Introduction
Do you want help paying for college? The Chick-fil-A Scholarship can help eligible restaurant Team Members pay for school through the Chick-fil-A Remarkable Futures Scholarship program. The program offers $1,000, $2,500, and $25,000 awards. However, applicants must meet the requirements for the award they want.
Many students wonder whether they can apply and what they need to qualify. The rules depend on the scholarship award, so understanding the requirements before starting your application can save time and prevent mistakes.
The Chick-fil-A Scholarship is part of the Remarkable Futures Scholarship program, which helps eligible Chick-fil-A restaurant Team Members pay for education. Scholarships can be used at accredited colleges, universities, and vocational-technical schools.
Chick-fil-A has provided educational support to Team Members for many years. In 2026, the company awarded more than $29 million in scholarships to more than 16,000 Team Members.
The program currently has three award amounts: $1,000, $2,500, and $25,000. The requirements are not exactly the same for every award. Therefore, applicants should carefully review the rules for the specific award they want.
2. Who Can Apply?
The program is mainly for eligible Chick-fil-A restaurant Team Members. Both full-time and part-time employees may be eligible.
Team Members in the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico may apply if they meet the other requirements. There is also no required number of hours worked or length of service for the Remarkable Futures Scholarship.
Applicants must also plan to study at an accredited school or already be enrolled there. Depending on the award, other requirements may include GPA, a recommendation, service, and financial need.
Work at an Eligible Chick-fil-A Restaurant
To apply for the Chick-fil-A Scholarship, you must work at an eligible Chick-fil-A restaurant. The program includes franchised and company-owned restaurants and certain affiliated restaurants.
You do not need to work a specific number of hours. You also do not need to have worked at the restaurant for a particular number of months or years. Both full-time and part-time Team Members can qualify.
Simple Work Checklist
- Work at an eligible Chick-fil-A restaurant.
- Be a current Team Member when you apply.
- Check that your restaurant participates in the eligible program.
- Remember that no set number of work hours is required.
- Review the current rules before submitting your application.
If you are unsure whether your restaurant is eligible, ask your local Chick-fil-A Operator or review the official scholarship information.
Stay Employed During the Process
For the Remarkable Futures Scholarship, Team Members must also be employed at an eligible restaurant when the award is announced or presented, according to the applicable award rules.
This means applicants should understand the timing before applying. An accepted application does not necessarily mean that the scholarship has already been awarded.
If your employment situation changes after you submit an application, contact the scholarship program or your Chick-fil-A Operator to understand how the change could affect your application.
Attend an Accredited School
The Chick-fil-A Scholarship can be used at an accredited two-year or four-year college, university, or vocational-technical school. Students can study different subjects and choose different types of eligible education programs.
School Requirements to Check
- Check that your school is accredited.
- Make sure your school is a two-year or four-year college, university, or approved vocational-technical school.
- Check that your planned program is eligible.
- Keep your school information ready.
- Review the current scholarship rules before applying.
The scholarship is not limited to one particular subject. This allows eligible students to pursue many different fields at approved schools.
Meet the GPA Requirement
The minimum GPA depends on the scholarship award. For U.S. candidates, the $25,000 award requires a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale. The $1,000 and $2,500 awards require a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5.
Canadian and Puerto Rican applications use a separate transcript process.
This is why applicants should check the award level before deciding whether they qualify.
| Scholarship Award | U.S. Minimum GPA |
|---|---|
| $1,000 | 2.5 |
| $2,500 | 2.5 |
| $25,000 | 3.0 |
Applicants also need to provide a transcript showing their name, school name, classes taken, and GPA.
If your GPA is close to the required level, check your latest grades and make sure your transcript is accurate before applying.
Get a Team Member Recommendation
For the Remarkable Futures Scholarship, applicants need a recommendation from the appropriate Chick-fil-A leader. This may be an Operator, Interim Manager, or Executive General Manager, depending on the restaurant.
The recommendation can highlight your work and professional achievements, including leadership, work ethic, teamwork, and contributions.
Do not wait until the last minute to request your recommendation.
Before Asking for a Recommendation
- Know who can recommend you.
- Ask early.
- Explain why you want the scholarship.
- Tell the person about your school plans.
- Give them enough time to complete the recommendation.
- Make sure the recommendation is submitted correctly.
A strong recommendation can help demonstrate your qualities and contributions as a Team Member.
Show Care and Service
Applicants for the Chick-fil-A Scholarship need to show how they demonstrated care and service during the 12 months before applying. This can include ways they helped their community, friends, family, coworkers, or people at the restaurant.
