7 Scholarships With Deadlines Between November 2026 and March 2027 (Up to $55,000 a Year)
Seven major U.S. scholarships close between now and March 2027 — and two of them close this week. The Jack Kent Cooke Foundation College Scholarship (up to $55,000 a year) is due November 11, 2026, and the Elks Most Valuable Student Scholarship (500 awards) is due November 12, 2026. After that come Burger King Scholars on December 15, Amazon Future Engineer on January 5, 2027, the GE-Reagan Foundation Scholarship on January 7, Dell Scholars on January 12, and the Horatio Alger programs, which open December 1. Every deadline, amount and eligibility rule below is taken from the provider's official program page — and every one of these applications is free.
Scholarship Deadlines at a Glance
| Scholarship | Deadline | Award | Who it's for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jack Kent Cooke Foundation College Scholarship | November 11, 2026 | Up to $55,000 per year | Seniors with a 3.75+ GPA and family income up to $95,000 |
| Elks Most Valuable Student Scholarship | November 12, 2026 | $1,000–$7,500 per year | U.S. citizen high school seniors |
| Burger King Scholars | December 15, 2026 (or at 30,000 applications) | $1,000–$60,000 | Graduating seniors with a 2.0+ GPA |
| Amazon Future Engineer Scholarship | January 5, 2027 | Up to $40,000 | Seniors planning computer science or engineering degrees |
| GE-Reagan Foundation Scholarship | January 7, 2027, 3:00 p.m. EST | $10,000 per year (up to $40,000) | Seniors with leadership and a 3.0+ GPA |
| Dell Scholars Program | January 12, 2027 | $20,000 plus a laptop | Texas seniors, Pell Grant eligible, 2.4+ GPA |
| Horatio Alger Scholarships | Opens December 1, 2026; closes Feb 15 – Mar 1, 2027 | Up to $25,000 | Juniors and seniors who have overcome adversity, family income up to $100,000 |
1. Jack Kent Cooke Foundation College Scholarship — Due November 11, 2026
Award: Up to $55,000 per year — the largest undergraduate award on this list. It is "last-dollar" funding: the Cooke Foundation covers a significant share of tuition, living expenses, books and required fees after other aid is counted, at any accredited undergraduate institution, for any area of study.
Eligibility: High school seniors graduating in spring 2027 who plan to enroll in an accredited four-year college in fall 2027; a minimum cumulative unweighted GPA of 3.75; at least one submitted test score (SAT, ACT, AP or IB — there is no minimum score); and demonstrated unmet financial need — the foundation considers applicants with family annual gross income up to $95,000.
How to apply: The application is inside the Common App — add the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation as one of your "schools." Details: jkcf.org. The application opened August 19, 2026 and closes November 11, 2026, so if you meet the GPA and income cutoffs, this week is your window.
2. Elks Most Valuable Student Scholarship — Due November 12, 2026
Award: 500 four-year scholarships of $1,000–$7,500 per year; the top 20 scholars receive $30,000 total and 480 runners-up receive $4,000 total.
Eligibility: Current high school seniors who are U.S. citizens (permanent residents do not qualify). No Elks family connection is needed. Judged on academics, leadership and financial need, and one application also enters you for local Lodge and state awards.
How to apply: Free at elks.org (Elks National Foundation), by November 12, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. Pacific Time. Full breakdown in our guide: Elks Most Valuable Student Scholarship 2027: 500 Four-Year Awards Worth Up to $30,000.
3. Burger King Scholars — Due December 15, 2026 (Can Close Early)
Award: Grants from $1,000 up to $60,000 — the top James W. McLamore WHOPPER Scholarships are worth $60,000 each. The Burger King Foundation has awarded nearly $64 million to more than 58,000 students across North America.
Eligibility: Graduating high school seniors in the U.S. (the program also covers Burger King employees, spouses and dependents in North America) with a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher, planning to enroll full-time for 2027–28 at an accredited two- or four-year college, university or vocational-technical school. Burger King employment is not required for the general track.
How to apply: Online through the Burger King Foundation's scholars portal (bk-scholars.com). The application opened October 15, 2026 and closes December 15, 2026 — or as soon as 30,000 applications are received, whichever comes first. This one genuinely closes early in busy years, so treat November as your real deadline.
4. Amazon Future Engineer Scholarship — Due January 5, 2027
Award: Up to $40,000 (up to $10,000 per year for four years), plus mentorship and an opportunity to interview for a paid Amazon internship.
Eligibility: U.S. high school seniors who are enrolled in, or have completed, a high school or dual-enrollment course in computer science, engineering or robotics (students without the course can opt in to an assessment offered by Amazon); minimum 2.3 GPA; demonstrated financial need; authorized to work in the U.S.; and planning a bachelor's degree in computer science, computer engineering, data science, information systems or a related field — or in electrical, mechanical, industrial or automation engineering under the program's second track.
