For Community College Educators
Faculty, financial aid staff, and other professionals who work with community college students can read, watch, and share the Cooke Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship resources below.
The Cooke Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship is a highly selective scholarship for the nation’s top community college students seeking to complete their bachelor’s degrees at four-year colleges or universities. Each Cooke Scholar has access to generous financial support for two to three years, college planning support, ongoing advising, and the opportunity to connect with the thriving community of fellow Scholars.
Eligibility Requirements:
- Sophomore Status – Be a current student at an accredited U.S. community college or two-year institution with sophomore status by January 1, 2025, or a recent graduate (since spring 2020).
- Fall College Enrollment– Plan to enroll full-time in a baccalaureate program at an accredited college or university in fall 2025.
- GPA– Have a cumulative undergraduate grade point average of 3.50 or better on a 4.0 scale (or the equivalent).
- 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.
- 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.
This highly competitive scholarship provides:
- The opportunity to graduate with as little debt as possible. The award, which is last dollar funding after all institutional aid, can provide as much as $55,000 per year for two to three years to complete a bachelor’s degree at any accredited four-year institution in the U.S.
- Ability to pursue any area of study.
-
Multifaceted advising on transitioning to a four-year college and maximizing the student experience.
-
Career and graduate school preparation – including the opportunity to apply for internship stipends, conference stipends, and the Cooke Graduate Scholarship.
The Foundation seeks to identify a faculty or staff member on every community college campus to serve as the institution’s primary point of contact regarding applicant recruitment and support. Cooke Campus Representatives are faculty or staff willing to assist interested and eligible students with navigating the application process. Cooke Foundation Staff may also work with Campus Representatives to facilitate outreach on their campuses about the scholarship, along with providing additional support regarding application completion.
Currently, we only permit one representative per campus. Click here to view a list of current representatives.
If you don’t see your campus listed or would like to replace the current representative, please click here to update us.
Who do I contact if I have a question about the scholarship?
Campus Representatives should contact our outreach team with questions regarding the scholarship program and application. Please email scholarships@jkcf.org to get in touch.
Can I recommend a student for the scholarship?
The Cooke Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship is highly competitive, and applicants recommended by Campus Representatives are not given preferential treatment or status in the review process. We select recipients using an independent review that includes a committee of experienced admissions and higher education professionals. The Foundation makes its decisions based on this collective assessment.
When will I hear from you?
You will receive emails from us periodically about application updates and deadlines. Campus Representatives are also notified about scholarship recipients on their campus one week prior to the notification date to coordinate special on-campus announcements to celebrate the accomplishment of their student/s. However, the Foundation will embargo the official press release announcing recipients until our formal announcement date. We ask that all early announcements are restricted to on-campus activities only.
New training coming soon!
The Cooke Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship is a highly selective scholarship for the nation’s top community college students seeking to complete their bachelor’s degrees at four-year colleges or universities. Each Cooke Scholar has access to generous financial support for two to three years, college planning support, ongoing advising, and the opportunity to connect with the thriving community of fellow Scholars.
Eligibility Requirements:
- Sophomore Status – Be a current student at an accredited U.S. community college or two-year institution with sophomore status by January 1, 2025, or a recent graduate (since spring 2020).
- Fall College Enrollment– Plan to enroll full-time in a baccalaureate program at an accredited college or university in fall 2025.
- GPA– Have a cumulative undergraduate grade point average of 3.50 or better on a 4.0 scale (or the equivalent).
- 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.
- 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.
This highly competitive scholarship provides:
- The opportunity to graduate with as little debt as possible. The award, which is last dollar funding after all institutional aid, can provide as much as $55,000 per year for two to three years to complete a bachelor’s degree at any accredited four-year institution in the U.S.
- Ability to pursue any area of study.
-
Multifaceted advising on transitioning to a four-year college and maximizing the student experience.
-
Career and graduate school preparation – including the opportunity to apply for internship stipends, conference stipends, and the Cooke Graduate Scholarship.
The Foundation seeks to identify a faculty or staff member on every community college campus to serve as the institution’s primary point of contact regarding applicant recruitment and support. Cooke Campus Representatives are faculty or staff willing to assist interested and eligible students with navigating the application process. Cooke Foundation Staff may also work with Campus Representatives to facilitate outreach on their campuses about the scholarship, along with providing additional support regarding application completion.
Currently, we only permit one representative per campus. Click here to view a list of current representatives.
If you don’t see your campus listed or would like to replace the current representative, please click here to update us.
Who do I contact if I have a question about the scholarship?
Campus Representatives should contact our outreach team with questions regarding the scholarship program and application. Please email scholarships@jkcf.org to get in touch.
Can I recommend a student for the scholarship?
The Cooke Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship is highly competitive, and applicants recommended by Campus Representatives are not given preferential treatment or status in the review process. We select recipients using an independent review that includes a committee of experienced admissions and higher education professionals. The Foundation makes its decisions based on this collective assessment.
When will I hear from you?
You will receive emails from us periodically about application updates and deadlines. Campus Representatives are also notified about scholarship recipients on their campus one week prior to the notification date to coordinate special on-campus announcements to celebrate the accomplishment of their student/s. However, the Foundation will embargo the official press release announcing recipients until our formal announcement date. We ask that all early announcements are restricted to on-campus activities only.
New training coming soon!
If you are a faculty or staff member working with community college students, please sign up to receive our Cooke Foundation Navigator. You’ll receive updates on Cooke Scholarship applications and deadlines, along with resources and tips for counselors, educators, and student-serving organizations.
Contact Us
The Cooke Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship application is currently open. The deadline is January 9, 2025.
Please direct questions about your application or the program to scholarships@jkcf.org.