Davidson Fellows Scholarship vs Cooke Young Scholars Program

Comparing two elite interdisciplinary opportunities. Both are scholarships for high school students.

Davidson Fellows Scholarship Cooke Young Scholars Program
Prestige Tier Tier 1 — Elite Tier 2 — Highly Competitive
Type Scholarship Scholarship
Organization Davidson Institute for Talent Development Jack Kent Cooke Foundation
Acceptance Rate Extremely competitive; estimated 1-3% acceptance rate (specific data not publicly disclosed) Highly competitive; specific acceptance rate not publicly stated, but highly selective. In 2025, 65 new scholars were selected nationally.
Applicants Hundreds of applicants annually across all categories (exact number not publicly disclosed) Not publicly disclosed, but given 65 winners and highly selective nature, estimated to be in thousands nationally
Deadline
Award $100,000
Cost to Apply Free Free
US Only Yes Yes
Grades Must be in high school or younger (any grade level acceptable as long as under 18) Currently in 7th grade and/or entering 8th grade in fall 2027 (timing varies by application cycle)
College Impact Davidson Fellows is viewed with extremely high regard by college admissions officers at top universities. Winning or being named a finalist demonstrates exceptional achievement and intellectual capabi... 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...