The Coca-Cola Scholarship 2027 is a highly competitive undergraduate scholarship for high school seniors in the United States. The program awards 150 students with $20,000 each to support their college education.

Administered by the Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation, the scholarship recognizes students who demonstrate strong leadership, academic achievement, community service, and a commitment to creating positive change.

For the 2027 scholarship cycle, the application is scheduled to open on August 3, 2026, and the final application deadline is September 30, 2026, at 5:00 PM Eastern Time. The program is intended for students graduating from high school during the 2026–2027 academic year.

Coca-Cola Scholarship 2027 Overview

The Coca-Cola Scholars Program selects 150 students each year, with each recipient receiving a $20,000 college scholarship. The program has supported more than 7,200 Coca-Cola Scholars and awarded more than $90 million in scholarships since its establishment in 1986.

Coca-Cola Scholarship 2027 Benefits

Successful applicants receive more than financial assistance. The program connects recipients with a large alumni community and provides opportunities for networking, leadership development, mentoring, and collaboration.

$20,000 College Scholarship

Each of the 150 selected Coca-Cola Scholars receives a $20,000 scholarship to support undergraduate education at an accredited US post-secondary institution.

Coca-Cola Scholars Alumni Network

Recipients become part of a community of more than 7,200 Coca-Cola Scholars. The alumni network provides opportunities to build professional connections and collaborate with other students and graduates who are working on community and social-impact initiatives.

Leadership and Professional Development

Coca-Cola Scholars can also benefit from programs designed to support leadership development, mentoring, and continued engagement with the Coca-Cola Scholars community.

Who Can Apply for the Coca-Cola Scholarship 2027?

The Coca-Cola Scholarship is designed specifically for eligible high school students who are completing their final year of secondary education.

Applicants for the 2027 program must meet the Foundation’s eligibility requirements.

Academic Requirements

Applicants must:

• Be currently enrolled in high school or be homeschooled.
• Graduate during the 2026–2027 academic school year.
• Expect to receive a high school diploma during the current academic year.
• Have at least a 3.0 unweighted GPA, or equivalent B average, in high school coursework.
• Plan to pursue a degree at an accredited post-secondary institution in the United States.

Citizenship and Residency Requirements

Eligible applicants include:

• US citizens
• US nationals
• US permanent residents
• Refugees
• Asylees
• Cuban-Haitian entrants
• Humanitarian parolees who meet the applicable federal financial-aid eligibility requirements

Students must satisfy the Foundation’s eligibility requirements at the time they apply.

Are International Students Eligible?

No. The Coca-Cola Scholars Program is not open to international students studying outside the United States.

The Foundation specifically states that students attending American or expatriate schools abroad are not eligible, with the exception of students attending eligible Department of Defense schools.

This means students from countries such as Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Nigeria, the UAE, and other countries cannot apply simply because they attend an American-curriculum school outside the United States.

Coca-Cola Scholarship Selection Process

The Coca-Cola Scholars selection process is highly competitive and consists of several stages.

Phase 1: Online Application

The first phase runs from August 3 through September 30, 2026.

Students complete the online application with information about their academic background, activities, and achievements. The initial application does not require essays, transcripts, or recommendation letters.

Phase 2: Semifinalists

Applicants are notified of their status by the end of October.

Approximately 1% of applicants advance to the semifinalist stage. Semifinalists complete an additional application that includes essays, a transcript, and a recommendation.

Phase 3: Regional Finalists

The semifinalist applications are reviewed to identify approximately 250 Regional Finalists.

Regional Finalists participate in an interview with Coca-Cola Scholars alumni and Foundation staff.

Phase 4: Coca-Cola Scholars

Following the interviews, 150 students are selected as Coca-Cola Scholars.

Selected students are invited to Coca-Cola Scholars Weekend in Atlanta. Successful completion of the required program activities confirms their status as Coca-Cola Scholars and recipients of the $20,000 scholarship.

What Does the Coca-Cola Scholarship Look For?

The Coca-Cola Scholars Program is not simply an academic scholarship. The Foundation evaluates applicants based on leadership, academics, and service.

Leadership

Students should be able to demonstrate that they have taken meaningful responsibility within their schools or communities.

Examples can include:

• Leading a student organization
• Organizing community projects
• Starting an educational initiative
• Coordinating volunteer activities
• Taking responsibility for a long-term project

The strongest applications generally demonstrate what the student actually changed or achieved through their leadership.

Community Service

Community involvement is another important component of the scholarship.

Students should focus on meaningful contributions rather than simply listing the number of activities they have participated in. An applicant who identifies a problem, develops a solution, and produces measurable results can demonstrate stronger impact than someone who lists many unrelated volunteer activities.

