Love making a difference in your community? Preparing to begin or continue your undergraduate or graduate education?
Great—the Chick-fil-A Scholarship could be an excellent opportunity to explore.
Every year, Chick-fil-A awards twelve students $25,000 scholarships to help cover the costs of tuition, fees, books, and other school-related expenses at any accredited college, university, or vocational/technical school.
But there’s more to it than just financial support. As a scholarship recipient, you’ll also get to join the Chick-fil-A Scholars Program, which offers one year of mentoring and leadership development opportunities.
In this guide, we’ll
walk you through the application process
break down the eligibility requirements
and share tips to boost your chances of winning.
Let’s dive in.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
(click to skip ahead)What is the Chick-fil-A Scholarship?
The Chick-fil-A Scholarship is a $25,000 scholarship offered by the fast food restaurant Chick-fil-A. It rewards and supports future community leaders by making college more affordable.
Brief history of the Chick-fil-A Scholarship programs
The roots of the Chick-fil-A Scholarship trace back to the early 1950s. S. Truett Cathy, the former CEO of Chick-fil-A, asked his team to place an empty mayonnaise jar on the counter of one of the restaurants to collect donations for Team Member Eddie White’s college fund.
Thanks to the contributions from customers and colleagues, Eddie was able to attend Morris Brown College. This small act of community support laid the foundation for what would become Chick-fil-A’s long-standing commitment to education.
To date, Chick-fil-A has awarded more than $191 million in scholarships to over 105,000 employees. And since 2022, through the Chick-fil-A Community Scholars program, they’ve put more than $600,000 into the education of students who are making a difference in their communities—even if they’re not working at Chick-fil-A.
Chick-fil-A Community Scholars Program
You don’t have to work at Chick-fil-A to apply for the Community Scholars Program. It’s open to all students who demonstrate academic achievement, community service, and financial need.
Each year, at least twelve students receive a $25,000 scholarship through the program. The scholarship money can be used for
tuition
books
fees
and other education-related expenses at any accredited school
In addition to the financial support, recipients participate in a year-long program focused on leadership development and mentoring.
Chick-fil-A Remarkable Futures
Unlike the Chick-fil-A Community Scholars Program, the Chick-fil-A Remarkable Futures Program is only for Chick-fil-A restaurant employees. It is an education assistance program to support employees' pursuit of higher education and personal growth.
Winners receive scholarships worth $1,000, $2,500, or $25,000. Like the Community Scholars Program, the award money can be used to cover tuition, fees, books, and other education-related expenses at an accredited school.
Chick-fil-A Scholarship Eligibility, Requirements, and Guidelines
Even though you don’t need to work at Chick-fil-A to apply for the Community Scholars Program, there are still a few things you’ll need to keep in mind.
Let’s take a look at the eligibility criteria to see if you’re a good fit.
Eligibility requirements
To be eligible, you need to meet a few key requirements:
You must be a resident of the United States, Puerto Rico, or Canada.
You should be an undergraduate or graduate student or planning to enroll in an accredited school for the upcoming academic year. If you are a senior in high school, you can still apply as long as you plan to attend college or university in the fall of the upcoming year.
You’ll need a recommendation from a teacher, coach, or community leader who can speak to your achievements. Up to three recommendation letters are accepted.
You’ll need to show that you’ve been involved in your community over the past year and share how you’ve made a positive impact.
Your GPA should be at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale (or equivalent). You’ll be asked to upload a transcript with your name, school, classes, and GPA.
You must demonstrate financial need.
You cannot be employed at a Chick-fil-A® restaurant or Chick-fil-A, Inc. at the time of application. Also, you can’t be the dependent or spouse of a Chick-fil-A employee or operator.
Guidelines
The scholarship can help with things like tuition, books, and other school-related expenses at any accredited institution. Keep in mind that the scholarship check will be made payable to your school—it can’t be used for student loans or refunded to you.
If chosen, you’ll receive a scholarship and participate in a year-long program focused on leadership development and mentoring. This is a great opportunity to gain valuable skills while working alongside other community-focused students.
How to apply for the Chick-fil-A Scholarship
Applying for the Chick-fil-A scholarship is straightforward. Here’s everything you’ll need to do:
Submit an application form through the official Chick-fil-A scholarship portal.
