All About the Burger King Scholarship

Hoping to go to college but worried about the cost? You’re not alone. The good news is that financial help is available, sometimes from places you might not expect.

The Burger King Scholarship program is a major player in the world of corporate scholarships, offering a fantastic opportunity for students across North America.

What is the Burger King Scholarship?

The Burger King Scholars program, run by the Burger King Foundation, is a scholarship designed to help students pay for college or vocational school.

Since its beginnings, the foundation has awarded over $64 million to more than 54,000 students.

 It’s one of the largest and most well-known corporate scholarship programs in the country.

The program’s goal is to support ambitious students by rewarding their academic achievements, community involvement, and leadership skills.

It’s open not just to the general public but also offers specific opportunities for Burger King employees and their families, showing a commitment to supporting its own community.

How Much Money Can You Get?

The Burger King Foundation offers a range of awards, from general scholarships to top-tier prizes for exceptional students. This tiered system means there are multiple opportunities to win.

Here’s a breakdown of the available scholarship amounts:

James W. McLamore WHOPPER® Scholarships

These are the top prizes, offering an incredible $60,000 to the most outstanding applicants.

Nancy McLamore Scholarship

This award provides $20,000 to a deserving student.

King Awards

Several students can receive $10,000 through these awards.

Regional Awards

These scholarships are worth $5,000.

General Track & Franchisee-Sponsored Scholarships

The most common awards are $1,000 scholarships given to a large number of high school seniors and students sponsored by local franchise owners.

Employee-Based Track Scholarships

The amounts for Burger King employees and their families can vary.

With awards ranging from $1,000 all the way up to $60,000, this program has the potential to make a significant impact on your educational journey.

Who is Eligible for the Scholarship?

The eligibility requirements are straightforward, which makes the Burger King Scholarship accessible to a wide range of students. To apply, you must meet the following criteria:

Residency

You must be a resident of the United States, Canada, Puerto Rico, or Guam.

Academic Standing

You must be a graduating high school senior with a cumulative GPA of at least 2.5 on a 4.0 scale.

Educational Plans

You need to be planning to enroll full-time at an accredited two- or four-year college, university, or vocational-technical school in the U.S., Canada, or Puerto Rico for the upcoming academic year.

Merit Category	Description	Example of Achievement
Academic Excellence	Recognizing outstanding performance in coursework and scholarly pursuits.	Consistently achieving high grades (e.g., a GPA of 3.8 or above), making the Dean’s List, or receiving honors in a specific subject.
Leadership	Demonstrating the ability to guide, inspire, and organize peers towards a common goal.	Serving as a president of a student club, captain of a sports team, or leading a significant group project successfully.
Community Service	Committing time and effort to voluntary work that benefits the wider community.	Volunteering regularly at a local shelter, organizing a charity fundraiser, or participating in an environmental clean-up initiative.
Extracurricular Activities	Showing dedication and skill in non-academic areas such as sports, arts, or clubs.	Winning a debate tournament, earning a principal role in a school play, or achieving a high rank in a competitive sport.
Innovation & Creativity	Developing original ideas or solutions to problems through creative thinking.	Creating a new mobile app, winning a science fair with an original invention, or publishing a piece of creative writing.
Personal Growth	Exhibiting significant improvement, resilience, or effort in personal or academic development.	Overcoming a challenging academic subject through perseverance or showing marked improvement in public speaking skills.

Special Eligibility for Burger King Employees

The program also has a dedicated track for Burger King employees and their immediate family members (spouses and children). The criteria for this group are slightly different:

Employment

You or your parent/spouse must be a Burger King employee.

Educational Plans

You can be pursuing postsecondary education either full-time or part-time. This flexibility is a great benefit for employees who may be balancing work and school.

This inclusive approach ensures that students from various backgrounds have a chance to receive financial support.

How to Apply for the Burger King Scholarship

The application process is entirely online and managed through Scholarship America, a trusted partner of the Burger King Foundation. 

The application window typically opens in the fall and closes in mid-December.

Here’s a step-by-step guide to applying:

Visit the Official Application Portal

The only place to apply is through the official Burger King Scholars application portal, which you can find on the Burger King Foundation website. Be careful of unofficial sites.

Create a Student Account

You’ll need to create a profile with your personal and academic information.

Gather Your Documents

Before you start, make sure you have the following information and documents ready:

• A high school transcript showing your grades and GPA.
• A list of your work experience and extracurricular activities.
• Information about your family’s financial situation (this may be used to determine financial need for some awards).
• Your Burger King employee information, if you are applying through the employee track.

Complete the Application

Fill out all sections of the application carefully. Highlight your leadership roles, community service, and any part-time jobs you’ve held. 

This is your chance to show the selection committee who you are beyond your grades.

Submit Before the Deadline

The deadline is typically December 15th, but there’s a catch: the foundation only accepts the first 30,000 applications. 

This means you should apply as early as possible to ensure your application is considered.

After submitting, all applicants are usually notified of their status by email in May of the following year.

Tips for a Winning Application

With thousands of students applying, you need to make your application shine. Here are a few tips to increase your chances of winning a Burger King Scholarship:

Apply Early

Don’t wait until the last minute. The 30,000-application cap is a hard limit, so submitting your application early is crucial.

Show, Don’t Just Tell

When describing your extracurricular activities or work experience, use specific examples. Instead of saying “I was a leader,” describe a time when you led a team project or organized an event.

Highlight Community Involvement

The Burger King Foundation values students who give back to their communities. Be sure to list all your volunteer work and explain the impact you made.

Proofread Everything

Typos and grammatical errors can make your application look sloppy. Read through your entire application at least twice and have a teacher, counselor, or parent review it as well.

Be Authentic

Let your personality come through. The committee wants to get to know the real you. Be honest and passionate about your goals and aspirations.

Start Your Scholarship Journey

If you’re a determined student looking for ways to fund your education, this program is an excellent place to start. Gather your documents, mark the deadline on your calendar, and get ready to apply.