The PepsiCo Foundation Family Scholars Program is one of the long-established and highly esteemed scholarship programs meant to aid the tertiary education ambitions of children of PepsiCo employees. This program was originally called the ExCEL Scholarship and as such, has been assisting students to pursue undergraduate degrees since 1996 and has given up to 400 new scholarships annually.
The program is administered by Scholarship America®, one of the most reputable scholarship management organizations in the United States and as a result the whole process is transparent and is based on merit as well as need.
Scholarship Overview
| Scholarship Name | PepsiCo Foundation Family Scholars Program |
|---|---|
| Award Amount | $2,000 to $5,000 per year |
| Application Deadline | February 10, 2026 (3:00 PM CT) |
| Eligible Institutions | Community Colleges, Technical Colleges, Four-Year Universities |
| Study Level | Undergraduate only |
| Administered By | Scholarship America® |
About the PepsiCo Foundation Family Scholars Program
The PepsiCo Foundation Family Scholars Program was established to reward academic achievement, leadership potential and financial necessities to deserving students that are dependents of PepsiCo associates. The applications are reviewed and assessed by the Scholarship America, although the selection is totally independent even though the PepsiCo Foundation funds it.
This is a renewable scholarship that can take into account the majority of the undergraduate studies of the students and thus makes it one of the best corporate-sponsored scholarships of its kind.
Eligibility Criteria
To submit an application to PepsiCo Foundation Family Scholars Program, a candidate will have to fulfill the following requirements:
Student Eligibility
Applicants must be:
- Dependent children (age 24 or under) of eligible PepsiCo employees
- Dependents include:
- Natural children
- Legally adopted children
- Dependent stepchildren primarily supported by the employee
Employee Eligibility
The parent or guardian must be:
- A regular full-time or part-time hourly or salaried employee of PepsiCo Inc.
- Actively employed in good standing or on an approved leave of absence
- Not eligible if they are:
- Executives in LG4 and above roles
- eCommerce employees in C2 or C1 roles
Academic Eligibility
Applicants must be:
- High school seniors or graduates
- Current college or university students
- Enrolled (or planning to enroll) full-time in an accredited:
- College
- University
- Vocational or technical school
Students must be pursuing their first undergraduate degree during the 2026–27 academic year.
Scholarship Benefits and Award Details
Selected scholars can receive:
- Up to $5,000 per academic year
- Renewable for up to three additional years, or until undergraduate degree completion
Renewal Conditions
Renewal depends on:
- Maintaining satisfactory academic performance
- Full-time enrollment
- Continued availability of the program
Note: This scholarship is strictly for undergraduate studies.
Selection Criteria
Scholarship recipients are chosen based on a holistic review that considers:
- Academic performance
- Leadership abilities and community involvement
- Work experience
- Personal statement outlining educational and career goals
- Unusual personal or family circumstances
- Demonstrated financial need, calculated by Scholarship America
No PepsiCo or PepsiCo Foundation employees participate in the selection process. All decisions made by Scholarship America are final.
Required Documents
Applicants must submit all required materials electronically. Incomplete applications will not be reviewed.
Mandatory Documents
- A current, complete academic transcript
- High school transcripts (past 3–4 years) for students without a full year of college
- College transcripts for students who have completed one or more years of higher education
- U.S. students only: First two pages of IRS Form 1040
- Social Security numbers and bank details must be blacked out
- English translations for any non-English documents (original copies must also be included)
Application Deadline
- February 10, 2026
- Applications must be submitted by 3:00 PM Central Time
Late submissions will not be accepted.
Notification Timeline
- All applicants will be notified in June 2026
- Notifications are sent via email only
Important Tip:
Use a personal email address, not a school or work email. Applicants should also add the following addresses to their safe sender list:
Scholarship Payment Details
- Payments are processed by Scholarship America
- Paid in one installment
- August: Students in the United States and Canada
- September: Students in other countries
Funds are typically sent directly to the educational institution.
Contact Information
For scholarship-related queries:
- Email: pepsico@scholarshipamerica.org
- Phone: (507) 931-8360
Official Scholarship Links
For the most accurate and up-to-date information, always refer to the official sources:
- PepsiCo Foundation Family Scholars Program (Scholarship America):
https://scholarshipamerica.org/scholarship/pepsico/ - PepsiCo Foundation – Official Website:
https://www.pepsico.com/about/pepsico-foundation
Final Thoughts
The PepsiCo Family Scholars Program 2026 is an outstanding program that will enable the eligible student to have a huge amount of financial aid during their undergraduate studies. Having a transparent selection process, renewable funding and national acknowledgement, this scholarship is indeed a good fit with the mission of Scholarship Infoz and that is, to assist students in securing real scholarship opportunities that can provide a real life change.
The students who fulfill the eligibility requirements are strongly advised to apply early and present the fully prepared and complete application.
