The Jack Kent Cooke Foundation Undergraduate Transfer (JKCF) /

2026 Scholarship

The Jack Kent Cooke Foundation Undergraduate Transfer (JKCF) 2026 Scholarship application opens in early October 2025. The Jack Kent Cooke Foundation Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship makes it possible for the nation’s top community college students to complete their bachelor’s degrees by transferring to a selective four-year college or university. The Foundation provides up to $55,000 per year, making it one of the largest private scholarships for two-year and community college transfer students in the country. The deadline for this scholarship will be in early January 2026. Get notified when the program opens.

For eligibility requirements or visit the Jack Kent Cooke website at: https://www.jkcf.org/our-scholarships/undergraduate-transfer-scholarship

Jack Kent Cooke Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship recipients are selected from a nationwide applicant pool each year./

As minimum criteria, students must:

Sophomore Status – Be a current student at an accredited U.S. community college or two-year institution with sophomore status by January 1, 2026, or a recent graduate.
Fall College Enrollment– Plan to enroll full-time in a baccalaureate program at an accredited college or university in fall 2026.
GPA– Have a cumulative undergraduate grade point average of 3.50 or better on a 4.0 scale (or the equivalent).
Demonstrate unmet financial need –We will consider applicants with a maximum annual gross income of $95,000. During the selection process, the Foundation will conduct a full financial review which will take into account all income and assets of the student and the student’s parents.
No previous enrollment or attendance at a four-year institution – Students who have attended a four-year institution in the past are not eligible for this scholarship.
- If you started at a four-year institution, but did not complete a semester of full-time study, then you may be eligible. Please contact us to verify your eligibility.
- Students who have already transferred to a four-year institution or plan to transfer to start during the spring 2026 semester are also not eligible for this scholarship.

The selection process for these awards is rigorous and highly competitive with no more than 70 scholarships awarded each year out of thousands of applicants. A review panel of distinguished college admissions professionals and faculty judge the applicants using criteria including:

High academic ability and achievement: Strong academic record, academic awards and honors, and substantive assessments by educators providing confidential recommendations. In addition to GPA, we consider participation in available advanced courses, commitment to learning, and intellectual curiosity.
Unmet financial need: Demonstrate unmet financial need. We will consider applicants with family income up to $95,000. During the selection process, the Foundation will conduct a full financial review which will take into account all income and assets of the student and the student’s parents.
Persistence: Determination and perseverance in the face of challenges, ability to set and remain focused on goals and to put in the effort needed to meet those goals in the face of obstacles.
Leadership: Ability to organize and positively influence others in and out of school.
Service to Others: Purposeful and meaningful commitment to others which may be evidenced by participation in volunteer/community service activities.

We have HCC information sessions with the campus representative and team later this fall. Registering for these events is required via Handshake.

Information Session

- Tuesday, September 23, 3pm – 4:30pm, Honors Commons

- Wednesday, September 24, 7pm – 8:30pm, Zoom
- Slide Deck from Information Session (HCC Login Required)
- F25 Cooke Scholarship Presentation.pdf

Drop-In Application Question Sessions

- Wednesday, October 29, 3pm – 4:30pm, Honors Commons

- Tuesday, November 18, 3pm – 4:30pm, Honors Commons

- Tuesday, December 9, 6pm – 7:30pm, Zoom

For additional questions please reach out to the HCC Campus Representative at bbellamy@howardcc.edu or schedule an appointment with Brandon.