7 Corporate College Scholarships You Might Not Have Heard Of

Applying to college these days is hard enough for high school students. But what happens when you get accepted? Sometimes the financial aspects of an acceptance letter can be daunting. There are many helpful ways colleges, private companies, and other organizations will help pay for your education. But scholarships are not easy to find. To help you navigate the hurdles of college finances, we have compiled a comprehensive list of 7 amazing corporate scholarships that can really make a difference in your future as a student. These scholarships come from some of the most recognizable brand names in the world. And they might just be looking for a student like yourself to apply. So take a look at what’s waiting out there. You never know when or where assistance can come from! 

1. The Coca Cola Scholars Program Scholarship

This company has one of the most generous scholarship programs in the country. In the last year alone, they provided 150 students with upwards of $20,000.00 in financial assistance. This scholarship is designed for high school seniors who can prove they have leadership experience. This scholarship program is highly competitive and applicants, but all students from around the country are encouraged to apply. For those who do not qualify for the main scholarship, Coca-Cola has provided links to other programs they partner with, all of which contribute a substantial amount of financial assistance to the lucky winners. 

2. The Burger King Scholars Program 

This wonderful program was created to honor the late Burger King Co-Founder, James W. McLamore. Through this program, high school students and Burger King employees currently enrolled in high school can receive anywhere from $1,000 to $60,000 to help aid in their college career aspirations. The program selects students based on academic achievement, volunteer commitment, leadership potential, and any contributing extracurricular activities. The application deadline runs from mid-October to mid-December of every year. Students anywhere in North America are encouraged to apply.  

3. The Chick-Fil-A Remarkable Futures Scholarship 

This wonderfully generous scholarship began with a small decision: to help those in need. The founder of Chick-fil-A, Truett Cathy, put out an empty container of mayonnaise for employees to put cash into for his fellow team member, Eddie White’s college fund. Years later, this foundation has provided funds for rising college freshmen worldwide. Under this scholarship title are actually two programs: The True Inspiration Scholarship, which provides upwards of $25,000, and The Leadership Scholarship, which provides funds anywhere from $1,000 to $2,500. Anybody in their Senior year of high school can apply. The best part is that there are no fees attached to the application. This is one you will not want to miss. 

4.  The Excelsior Scholarship Program 

This New York City-based scholarship is a great program for any high school student planning to attend either SUNY (State University of New York) or CUNY (The City University of New York) to keep their eye on. This scholarship covers tuition for any family in the New York City area whose family made $125,000 or less after taxes in the 2023–2024 year. Given the size of the student population in New York City, this program is highly competitive. Look at their website and see some of the more detailed qualifications required before applying. It is a wonderful opportunity!

5. The TMCF & McDonald’s Black and Positively Golden Scholarship

For several years, the Thurgood Marshall College Fund has partnered with the McDonald’s corporation to allow students of color to excel in historically black colleges and universities. Their mission has always been to help provide the best access possible for all the students who benefit from this program. They believe in the power of education regardless of your skin color, background, or birthplace. With these scholarships, the awarded student can be assured that both they and their education matter most. That is why this scholarship will be a fantastic one to pay attention to this year. 

6. The Wells Fargo Scholarship for People with Disabilities

If you are a high school senior with an identified disability, check out this amazing program provided by none other than Wells Fargo Bank. Under their umbrella, this scholarship awards those accepted students with a tuition aid ranging from $1,250 to $2,500. Given its nationwide outreach, this program can and will be competitive, so treating it with as much focus and determination as possible is best. The deadline for this program is March 2025. It is a very important, worthy cause, and one that should be talked about more. For further information, check out their application page. 

7. Penguin Random House Creative Writing Awards Scholarship

You have probably seen or heard the name Penguin Random House in the wide world of books. This ubiquitous publishing company has become synonymous with everything from ebooks and paperbacks to audible.com. In honor of their love for writing, they offer a $10,000 scholarship award to five students every year. To apply, you must be a high school Senior rising into college and submit a sample of fiction, memoir, poetry, or drama/theater. The point is to highlight the talented young writers of our next generation. So if you love writing, see if this once-in-a-lifetime-chance is for you!

These scholarships are some of the best in the country. Each of them provides students a chance to keep moving, to keep trying, and maybe one day be able to give back to the generations that came after them. Each one of these scholarships, no matter how large the company, is based on generosity. NSHSS believes that scholarships should not just be in a vacuum and encourage students to keep applying to those scholarships. In the end, it will be worth it. Because this is all about helping out students who need that extra leg up. It’s not just about the money, it’s about the trust and the leadership that these companies see in you. So don’t wait any longer, get those applications rolling. You never know where something like this will take you!