The applicant must graduate from a U.S. high school during the current academic year.
- The applicant must maintain a minimum overall grade point average (GPA) of 3.0.
- The applicant must plan to pursue a degree at an accredited U.S. post-secondary institution.
- The applicant must possess legal residency status (U.S. citizenship, permanent residency, refugee status).
- The applicant cannot be a relative of a Coca-Cola company employee.
Application Process
To complete the application process for the Coca-Cola Scholarship, an applicant must submit an online application form through the official portal. The selection process contains three evaluation checkpoints (online screening, essay review, and regional interview).
Phase 1: Online Application
An applicant must submit an application form through the online portal. This step requires no additional documents (official transcript, personal essay, recommendation letter).
Phase 2: Semifinalist Review
The committee selects an applicant for the semifinalist round. A semifinalist must craft a personal statement to strengthen an application. The candidate must submit official materials (high school transcript, secondary school report, recommendation letter).
Phase 3: Regional Finalist Interview
The committee narrows the selection pool. A regional finalist must participate in a structured interview with the panel.
Phase 4: Final Scholar Selection
The foundation selects each final scholar (winner, fellow, or recipient). A scholar receives the monetary award to fund higher education.
Deadline
The final deadline for the Phase 1 application is September 30, 2026, at 5:00 PM Eastern Time.
