Cooke Young Scholars Program vs National Achievement® Scholarship Program
Comparing two highly competitive interdisciplinary opportunities. Both are scholarships for high school students.
| Cooke Young Scholars Program | National Achievement® Scholarship Program | |
|---|---|---|
| Prestige Tier | Tier 2 — Highly Competitive | Tier 2 — Highly Competitive |
| Type | Scholarship | Scholarship |
| Organization | Jack Kent Cooke Foundation | National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC) |
| Acceptance Rate | Highly competitive; specific acceptance rate not publicly stated, but highly selective. In 2025, 65 new scholars were selected nationally. | Approximately 0.74% of participants became Achievement Scholars (34,000 out of 4.6 million) |
| Applicants | Not publicly disclosed, but given 65 winners and highly selective nature, estimated to be in thousands nationally | 4.6 million total participants over 51 years (average ~90,000 per year) |
| Deadline | — | — |
| Cost to Apply | Free | Free |
| US Only | Yes | Yes |
| Grades | Currently in 7th grade and/or entering 8th grade in fall 2027 (timing varies by application cycle) | Was grades 10-11 (PSAT/NMSQT testing year) |
| College Impact | The Cooke Young Scholars Program is highly regarded in college admissions. Being a Cooke Scholar signals to admissions officers that a student was identified as 'exceptionally promising' by a national... | {'how_viewed': 'Major accomplishment showing top academic achievement; comparable to National Merit recognition', 'prestige_level': 'Achievement Scholar title was highly prestigious for college admissions', 'lasting_recognition': 'Title remained on student record and was noted in college applications throughout academic career', 'scholarship_connections': 'Many colleges specifically recruited National Achievement Scholars and offered additional financial aid', 'college_admissions_value': 'Significantly boosted applications to selective colleges; demonstrated exceptional academic merit and potential'} |