How to apply: At amazonfutureengineer.com. The application opened November 3, 2026; the deadline is January 5, 2027, teacher recommendations are due January 8, 2027, and winners are notified in mid-April 2027.
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5. GE-Reagan Foundation Scholarship — Due January 7, 2027
Award: $10,000 per year, renewable for up to three additional years — $40,000 total per recipient, from the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation & Institute.
Eligibility: U.S. citizens who are current high school seniors graduating in winter 2026 or spring 2027 (including homeschooled students and students at U.S. military bases abroad), with a minimum 3.0 GPA, planning full-time study at an accredited U.S. four-year college for 2027–28, who demonstrate leadership, drive, integrity and citizenship.
How to apply: At reaganfoundation.org, from October 12, 2026. Note the exact cutoff: January 7, 2027 at 3:00 p.m. EST — an afternoon deadline, not midnight. All applicants are notified by March 1, 2027, and recipients by April 30, 2027.
6. Dell Scholars Program — Due January 12, 2027 (Texas Seniors)
Award: A $20,000 flexible scholarship plus a laptop, textbook credits, emergency funds, advising, career coaching and free teletherapy. The Michael & Susan Dell Foundation names 500 new Dell Scholars each year.
Eligibility — read carefully, it changed: For the 2027 cycle, Dell Scholars is for students graduating from a Texas high school who plan to enroll in an accredited four-year public college or university in Texas. You must be Pell Grant eligible with at least a 2.4 GPA. Finalists submit a transcript and their FAFSA Submission Summary.
How to apply: At dellscholars.org. The application opened October 1, 2026 and closes January 12, 2027; finalists are announced January 21, 2027 and the new class of Dell Scholars on May 20, 2027. Not a Texas senior this year? Check the site each fall — eligibility is set per cycle.
7. Horatio Alger Association Scholarships — Open December 1, 2026
Award: The flagship National Scholarship is $25,000 (105 awards), and one application also considers you for the Association's 70+ state and specialty programs.
Eligibility: The Horatio Alger Association funds students who have overcome significant adversity and show perseverance, integrity and community involvement. Key rules: U.S. citizenship (permanent residents are not eligible), a minimum 2.0 GPA, and family adjusted gross income of $100,000 or less. Unusually, the National Scholarship is aimed at high school juniors; separate programs are open to seniors.
How to apply: At horatioalger.org from December 1, 2026. The junior (National Scholarship) deadline is March 1, 2027; senior-program deadlines close earlier, on February 15, 2027. You will need a counselor form and a support-provider form, so line up your adults before the winter break.
How to Work This List Without Burning Out
- This week: If you clear the Cooke cutoffs (3.75 GPA, income under $95,000), finish Cooke by November 11 and Elks by November 12 — they are the two biggest near-term prizes.
- November: Submit Burger King Scholars early, before the 30,000-application cap can shut the portal.
- December: Draft your GE-Reagan leadership essay and, if you're a junior or senior who qualifies, start Horatio Alger the day it opens.
- January: Amazon Future Engineer (Jan 5), GE-Reagan (Jan 7, 3 p.m. EST) and Dell Scholars for Texas seniors (Jan 12) land in the same week — stagger your submissions.
- File the FAFSA too: Several of these programs require or reward a completed FAFSA. Follow our step-by-step 2027–28 FAFSA guide.
Never Pay to Apply
Every program on this list is free to apply for, through the provider's own website. Legitimate scholarships never charge an application fee, never ask for bank or card details to "hold" your award, and never guarantee a win. If a site does any of those things, close the tab.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which big scholarships close in November 2026?
The two largest are the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation College Scholarship (up to $55,000 per year, due November 11, 2026) and the Elks Most Valuable Student Scholarship (500 awards of $1,000–$7,500 per year, due November 12, 2026).
Which scholarships close in December 2026?
Burger King Scholars closes December 15, 2026 — or earlier, as soon as 30,000 applications are received. The Horatio Alger application opens December 1, 2026, with deadlines in February and March 2027.
What scholarships are due in January 2027?
Amazon Future Engineer (January 5, 2027, up to $40,000), the GE-Reagan Foundation Scholarship (January 7, 2027 at 3:00 p.m. EST, $10,000 per year) and the Dell Scholars Program for Texas seniors (January 12, 2027, $20,000).
Is the Dell Scholars Program only for Texas students now?
For the 2027 application cycle, yes. Dell's official eligibility page limits the program to seniors graduating from a Texas high school who will enroll in an accredited four-year public college or university in Texas, who are Pell Grant eligible with a 2.4 GPA or higher.
Can I apply to several of these scholarships at once?
Yes — there is no rule against applying to all of them, and most students should. Just track each program's own deadline, timezone and extra forms (recommendations, counselor forms, FAFSA documents) so nothing is missed.
Do any of these scholarships charge an application fee?
No. All seven programs are free to apply for through their official websites. Never pay to apply for a scholarship — a fee request is the clearest sign of a scam.
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