Upload a current transcript that shows your academic performance.
Provide a copy of your parents’ first two pages of their IRS 1040 income tax form or the T-1 Canadian income tax return.
Include at least one online recommendation from a teacher, coach, or community leader who can speak to your achievements and character.
Make sure you submit all your materials by the application deadline to be considered for the scholarship.
Application timeline
When should you apply for the Chick-fil-A Scholarship? Here’s the typical application timeline:
Early August - Application Opens
Early November - Application Closes
Spring - Notification of Scholarship Recipients
July - Winners Receive Scholarship Reward Money
Application tips
You might be feeling excited about applying for the Chick-fil-A Scholarship. But are you ready to make the best impression? A little preparation can go a long way!
Here are four tips to help you stand out and put your best foot forward.
Tip 1 - Start Early
Starting your application early can help you maximize your chance of winning the scholarship. Plus, it’ll help you avoid last-minute stress.
When you give yourself plenty of time, you can carefully gather your materials, ask questions, and fill out the application thoughtfully. It ensures you get everything done ahead of time, so you don’t miss out on this opportunity. And it lets your recommender complete their part without feeling rushed.
Tip 2: Get a Strong Recommendation
A strong recommendation can make a big impact on your application. Choose someone who knows you well and can speak to your character, accomplishments, and leadership potential.
Whether it’s a teacher, coach, or community leader, make sure they can provide specific examples of your achievements. You can help them by writing a short message with your recommendation request. You’d include any details or insights that might help them highlight your strengths.
For example, you might mention a community service project you led, an academic achievement you’re particularly proud of, or a challenge you overcame. Providing context like this will help your recommender write a more personalized and impactful letter that truly showcases how much you deserve the scholarship.
Helpful resource: How to Ask for a Letter of Recommendation
Tip 3 - Be Specific in Your Responses
Remember how many applications the scholarship committee reviews each year—thousands. These applicants are ambitious and passionate about improving their communities, too. So, it’s worth asking yourself: Are you sharing enough detail to make your application stand out?
To make your responses more compelling, focus on sharing real examples. Be specific. When you talk about your academic achievements, community involvement, or service opportunities, illustrate them with stories.
For example, instead of just saying you volunteered, explain how you organized a food drive that raised 500 pounds of donations for a local food bank. The more details you provide, the better the committee will understand your impact.
Helpful resource: 14 Scholarship Essay Examples That Won Thousands 2024
Tip 4 - Get Feedback from a Trusted Adult or Mentor
Getting a second pair of eyes on your application can give you extra confidence before hitting submit. They can help you catch any mistakes or areas that need improvement.
For example, you might ask a parent or teacher to review your responses for clarity and grammar. You may even ask them if they think your answers truly highlight your strengths and experiences.
Considering the Chick-fil-A scholarship is all about leadership and community impact, you can ask for feedback on the following:
Whether your examples clearly demonstrate leadership skills.
If your community service contributions are well explained.
If your academic achievements stand out and are presented clearly.
If your responses convey your passion for helping others.
Whether your application flows well and makes a strong case for why you deserve the scholarship.
Final thoughts
The Chick-fil-A scholarship is an excellent opportunity if you’re a driven student with a passion for making a difference in your community.
You could put the $25,000 scholarship toward tuition, books, and other education expenses, helping you focus on what matters most—your education. You’d also get one year of mentoring and leadership development, which could help you grow as a leader and further your personal and professional goals.
Did you know there are other scholarships for community-minded students like you? Here are a few you might consider applying for in addition to the Chick-fil-A scholarship:
Want to learn how to put together a winning scholarship application? Read this guide next.
Special thanks to Ameer Drane for writing this blog post
Ameer Drane is a freelance writer who specializes in writing about college admissions and career development. Prior to freelancing, Ameer worked for three years as a college admissions consultant at a Hong Kong-based education center, helping local high school students prepare and apply for top colleges and universities in the US. He has a B.A. in Latin American Studies from the University of Chicago and an M.A. in Spanish Linguistics from UCLA. When he’s not working, Ameer loves traveling, weight lifting, writing, reading, and learning foreign languages. He currently lives in Bangkok, Thailand.
Top values: Growth / Diversity / Empathy
