Jackie Robinson Foundation Scholarship
Offered by Jackie Robinson Foundation · Free to apply
About 60 Black, Latino, Asian, Native American, and Pacific Islander seniors are selected each year for $35,000 spread across four years, paired with a four-year support program of mentoring, internship placement, career coaching, and an annual leadership conference in New York. The application is heavy for a scholarship: four essays, one recommendation, an unofficial transcript, household financial information, and the CSS Profile, with test scores optional. Documented financial need is required, and the college must be an accredited four-year institution the foundation approves. Applications open in early September and close January 7 at 5 p.m. ET, with the recommendation and CSS Profile due at that same time; winners are announced in June. Scholars commit to the mentoring program, not only the funding.
How hard is the Jackie Robinson Foundation Scholarship to win?
A large applicant pool chases this award. Apply if the student is a genuinely strong fit, but build the plan around better-odds awards first.
- Estimated odds
- roughly 1 in 48 applicants
- Modelled applicant field
- ~3,000 students
- Awards each cycle
- 60
- Payoff per hour of work
- $182 / hr
What drives the odds here
Odds on a scholarship are mostly a question of how many students can enter. Each rule below changes the size of that field.
- More rivalsOpen nationwide, so the field is large
- Fewer rivalsAn essay is required, which filters out casual applicants
- Fewer rivalsRecommendation letters are required, a step many applicants skip
- Fewer rivalsAn official transcript is required
- Fewer rivalsRestricted by racial or ethnic background
- Fewer rivalsOpen to a single grade level only
- More rivalsA large award draws far more applicants
How Solyo estimates this: We model the applicant field from how narrow the eligibility rules are, then divide the awards available by that field. Requirements such as essays and recommendation letters improve a serious applicant’s odds, because most browsers never complete them. These are estimates derived from each award's published structure, not reported acceptance rates, which almost no scholarship provider discloses. Treat them as a way to rank where the hours go, not as a guarantee.
Who can apply for the Jackie Robinson Foundation Scholarship?
These are the eligibility rules Solyo verified against the official award page, translated into plain English. Your student must meet each one.
- Open to high school seniors
- Open to U.S. citizens
- For students who identify as American Indian or Alaska Native, Asian, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, or Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander
- Must demonstrate financial need
- Must plan to attend an accredited four-year college or university in the US approved by the foundation
- Requires one recommendation, four essays, an unofficial transcript, and the CSS Profile
- Scholars commit to the foundation's four-year mentoring program, including the annual Mentoring and Leadership Conference
- Demonstrated leadership and dedication to community service are core selection criteria
- May not have completed more than 25 percent of the credits needed for a college degree at the time of application
- Test scores (SAT, ACT, AP, IB, or PSAT) are optional in the current application
What the application takes
- Essay required. The prompt centers on personal leadership.
- 1 letter of recommendation. Ask teachers or counselors early; good letters take time.
- Transcript required. Request it from the school registrar ahead of the deadline.
Deadline and application cycle
The current deadline is January 7, 2027 at 5:00 p.m. ET. This award runs on an annual cycle, with deadlines around January 7 each year. Applications open early September.
- Application opens
- Early September 2026
- Application, recommendation, and CSS Profile due
- January 7, 2027 at 5:00 p.m. ET
- Winners announced
- June 2027
Does your student actually qualify?
See if your student qualifies in 30 seconds. Solyo checks 20+ criteria against their real profile: GPA, state, grade level, intended major, and more, across every award in this directory at once.
Common questions about the Jackie Robinson Foundation Scholarship
How much is the Jackie Robinson Foundation Scholarship worth?
The Jackie Robinson Foundation Scholarship awards $35,000 over 4 years and is renewable in later years. 60 awards are made each cycle.
When is the Jackie Robinson Foundation Scholarship deadline?
The current deadline is January 7, 2027 at 5:00 p.m. ET. This award runs on an annual cycle, with deadlines around January 7 each year. Applications open early September.
When do Jackie Robinson Foundation Scholarship applications open?
Applications open early September, and close January 7, 2027 at 5:00 p.m. ET.
Who is eligible for the Jackie Robinson Foundation Scholarship?
Key requirements: Open to high school seniors; Open to U.S. citizens; For students who identify as American Indian or Alaska Native, Asian, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, or Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander.
Does the Jackie Robinson Foundation Scholarship require an essay?
Yes. The application requires an essay, 1 recommendation, and a transcript. Expect to spend about 6 hours on it.
How hard is it to win the Jackie Robinson Foundation Scholarship?
Solyo estimates the odds at roughly 1 in 48 applicants, against a modelled field of ~3,000 students. The pool stays that size because an essay is required, which filters out casual applicants and recommendation letters are required, a step many applicants skip. At 6 hrs of work, that is about $182 of expected value per hour. This is an estimate from award structure, not a published acceptance rate.
Is the Jackie Robinson Foundation Scholarship free to apply?
Yes. The Jackie Robinson Foundation Scholarship is free to apply. Legitimate scholarships never charge an application fee, and Solyo verifies every listed award against its official page.
More identity & background
- AAIA Native Scholarship$3,000 (varies by year)
- AISES Scholarships$1,500 - $20,000 (varies by scholarship)
- APIA Scholarship$2,500 - $20,000
- CBC Spouses Education Scholarship$2,500 - $20,000 (one-time)
- Cobell ScholarshipVaries; recent awards up to $12,000
- Connecticut Minority Teacher Incentive ProgramUp to $5,000/yr for two years, plus $2,500/yr loan reimbursement for up to four years teaching
Lists this award appears on
Award details are curated by Solyo and verified against the official scholarship page. Deadlines and requirements can change between cycles, so always confirm on the provider's site before applying.