The Burger King scholarship program gives away over $7 million every single year. We’re talking $1,000 to $60,000 per student. That’s not a typo – sixty thousand dollars.
And no, you don’t need perfect grades or to work at Burger King (though it helps). You just need to be a high school senior planning to go to college. Students with 2.5 GPAs have won this thing.
So if you’re stressed about paying for college, keep reading. I’m going to tell you exactly what the Burger King scholarship is, who can get it, and how to fill out the application without messing it up. This could literally be free money sitting there waiting for you.
What’s the Burger King Scholarship?
The Burger King Scholars Program has been around since 2000 and has helped over 51,000 students pay for college. The program runs through the Burger King McLamore Foundation.
What makes it different? They actually give out serious money, and they’re not super picky about who wins.
How Much Money Can You Actually Get?
| awards | amount |
|---|---|
| Standard awards: | $1,000 (covers textbooks and supplies) |
| Mid-range awards: | $2,500 to $10,000 (that’s a semester or two of tuition) |
| Top awards: | $25,000 to $60,000 (life-changing money) |
Most students get between $1,000 and $5,000. But even a grand is worth the few hours it takes to apply. The big $60,000 awards go to students with really compelling stories who’ve overcome major obstacles.
Three Ways to Apply:
- General Track :Any high school senior can apply. No Burger King connection needed.
- Employee Track: You work at Burger King? Apply through this track.
- Family Track: Your parent works at BK? You’ve got your own track.
Pick whichever fits your situation. You can only use one.
Burger King Scholarship Requirements
Here’s who can apply:
- Must be a high school senior :Not a junior, not already in college. Current seniors only
- Need at least a 2.5 GPA: That’s a C+/B- average. Totally doable. Higher is better, but don’t count yourself out with a 2.7
- Planning to attend college: Four-year university, community college, or accredited vocational school all work.
- U.S. citizen or permanent resident: Also includes DACA recipients and students from Puerto Rico and Canada.
- Work experience helps : Not required, but having a part-time job strengthens your application.
- Community service matters: Volunteer work, clubs, sports – they want to see you’re involved.
Quick reference:
| What They Want | The Details |
|---|---|
| Grade Level | High school senior |
| GPA | 2.5 minimum |
| Location | US, Puerto Rico, Canada |
| Status | Citizen or permanent resident |
| Plans | Accredited college or vocational school |
| Work | Recommended |
| Activities | Extracurriculars and volunteering help |
Burger King Scholarship Application Process:
When to Apply:
The application opens in October and closes in mid-December. Miss this window and you’re out of luck. Don’t be that person who remembers on December 30th.
What You Need First:
Gather this stuff before starting:
- High school transcript
- List of extracurricular activities with dates
- Complete work history
- Volunteer work details
- Parent tax information
- Contact info for recommendation letter writer
The Online Application:
Go to the Burger King Scholars website and create an account. The form has several sections:
- Personal Info: Name, address, school. Basic stuff.
- Academics: Your GPA and coursework. List any honors or AP classes.
- Work Experience: Every job you’ve had, even summer work. Don’t just say “cashier” – say “cashier who handled $2,000 daily and trained new employees.
- Activities: List every club, sport, or organization. Explain what you actually did. Were you a leader? Did you organize events?
- Community Service: Be specific. Not “volunteered at food bank” but “sorted and distributed food to 50+ families weekly for 18 months.”
- Financial Info: Be honest about your family’s financial situation. This helps them decide award amounts.
The Essay (Where You Actually Win)
They’ll ask one or two essay questions, usually about challenges you’ve overcome or how you’ve made a difference. Word count is typically 500-1,000 words.
How to write an essay that stands out:
Don’t try to sound smart. Tell your story like you’re talking to a friend.
Use specific examples. Don’t say “I’m a hard worker.” Tell them about working until 11 PM then staying up to finish a school project.
Show real struggles. The best essays talk about failures and how you bounced back. Real stuff resonates.
Connect it to your future. Explain how this scholarship would actually change your life.
Recommendation Letter:
Pick someone who actually knows you – a teacher, boss, coach, or mentor. Don’t pick the principal you’ve met twice. Your history teacher who’s had you for two years is better.
Ask at least three weeks early and explain what the scholarship is for.
Before You Submit:
Check everything:
- Every field filled out?
- Essay proofread?
- Dates and numbers accurate?
- All documents uploaded?
Submit a few days before the deadline. Websites crash. Internet fails. Don’t risk it.
What Happens Next
- January-February: Committees review all applications.
- March-April: They pick finalists and winners. Some might get contacted for more info.
- May: Winners get notified by email and mail.
- Summer: : Money gets sent to your college.
Is It Worth Your Time?
Real talk: this application takes 3-5 hours total.
Even if you only win $1,000, that’s $200+ per hour. No other job pays that much.
And if you win $10,000 or more? That’s thousands of dollars for a few hours of work.
They give out over 3,500 scholarships yearly. Those are decent odds.
Will you definitely win? No. But your chances of winning without applying are exactly zero.
Bottom Line:
The Burger King scholarship is accessible to regular students. You don’t need to be valedictorian or have a perfect SAT score.
You just need to be a decent student who works hard, cares about your community, and can write a solid essay.
If that’s you, apply. What do you have to lose?
Start gathering documents this week. Block out a few hours to work on your essay. Submit before Thanksgiving.
Best case? You get tens of thousands of dollars for college. Worst case? You spent a few hours practicing for other scholarship applications.
Either way, it’s worth doing.
Now stop reading and go start that application. The deadline comes faster than you think, and this could be the free money that changes your college experience.
Good luck!
FAQs:
Q1:is the burger king scholarship only for employees?
No, the Burger King scholarship is NOT just for employees.
There are three different tracks you can apply through. The general track is open to ANY high school senior in the US, Puerto Rico, or Canada – you don’t need any connection to Burger King at all.
The other two tracks are for Burger King employees and their kids, but most students apply through the general track.
So if you’re a high school senior planning to go to college, you can apply even if you’ve never worked at Burger King. Don’t let that stop you from going after this money
Q2:how much CGPA required for burger king scholarship?
You need at least a 2.5 GPA to apply for the Burger King scholarship. That’s basically a C+/B- average, so it’s pretty achievable – obviously higher GPAs help your chances, but you don’t need to be a straight-A student to win.
Q3:When does the Burger King Scholarship 2026 open?
The Burger King Scholarship for 2026 typically opens in October 2025 and closes in mid-December 2025. If you’re a current high school senior graduating in 2026, that’s your application window – so mark your calendar for fall 2025 and don’t miss that deadline.
Q4:What are the Burger King scholarship requirements?
You need to be a high school senior with at least a 2.5 GPA planning to attend college in the fall. You also need to be a US citizen, permanent resident, or DACA recipient (includes Puerto Rico and Canada too). Having work experience and community service isn’t technically required, but it definitely helps your application stand out.
Q5:How much is the Burger King scholarship amount?
The Burger King scholarship awards range from $1,000 to $60,000 per student. Most winners get between $1,000 and $5,000, while the really big awards ($25,000 to $60,000) go to students with exceptional stories or circumstances. Either way, it’s free money worth applying for.
Q6:Who is eligible to apply for the Burger King scholarship?
Any high school senior in the US, Puerto Rico, or Canada who’s planning to attend college can apply. You need at least a 2.5 GPA and must be a citizen, permanent resident, or DACA recipient. You don’t have to work at Burger King – the general scholarship track is open to everyone.
More Scholarship Opportunities:
For more scholarship opportunities and college funding tips, check out our ccdjob.com where we regularly update new opportunities for students.