Think about the positive things you have done during the past year. You do not need complicated language. Simply explain what you did, who you helped, and why it mattered.
Examples of Care and Service
- Helping a new Team Member learn a task.
- Helping coworkers during a busy workday.
- Taking part in a community service activity.
- Helping people in your local community.
- Supporting friends or family when they need help.
- Participating in school or community activities.
- Showing kindness and care to people around you.
Keep a simple record of your service activities. This can make it easier to remember your experiences when completing the application.
Meet Financial Need Rules
The official requirements state that applicants for the $25,000 award must demonstrate financial need. The $1,000 and $2,500 awards do not list financial need as a requirement.
This is an important difference between the award levels. If you want to apply for the $25,000 award, read the current financial need rules carefully.
Prepare any information the application requests and answer the questions honestly. Do not assume that financial need is required for every scholarship award.
Scholarship Award Amounts
The Chick-fil-A Remarkable Futures program offers three scholarship amounts: $1,000, $2,500, and $25,000. The money can be used at an accredited college, university, or vocational-technical school.
| Award | U.S. Minimum GPA | Financial Need |
|---|---|---|
| $1,000 | 2.5 | Not listed as required |
| $2,500 | 2.5 | Not listed as required |
| $25,000 | 3.0 | Required |
The $25,000 award has more requirements than the $1,000 and $2,500 awards. Always read the current official rules before choosing which award to apply for.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Students can make simple mistakes when applying for scholarships. Taking time to review your application can help prevent avoidable problems.
Not checking your award: Different award levels have different rules.
Not checking your GPA: Make sure your grades meet the minimum for the award you want.
Waiting too long for a recommendation: Ask the appropriate Chick-fil-A leader early.
Forgetting about service: Think about how you helped others during the last 12 months.
Leaving documents until the last day: Get your transcript and other information ready early.
Giving unclear answers: Read every question carefully and explain your answers clearly.
Ignoring the official deadline: Make sure your application is submitted on time.
How to Prepare Your Application
First, decide which award you want to pursue. Then read its requirements carefully. Check your job status, GPA, school plans, and other eligibility requirements.
Next, get your transcript ready. Make sure it includes the information required by the scholarship program.
Think about your care and service activities from the previous 12 months. Write down simple examples so you can explain them clearly in your application.
You should also ask the correct Chick-fil-A leader for your recommendation early. This gives them enough time to complete their part.
Finally, review your entire application before submitting it. Check your answers and make sure all required information has been included.
Final Tips for Students
Applying for a scholarship can feel difficult, but good preparation can make the process easier.
- Check the rules for the award you want.
- Make sure you work at an eligible Chick-fil-A restaurant.
- Check your GPA.
- Keep your transcript ready.
- Know which school you plan to attend.
- Ask for your recommendation early.
- Think about your care and service activities.
- Check whether financial need applies to your award.
- Read every application question carefully.
- Submit your application before the deadline.
The official Chick-fil-A scholarship information says that 2027 Team Member scholarship applications will go live in fall 2026. Students planning to apply should monitor the official program page for the application opening and current deadline.
Conclusion
The Chick-fil-A Scholarship can help eligible Team Members pay for higher education. The Remarkable Futures program offers $1,000, $2,500, and $25,000 awards, but each award has its own requirements.
The main areas to check are your Chick-fil-A employment, employment status during the award process, school plans, GPA, recommendation, care and service, and financial need when required.
Start preparing early and read the official rules before you apply. Keep your transcript ready, request your recommendation on time, and carefully review every part of your application.
If this guide helped you, share it with other Chick-fil-A Team Members who may want to learn about scholarship opportunities.
FAQs
1. Does Chick-fil-A offer scholarships?
Yes. Chick-fil-A offers Remarkable Futures Scholarships to eligible restaurant Team Members. Current awards include $1,000, $2,500, and $25,000.
2. Who can apply for the Chick-fil-A Remarkable Futures Scholarship?
Eligible full-time and part-time Chick-fil-A restaurant Team Members in the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico can apply if they meet the other program requirements.
3. What GPA do I need?
For U.S. applicants, the $1,000 and $2,500 awards require a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5. The $25,000 award requires a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0.
4. Do all Chick-fil-A scholarships require financial need?
No. Financial need is required for the $25,000 award, but it is not listed as a requirement for the $1,000 and $2,500 awards. Always check the current rules before applying.
5. Where can I use the Chick-fil-A Scholarship?
The scholarship can be used at an accredited two-year or four-year college, university, or vocational-technical school. Students can use it for eligible education programs and different fields of study.