Jack Kent Cooke Scholarship - Low Income Scholarship (Upto $75,000)

History: Since its establishment in 2000, Jack Kent Cooke Foundation has awarded $282 million in scholarships to over 3,300 students from 8th grade through graduate school. Additionally, the Foundation has provided $133 million in grants to organizations serving such students.

Average Award Granted: Deserving low-income college seniors and recent graduates (those who graduated within the last five years) can apply for the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation Graduate Scholarship, which offers awards of up to $50,000 annually to help them pursue their graduate degrees at prestigious universities and colleges across the nation.

Award Amount: Selected Graduate Scholars may receive up to $150,000, There is an upper limit of $75,000 awarded per person a year. The amount covers the cost of the program, including tuition fees.

No. of Awards: The number of awards varies.

Eligibility: Candidates must:
•    Be a graduating Cooke Scholar or recent alum (within the last three years)
•    Demonstrate high academic achievement
•    Plan to attend their first full-time, in-person graduate degree program at an accredited not-for-profit institution in Fall
•    Apply for all available financial aid from institutional, federal, and state sources
•    Demonstrate unmet financial need
•    Should score a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or above

Criteria: The Foundation evaluates applications based on the candidate's purpose for graduate studies, academic achievement, engagement, leadership, unmet financial need, and involvement with the Cooke Foundation.

Additional Information: Applicants are required to submit one recommendation.

Essays: Short Answers (300 words each)

1. What are your goals for graduate school and why? What are your goals for after graduate school and why? How will the degree programs you are applying to help you meet both sets of goals?
2. How have your undergraduate education and other experiences specifically prepared you to be successful in the graduate programs you are applying to?
3. Please detail your process in researching graduate programs. What faculty, students, and mentors did you consult?
4. How did you learn whether the graduate degree you plan to pursue would align with your goals
5. How did you learn whether the specific schools/programs you are applying to would meet your needs?

Essay: Please provide the personal statement you intend to submit with your graduate school applications

Deadline: January

Reference

• Jack Kent Cooke Foundation Graduate Scholarship