You Don't Have to Work at All These Fast Food Restaurants to Apply for a Scholarship
Your favorite fast food restaurants like Taco Bell and Chick-fil-A are giving back by offering scholarships to college students — here are the best and how to apply.
April 4 2022, Published 1:21 p.m. ET
College is expensive.
Luckily, there are scholarships that students can take advantage of to help offset the cost of tuition, housing, and those notoriously expensive college textbooks.
Several fast-food restaurants like Taco Bell and Chick-fil-A offer scholarships for college students that are easy to apply for and are available whether you work there or not. Keep reading for a look at some of the best options and upcoming deadlines:
Taco Bell — Live Más Scholarship
The Taco Bell Foundation offers scholarships to college students nationwide. All you have to do is submit a video answering the following questions:
- What is your passion and how are you currently pursuing it?
- How do you plan to use your passion to uniquely make a positive change in your community or the world?
- How will your education help enable you to pursue your passion and make a change?
In 2022, Taco Bell will be awarding $7 million in Live Más Scholarships. There's also a renewal program for previous winners.
Deadline: Fall 2022
McDonald's scholarships
McDonald's at Ohio State University
If you are a high school senior, carry a minimum 2.8 GPA, and have at least one parent of Hispanic heritage, you can apply to McDonald's Hacer Scholarship, which recognizes students based on academic achievement, financial need, and community involvement.
The best part? No essay is required.
McDonald’s Black and Positively Golden Scholarship Program also awards $500,000 in scholarships to students attending historically Black colleges and universities.
Deadline: Fall 2022
Chick-fil-A Remarkable Futures Scholarship
In 2021, Chick-fil-A awarded $19 million in scholarships to team members in 44 states, Washington D.C., and Canada.
There are two types of scholarships available: True Inspiration Scholarships ($25,000) and True Leadership Scholarships ($1,000 or $2,500).
Deadline: Fall 2022
Burger King Scholars Program
The Burger King Foundation offers employees, employees' spouses or domestic partners, employees' children, and high school seniors in the U.S., Puerto Rico, and Canada scholarships to help with furthering their education.
Last year alone, the fast-food restaurant awarded $4.5 million in scholarships to nearly 4,200 deserving students.
Deadline: Fall 2022
KFC Colonel's Scholar Program
The KFC Foundation has several grants and scholarships for eligible employees. There is Reach, the KFC Educational Grant program for college-bound employees ($3,000 for first-time winners), and Rise, to help employees who are earning their GEDs.
Deadline: February 2023
Denny's Hungry for Education Scholarship
Denny's partners with non-profit minority advocacy organizations and offers high school and college students scholarships with the best ideas for fighting childhood hunger.
An essay on how Denny’s can bring their communities together is required, as well as a 2.5 GPA. Over 25 scholarships ranging from $1,000 to $3,000 are awarded.
Deadline: Check out Denny's website for available scholarships.
Subway Fresh Start Scholarship Program
Sponsored by The Frederick A. DeLuca Foundation, Inc., Subway's Fresh Start Scholarship Program assists employees who are enrolled in a college, university, or vocational-technical school. If selected as a recipient, the student will receive a $2,500 scholarship award, and financial need isn't considered.
Deadline: April 2022
Dunkin' Donuts
Dunkin' Donuts offers regional scholarships to students around the country. There's the Philadelphia Regional Scholarship Program that will award 20 $5,000 scholarships to qualified students.
There are also scholarships available for students throughout the DMV region and South Florida.
Deadline: April 2022