The PepsiCo Foundation S.M.I.L.E. Scholarship
The PepsiCo Foundation S.M.I.L.E. (Success Matters in Life & Education) Scholarship is designed to help students transition from designated partner community colleges to four-year colleges and universities.
The PepsiCo Foundation S.M.I.L.E. Scholarship
The PepsiCo Foundation S.M.I.L.E. (Success Matters in Life & Education) Scholarship is designed to help students transition from designated partner community colleges to four-year colleges and universities.
The PepsiCo Foundation S.M.I.L.E. Scholarship seeks to break down barriers for students lacking access to financial support and professional development opportunities. To qualify for this need-based scholarship, students must identify as a member of an underserved community (i.e., not receiving enough help, products, or services), or otherwise meet one of the eligibility criteria listed in the application.
The program is administered by Scholarship America®, the nation’s largest designer and manager of scholarships and other education support programs for corporations, foundations, associations, and individuals. Eligibility for individual programs is determined at the sole discretion of the sponsor and eligible applications are reviewed by Scholarship America’s evaluation team.
Eligibility
Applicants to The PepsiCo Foundation S.M.I.L.E. Scholarship must:
- Be a current college undergraduate attending one of the following colleges for the 2026 spring term:
- Westchester Community College – Valhalla, NY
- Dallas College – Dallas, TX
- City Colleges of Chicago – Chicago, IL
- Valencia College, Orlando, FL
- Los Angeles Community College District, CA
- Los Angeles City College
- L.A. Trade-Tech College
- Prince George’s Community College – Washington, D.C. area
- St. Louis Community College, MO
- Ivy Tech Community College – Indianapolis, IN
- Ivy Tech Community College – Plainfield campus
- Ivy Tech Community College – Lawrence campus
- Ivy Tech Community College – Hamilton County campus
- Miami Dade College, FL
- Colorado Community College System (CCCS), Denver, CO
- Community College of Denver
- Community College of Aurora
- Front Range Community College
- Have completed 45 credit hours by January 2026
- Plan to enroll in full-time undergraduate study at an accredited four-year college or university for the entire upcoming academic year (2026-2027)
- Have a minimum grade point average of 2.75 on a 4.0 scale (or its equivalent)
- Have an indefinite right to work in the United States without visa sponsorship after degree attainment
- Agree to receive and respond to communications directly from PepsiCo in a timely manner
- Agree to a recorded final video interview
- Agree to fully participate in professional development and mentorship offerings and periodic check-in calls
- Agree to respond to periodic surveys
- Be pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in an eligible STEM or Business Major.
PepsiCo employees and children of PepsiCo employees are ineligible.
Study in any medical field is NOT eligible.
Awards
If selected, the student will receive a total annual award of up to $20,000, broken into two semester by semester payments up to $10,000 per semester, based on cost of attendance at their enrolled 4 yr college or university.
Awards are approved and renewed on a semester by semester basis. For example, recipients will receive up to $10,000 for Fall 2026 semester based on cost of attendance. Recipients must meet renewal requirements by a set date in Fall 2026 to receive a renewal payment of up to $10,000 for Spring 2027 semester. Awards are renewable up to one year, or until a bachelor’s degree is earned, whichever occurs first, on the basis of satisfactory academic performance, continued enrollment at a 4-year college or university in a PepsiCo approved major, and participation in Professional Development programming provided by PepsiCo. If an award recipient changes their major to an area of study outside of the eligible Business and STEM Majors, they will forfeit eligibility for the scholarship.
Awards are for undergraduate study only.
Award funds may be used primarily for tuition and fees and for education-related expenses including room and board and indirect educational expenses included in the cost of attendance.
In addition to funding towards cost of attendance, the scholarship also offers a rich series of professional development events, workforce readiness tools, and mentorship, to help recipients prepare for the transition to a successful corporate career.
Recipients MUST be enrolled in full-time undergraduate study at an accredited four (4) year college or university for the entire 2026-2027 academic year (fall and spring terms.) Scholarship funding will be applied for the entire 2026-2027 academic year. Failure to confirm enrollment for the Fall 2026 semester will result in forfeiture of the entire scholarship award.
Notification
All applicants will be notified of their status via email in May.
Notifications are sent via email. When setting up your account, avoid using a school or work email. Instead, use an active, personal email address that you will continue to have access to.
Please make sure to add studentsupport@scholarshipamerica.org as well as the program email address as safe senders in your email contact list.
Payment of Scholarships
Scholarship America processes scholarship payments on behalf of PepsiCo Foundation. Payment is made in August for the 2026 fall semester, and again in January 2027 for the 2027 spring semester. (up to $10,000 per semester provided student meets eligibility requirements)
Selection of Recipients
Scholarship recipients are selected on the basis of:
- Academic record
- Demonstrated leadership and participation in school and community activities
- Work experience
- Statement of goals and aspirations
- One Essay*
Financial need will be considered. Recipients must demonstrate need.
Selection of recipients is made by Scholarship America. In no instance does any officer or employee of PepsiCo Foundation play a part in the selection. Not all applicants to the program will be selected as recipients. Students may reapply to the program each year they meet eligibility requirements. All applicants agree to accept the decision as final.
*Essay Topic
Essay: How could receiving this scholarship help you overcome obstacles, including financial challenges, and ultimately reach your educational and career goals? (2,000 characters)
Requirements
As part of your application, you must upload the following:
- A current, complete transcript of grades. Grade reports are not accepted. Transcripts must display: student name, school name, grades, credit hours for each course and term in which each course was taken
- Please provide proof of enrollment at one of the eligible colleges for the 2026 spring term. The uploaded document must show the student’s full name, the school’s name (this can be in a URL), and the 2026 spring term classes and credit hours must be listed.
Your application is not complete unless all required materials are submitted electronically.
