The application, letter of recommendation, and CSS Profile are due by 5:00 p.m. EST on January 14, 2027. As we receive thousands of applications and everything must be submitted electronically, we recommend that you do not wait until the last day to submit your application.

To be eligible for a Jackie Robinson Foundation Scholarship, an applicant must:

• Be a graduating high school senior
• Be a United States citizen
• Present evidence of financial need
• Demonstrate a record of academic excellence
• Demonstrate leadership potential and a dedication to community service
• Plan to attend an accredited and approved 4-year college within the United States or affiliated with a United States-based college or university
• Have not accrued more than 25% of credits needed to graduate from college

To be eligible to apply for the Jackie Robinson Foundation Scholarship, an applicant must be graduating high school in Spring 2027 and plan to enroll full-time in an accredited four-year college in Fall 2027. Applicants who have graduated in the year prior but have not enrolled in college coursework, are also eligible to apply.

Yes, you may apply for our scholarship if you haven’t been accepted yet to a college. However, the eventual awarding of the scholarship will require verification of college enrollment.

Yes, all applicants are required to submit either ACT or SAT scores. You should submit scores from one test date and NOT use a super-score, where you combine your highest section scores from multiple SAT or ACT test dates to create the highest possible score.

The Jackie Robinson Foundation understands that there is a wide array of financial need. We will look at each application on a case-by-case basis.

No, you do not have to be an athlete. The Jackie Robinson Foundation is a merit based academic scholarship.

The Jackie Robinson Foundation is looking for the next group of leaders and innovators. We are looking for individuals who have shown a commitment to addressing needs in one’s insightful and exciting new ways. Whether starting a non–profit or school organization, reading to younger people, volunteering in a food pantry, helping to build houses for those in need, or similar community engagement, JRF Scholars embrace Jackie Robinson’s philosophy that, “A life is not important except in its impact on other lives.”

The application and the letter of recommendation can only be submitted electronically via JRF’s online application.

No. The application can only be submitted online.

Select a recommender who will devote the time to provide a positive, compelling, and accurate description of you. The person should have known you for a significant period of time but should not be a family member or someone who knows you only in a friendship capacity. The recommender should be fully aware of your academic history, interests, and goals, and should address your ability to meet the requirements and expectations of the JRF scholarship, including strong academic performance, community service, and leadership propensity.  Possible recommenders to consider are a teacher, guidance counselor, athletic coach, employer, or mentor with whom you have interacted in an extra-curricular activity.

Once you create an account, you will click on the recommendation tab where you will input your recommender’s email address and invite them to complete your letter of recommendation. You can even include background information when you request a recommendation to assist in personalizing your letter. Your recommendation request can be sent before you submit the application. We encourage you to get in your recommender details ASAP to give the recommender enough time to complete the request. The system will notify your recommender of the due date and let you know when your recommendation has been completed and transmitted electronically to JRF. Be sure to follow up with your recommender to ensure they submit your letter of recommendation at least 24 hours before the deadline. For your application to be considered complete, all components, including your letter of recommendation, must be submitted by 5:00 p.m. EST on January 14, 2027. JRF will only accept online submissions.

As a home-schooled applicant, you should submit your parent-issued transcript.

For your application to be considered complete, you must submit a College Board CSS Profile for your main and, if applicable, secondary/noncustodial parent household. Please visit https://cssprofile.collegeboard.org/ for directions. Once completed, you will select to submit your profile to the Jackie Robinson Foundation, code 4248. You will select the Jackie Robinson Foundation in the school section to have the report sent to us. If you do not select the Jackie Robinson Foundation as your school, we will not receive your profile, and your application will not be considered complete.

No, we are unable to grant extensions for late applications. The application deadline date is 5:00 p.m. EST on January 14, 2027.

Your application should be entirely your own work. All submitted writing must be your own and reflect your own ideas, experiences, voice, and critical thinking. AI tools (e.g., ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini) may be used only in very limited ways, such as spelling and grammar edits. Applications containing AI-generated content are subject to being disqualified from consideration.

You will be notified of your status by the end of June after your application is submitted.

The number of scholarship awards distributed varies each year, but typically, 60 awards are given annually.

Yes. The Jackie Robinson Foundation Scholarship award is disbursed over four years.

JRF’s scholarship commitment covers four years of undergraduate study. After earning an undergraduate degree, JRF Scholars may be eligible to apply for the Extra Innings Fellowship, which provides funding for graduate study.

For all questions regarding the online application or requirements contact Jackie Robinson Foundation by email at connect@jackierobinson.org