Sponsoring Institution: McDonald’s Incorporated

Type: Scholarship program

Eligibility:

• You’re a high school senior and a legal U.S. Resident, U.S. Citizen or a DREAMER/DACA recipient
• You’re under 21 years old
• You carry a minimum 2.8 GPA
• You’re eligible to attend a two- or four-year college, university or vocational/technical school with a full-time course of study
• You’ll disclose other scholarship programs that you’ve applied for
• You’ll enroll and attend an accredited institution in the academic year after your selection (verification needed, as scholarship funds are paid directly to the schools)

Application Deadline: February (annually)

Highlight: McDonald’s is known for dishing out calories, but did you know that they also dish out money? The McDonald’s HACER Scholarship National Program is among the largest programs in the United States dedicated specifically to financially supporting Hispanic and Latino students as they pursue higher education. Each year, the McDonald’s scholarship program awards a total $1,000,000 to 100 students—and you don’t even have to work there. Any student selected can expect to receive between $5,000 and $100,000. Scholarship program recipients are chosen through a holistic selections process based on academic achievement, community involvement, personal statements, and financial need. These are significant rewards that will ease the financial burden of college, bringing peace of mind to your studies and your bank account. The money isn’t the only benefit provided by the scholarship program. The program boasts a large resource library with college preparation guides and tips for applying to this scholarship and others as well as an education tour for promoting student engagement and leadership. All of their college readiness and application guidance tools can be found online in both English and Spanish. With that being said, the scholarship program is a potentially life-changing opportunity that’s definitely worth checking out.