Each year 150 Coca-Cola scholars are selected based on their achievement in leadership, service and commitment to their schools. Founded in 1986, the Coca Cola Scholarship Foundation has supported over 7,200 students nationwide through $90 million in scholarships. Each Coca Cola scholar receives $20,000 towards their undergraduate tuition. The top five colleges attended by Coca Cola Scholars are Harvard, Stanford, Duke, Yale and Princeton. The top career paths are in business and finance, education, healthcare, arts, entertainment and sports, and law.
Coca-Cola Scholars Demonstrate Leadership, Service and Academics
The award is given based on the three pillars of leadership, service and academics. A typical applicant highlights them in their application and high school experience. A large part of what makes these scholars successful is their long term commitment to their passions.
Leadership for the 2026 Coca Cola Scholars consists of more than the typical roles of student body president, a sports captain or the leader of a club. These students founded non-profits, startups and school organizations, and advocated for public policy and social justice changes.
Service was best shown through measurable impacts, proving the incredible work the student did and the change it gave a community. Running large-scale service initiatives and fundraising for charities or humanitarian projects were some highlights among the scholars.
Academics showed students excelling in their classes throughout their high school experience, often being the recipient of academic awards. Outside the classroom, they showed interest in academics through conducting research, creating apps or AI tools, publishing writing through a book or other academic work, and mentoring or tutoring younger students.
Examples of Scholar Extracurriculars Highlighted in Biographies
The foundation publishes biographies about each scholar to celebrate their accomplishments. At the College Sage, we analyze the biographies as a resource to identify winning scholarship activities and other opportunities for students throughout their high school years. That analysis populates these activity ideas:
Clubs:
Model UN
Debate Club
School Newspaper
Science Olympiad
Choir
Playing an Instrument
Student Government Positions
Tutor Students of All Ages
Entrepreneurship:
Write a book
Create an app
Starting Non Profits in Area of Interest/Need
Create/Lead your Own Club
Volunteer:
Make a Wish
Retirement Homes
National Programs:
Research at Universities in Area of Interest
Student Liaison to Local Organizations, Governments and More
Political Internships (State and Local)
US Senate Youth Program Delegate
Harvard Venture Program
Lead4Change
DECA
National Beta Regional Leadership Representative
Student Ambassador for Secretary of State
MIT4American Calculus Program
Family Career and Community Leaders of America
Jane Goodall Institute National Youth Council Member
There were also “winning patterns” among the scholars which are interesting to note if you’re on the hunt for a major college scholarship. Scholars generally exhibit these types of overall patterns:
Founder + measurable impact
Research + community application
Advocacy + leadership
National recognition + local service
Deep specialization in one mission over shallow participation in many clubs
Contact The College Sage now!
Interested in becoming a Coca Cola Scholar? The application for high school seniors graduating in 2027 opens on August 3, 2026. Applicants must be citizens of the United States and attend high school in the United States. Additionally, they must plan to attend an accredited United States post secondary institution and have a minimum GPA of a 3.0 or B. The online first round application does not require essays, transcripts or recommendations, and closes on September 30, 2026. At the end of October, applicants will be notified of their application status and 1% will advance as semifinalists, submitting essays, a transcript and recommendations. At the beginning of 2027, 250 students will be named regional finalists, and interview with Coca Cola Scholar alumni and staff. 150 regional finalists will be invited to attend the Coca Cola Scholars Weekend in Atlanta to confirm their position as a scholar.
Sources:
https://www.coca-colascholarsfoundation.org
https://www.coca-colascholarsfoundation.org/apply/
