Corporate Scholarships From Industry Giants: Your Complete Guide to Funding College Through Corporate Support

Paying for college doesn’t always require taking on student debt. One of the smartest moves students can make is tapping into corporate scholarships—many Fortune 500 companies actively fund education initiatives. The advantage? Unlike loans, you never have to repay this money. Corporate scholarships can cover tuition, housing, textbooks, and more. Here’s everything you need to know about 15 major corporate scholarship programs available to students.

Why Companies Invest in Corporate Scholarships

Tech giants, consumer brands, and energy companies all offer substantial corporate scholarships. Why? They’re investing in tomorrow’s workforce while supporting students who might otherwise struggle to afford college. These programs range from $1,000 to $100,000, with some offering additional perks like internships, laptops, and professional support services.

High-Paying Corporate Scholarships ($20,000+)

The Coca-Cola Scholars Program: $20,000 Per Award

The Coca-Cola Scholars Program distributes over $81 million annually across 6,750 students. Each year, approximately 150 high school students receive $20,000 awards. The beverage company prioritizes students with solid academics (3.0 GPA minimum), strong extracurricular involvement, and meaningful community service records. The next application cycle opens in August 2024. This is one of the most accessible corporate scholarships for well-rounded candidates.

Dell’s Comprehensive Education Support Package

Dell Scholars Program awards don’t stop at $20,000 tuition coverage. Recipients also get a laptop with four-year protection, a $500 Chegg credit for textbooks, and free teletherapy services for family members. To qualify for this corporate scholarship, you must demonstrate financial need (be Pell Grant-eligible) and maintain a 2.4 GPA. Applications launch October 1, 2024.

McDonald’s HACER: Up to $100,000 for Latino Students

If you’re a Latino student, McDonald’s HACER National Scholarship offers the largest individual awards among these corporate scholarships. The program awards 30 scholarships with three tiers: Tier 1 reaches up to $100,000, Tier 2 offers $10,000-$20,000, and Tier 3 provides $5,000. You’ll need a 2.8 GPA minimum and demonstrated financial need. Both U.S. residents and DACA/DREAM recipients qualify. Full-time college attendance is required.

Microsoft’s Commitment to Female and Nonbinary Students

The Women at Microsoft Scholarship offers $5,000 that can be renewed for up to four years. This corporate scholarship targets high school seniors identifying as female or nonbinary who plan to study STEAM fields at two- or four-year accredited institutions or vocational schools. Application deadline: March 13, 2024.

Mid-Range Corporate Scholarships ($5,000–$10,000)

Generation Google Scholarship: Diversity-First Tech Funding

Google provides $10,000 (U.S.) or $5,000 CAD (Canada) through its Generation Google Scholarship. While open to all aspiring computer scientists and engineers, Google prioritizes women, Black/African American, Hispanic/Latino, Native American, and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander students. You’ll complete an online form and two essays on problem-solving and diversity commitment.

Lockheed Martin’s STEM Scholarship With Internship Opportunities

Lockheed Martin awards $10,000 annually (renewable for four years) plus potential internships. This corporate scholarship requires U.S. citizenship, 2.5+ GPA, demonstrated financial need, and full-time enrollment in a four-year program. Eligible STEM majors include aerospace engineering, computer science, electrical engineering, mathematics, mechanical engineering, and physics. The company prioritizes women, racial/ethnic minorities, disabled individuals, LGBTQ+ members, first-generation students, and military-connected applicants.

Amazon Future Engineer: The Generous Tech Scholarship

Amazon’s Future Engineer Scholarship is one of the most robust corporate scholarships in the tech sector. Students receive $10,000 annually (renewable for four years) plus an Amazon internship. You must be a high school senior planning to pursue computer science, software engineering, computer engineering, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, or robotics. Minimum 2.3 GPA and demonstrated financial need required.

Chevrolet and NNPA’s Journalism Scholarship

HBCU journalism students can access a $10,000 scholarship plus $8,000 stipend through this corporate partnership. Winners complete a virtual internship with networking access to professional journalists. You must be 18–22 years old (19+ in Alabama) and currently enrolled at an HBCU.

Shell Company’s Technical Scholarship

Shell selects 20 winners for a $2,500 scholarship targeting students strong in math and science. Intended majors include geology, geophysics, physics, and various engineering disciplines (chemical, civil, electrical, geological, mechanical, petroleum). High school seniors only. Minority students should also explore the Shell Incentive Fund Scholarship, which awards another $2,500 to 20 students.

AISES Chevron Scholarship: For Indigenous STEM Students

Chevron offers a $5,000 scholarship to STEM students with Indigenous ancestry enrolled in or descending from Native American tribes, Alaska Native villages, Native Hawaiian communities, or Pacific Islander groups, or Indigenous peoples of Canada. Eligible majors span computer engineering, geology, petroleum engineering, mechanical engineering, chemical engineering, and environmental engineering. Minimum 3.0 GPA required. Application deadline: April 30, 2024. You must be legally eligible to work in the U.S.

Flexible Corporate Scholarships With Varied Amounts

Burger King Scholars: Up to $60,000

Burger King distributes thousands of scholarships annually ranging from $1,000 to $60,000. Current employees, their families, and high school seniors without company ties can apply. Funds cover traditional college, vocational school, or technical school. Applicants in the U.S., Puerto Rico, and Canada are eligible.

Chick-fil-A Remarkable Futures Scholarship: Two Pathways

Chick-fil-A employees can pursue two scholarship tracks: the True Inspiration Scholarship ($25,000) and the Leadership Scholarship ($1,000–$2,500). Both require supervisor recommendation, 2.5+ GPA, and enrollment in accredited college or technical school. Part-time and full-time students qualify.

Home Depot Foundation’s Path to Pro Scholarship

This $2,000 scholarship targets vocational and technical students pursuing carpentry, electrical work, HVAC, plumbing, or construction management. You must be a high school senior or GED holder. Notably, current Home Depot employees and their children cannot apply, keeping the opportunity open for outside candidates.

Dr. Pepper Tuition Giveaway: Up to $100,000

Dr. Pepper’s competition offers substantial rewards: five winners receive $100,000, five get $25,000, and ten win $2,500. Applicants (ages 18–24) submit video essays on world-changing ideas. Finalists compete at a college football conference championship game for the top prize. This corporate scholarship combines entertainment with education funding.

Taco Bell Live Más Scholarship: 220 Winners Share $1 Million

High school seniors and current college students aged 16–26 can apply with a 30-second to two-minute passion video. Taco Bell awards approximately $1 million across 220 recipients, though individual amounts vary. Previous winners can reapply through the Live Más Scholarship renewal program.

Key Takeaways on Corporate Scholarships

These 15 corporate scholarships demonstrate how leading companies invest in education while building future talent pipelines. Whether you’re targeting STEM fields, specific industries, underrepresented groups, or vocational training, corporate scholarships can dramatically reduce your college costs. The combination of tuition coverage, internships, professional development, and additional support services makes corporate scholarships particularly valuable compared to other funding sources.

Start by identifying which corporate scholarships align with your academic interests, background, and career goals. Many accept applications year-round, though specific deadlines vary—mark your calendar for August 2024, October 2024, and April 2024 deadlines listed above. Corporate scholarships often receive fewer applications than merit-based programs, giving motivated students a genuine advantage in securing funding.