About the opportunity
The Burger King Foundation, in partnership with Scholarship America, offers the Burger King Scholars program to help students and employees offset the cost of attending accredited two- or four-year colleges, universities, vocational-technical schools, or enrichment programs. The program features two main tracks: the General Track for graduating high school seniors and past recipients, and the Employee-Based Track for Burger King system employees, their spouses, domestic partners, and dependent children. Awards are intended to support undergraduate study, graduate study, and continuing education courses. Since its inception, the program has awarded nearly $64 million to over 58,000 students across North America.
Funding and benefits
- Scholarship awards ranging from $1,000 to $60,000 depending on the specific award tier.
- Special named awards including up to three James W. McLamore WHOPPER Scholarships of $60,000 each.
- Nancy McLamore Scholarships of $20,000 for qualified employees.
- Regional King Awards of $15,000 and Hometown Scholarships of $10,000.
- Direct payment issued to the educational institution for the student's account.
Who can apply?
- Must be living in the United States, Puerto Rico, Guam, or Canada.
- General Track: High school seniors graduating during the 2026-2027 academic year (or homeschool equivalents) or past Burger King scholarship recipients who are current college undergraduates.
- Employee-Based Track: Active employees of Burger King Company LLC or participating franchisees (employed for at least 3 months for traditional study or 1 year for specific awards), their spouses, domestic partners, or dependent children.
- Must have a cumulative high school or college grade point average (GPA) of 2.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale (or equivalent).
- Must plan to enroll full-time or part-time (or less than part-time/intermittently for enrichment courses) at an accredited institution for the 2027-2028 academic year.
Required documents
- A current, complete high school or college transcript of grades (unofficial or online transcripts must display student name, school name, grades, and credit hours for each course and term).
- A copy of the first two pages of the most recently filed IRS Form 1040 used for financial information (SSN/SIN must be blacked out).
- Letter of recommendation from a store manager or franchisee if requested during the selection process for specific employee awards.
When to apply
- Applications open on October 15, 2026.
- Application deadline is December 15, 2026, at 11:59 PM CT.
- Applicants will be notified of their status via email in April 2027.
How to apply
- Access the online application portal via the official Scholarship America platform.
- Complete the application form in English, Spanish, or French.
- Upload the required academic transcripts and financial documentation before the deadline.
Additional information
- Scholarship America will only review the first 30,000 community applications received, though all employee-track applications will be reviewed regardless of submission volume within that group.
- Awards are non-renewable and cannot be deferred, but past recipients may reapply each year for up to a maximum of four awards.
- Payments are processed in August and made payable directly to the school.
Our Take on This Opportunity
This section reflects Open Opportunities’ own analysis of the opportunity from an applicant’s perspective.
You may be a strong fit if…
- High school seniors and current undergraduate students planning to enroll in accredited post-secondary programs in North America.
- Burger King system employees, spouses, and children seeking financial assistance for traditional degrees or vocational enrichment courses.
- Students with strong academic records, active community involvement, work experience, and demonstrated financial need.
What should you think carefully about?
- Community applications are subject to a strict cap of the first 30,000 submissions reviewed, making early application essential.
- Awards are non-renewable and limited to a maximum of four total awards per recipient across multiple application cycles.
- Documentation requirements, including redacted tax forms and official transcripts, must be precisely prepared and uploaded prior to the deadline.
How could this fit your current goals and plans?
This scholarship offers valuable financial support to offset tuition, books, and other educational expenses for students pursuing undergraduate, graduate, or vocational programs. It serves as a practical funding source for individuals balancing work in the restaurant industry or pursuing higher education directly out of high school.
Our take
Eligible high school seniors, college students, and Burger King employees seeking financial assistance for the 2027-2028 academic year should seriously consider applying. Due to the cap on community submissions, prospective applicants should submit their materials as early as possible after applications open.
Ready to apply?
Review the opportunity on the official website before applying.
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