Academic Achievement

A minimum 3.0 unweighted GPA is required, but meeting the minimum GPA alone does not guarantee selection.

The program is exceptionally competitive, so students should present their academic achievements together with evidence of leadership, service, initiative, and community impact.

Coca-Cola Scholarship 2027 Application Timeline

Students planning to apply should keep the following dates in mind:

The Foundation’s official application page currently lists August 3, 2026 as the opening date for the 2027 application and September 30, 2026 at 5:00 PM Eastern Time as the deadline.

How to Apply for Coca-Cola Scholarship 2027

Students should apply through the official Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation application portal.

Step 1: Check Your Eligibility

Before creating an application, confirm that you meet the requirements for graduation year, GPA, citizenship or residency, and intended college enrollment.

Step 2: Create an Application Account

Access the official Coca-Cola Scholars application website and create an account.

The Foundation provides an eligibility check as part of the application process.

Step 3: Complete the Online Application

Provide accurate information about your:

• Academic background
• School activities
• Community involvement
• Leadership experience
• Other achievements and experiences requested by the application

Step 4: Submit Before the Deadline

The complete application must be submitted by 5:00 PM Eastern Time on September 30, 2026.

Students should avoid waiting until the final hours because technical problems, incomplete sections, or internet issues can prevent timely submission.

The Foundation does not accept applications through email, fax, or postal mail. Applications must be submitted through its online system.

How to Improve Your Coca-Cola Scholarship Application

Because only 150 students are selected nationally, applicants should focus on demonstrating measurable impact rather than simply listing achievements.

Show What You Changed

Instead of only stating that you led a club or volunteered, explain the result of your work.

For example, an applicant could demonstrate how a project:

• Reached a specific number of students
• Raised funds for a community cause
• Increased participation in an activity
• Created a lasting school initiative
• Addressed a specific community problem

Highlight Long-Term Commitment

Long-term involvement can help demonstrate genuine commitment.

If you have worked on the same community project for several years, explain how your role developed and what changed because of your involvement.

Connect Leadership With Impact

The strongest examples often connect leadership with measurable outcomes.

Rather than simply saying you were a club president, explain what you introduced, what problem you addressed, how many people benefited, and what the project achieved.

Do Not Focus Only on GPA

Academic performance matters, but the Coca-Cola Scholars Program is specifically an achievement-based scholarship that evaluates leadership, academics, and service.

Students should therefore use the application to demonstrate the broader impact of their work.

Who Should Apply for the Coca-Cola Scholarship?

The scholarship may be particularly suitable for students who:

• Are graduating from high school during the 2026–2027 academic year
• Have a minimum 3.0 unweighted GPA
• Have demonstrated leadership in school or community activities
• Have meaningful community-service experience
• Have created or contributed to projects with measurable impact
• Plan to pursue undergraduate education at an accredited US institution
• Meet the program’s citizenship or residency requirements

Students who only meet the GPA requirement but have limited leadership or community involvement may face significant competition from applicants with substantial achievements in these areas.

Is the Coca-Cola Scholarship Hard to Win?

Yes. The Coca-Cola Scholarship is one of the most competitive corporate-sponsored scholarship programs in the United States.

For the 2026 class, the Foundation reported more than 107,000 applications, with 1,238 semifinalists and 150 final Coca-Cola Scholars. That means applicants should expect an extremely selective process.

The large applicant pool makes it important for students to demonstrate a clear record of leadership, service, academic achievement, and positive community impact.

Important Things Students Should Know

Before applying for the Coca-Cola Scholarship 2027, applicants should remember:

• The scholarship is for eligible US high school seniors.
• International students studying outside the United States are not eligible.
• A minimum 3.0 unweighted GPA is required.
• The scholarship awards $20,000 to 150 selected students.
• The initial application does not require essays, transcripts, or recommendation letters.
• Semifinalists must provide additional materials.
• The application must be submitted online.
• The deadline is September 30, 2026, at 5:00 PM Eastern Time.

Final Thoughts

The Coca-Cola Scholarship 2027 offers 150 outstanding high school seniors a $20,000 college scholarship along with access to a large network of accomplished scholars and leadership opportunities.

However, this is not a scholarship where academic grades alone are likely to make an applicant competitive. The selection process emphasizes leadership, community service, academic achievement, and measurable impact.

Students who meet the eligibility requirements should begin organizing their academic records, extracurricular activities, leadership experiences, and community achievements before the application opens. Most importantly, applicants should make sure their application clearly demonstrates how their actions have created meaningful results in their school or community.