McDonald’s USA Owner/Operators are awarding more than $2.5 million in scholarship funds this year, continuing their nearly 40-year commitment to supporting college-bound students across the country

(CHICAGO – Nov. 12, 2024) As the countdown to college enrollment begins for high school seniors, McDonald's USA is proud to announce three of its largest scholarship programs—the McDonald’s HACER® National Scholarship and Black & Positively Golden® Scholarship are now open and the APIA Scholarship opens on November 15. Beyond opening doors to education to students around the country, McDonald’s is doubling down on its 40-year commitment of supporting students fund their dreams of attending college.

With a nearly four-decade history of supporting students’ dreams of attending college,McDonald’s USA and its Owner/Operators have channeled significant resources to serve bright futures to college-bound students from Asian and Pacific Islander American and Hispanic/Latino backgrounds, as well as those attending Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs).

Learn more about McDonald’s opportunities for furthering education:

APIA Scholars

For its fifth consecutive year, McDonald’s USA is partnering with APIA Scholars to champion the next generation of students in their pursuit of higher education through the APIA Scholarship. Recipients are selected based on their academic excellence, community involvement, and financial need with over half of the students coming from underrepresented communities in the U.S. 

“The McDonald’s/APIA scholarship allowed me to attend college and pursue my passions. From establishing various scholarship funds for underserved communities to curating my own college resources hub on social media, this scholarship inspired me to begin using my story to help those who come from similar backgrounds.” – 2020 McDonald’s/APIA Scholar and junior at University of Chicago

Applications for the 2024-2025 APIA Scholarship open November 15, 2024, through January 15, 2025. The Scholarship is part of the APA Next education platform—designed to empower and uplift students on their education journey, both in the classroom and beyond. Visit APAnext.com to stay up to date on more digital resources to equip students and their support systems for college success.

HACER® National Scholarship

McDonald’s HACER® National Scholarship is one of the largest programs of its kind in the country, committed to providing financial resources to Hispanic/Latino students. Eligible high school seniors from coast to coast are invited to visit www.mcdonalds.com/HACER to apply for a chance to be one of up to 30 annual recipients. The website also provides students and their families with resources on college readiness and the application process in both English and Spanish. 

“One small decision I made that changed everything was applying for the McDonald’s HACER® National Scholarship, which really put my mind at ease when it came to not graduating with student loans. Receiving that email was huge for me and my family – it changed a lot and placed us in a position where I could pursue my dreams.” – 2018 HACER® recipient and recent graduate at Georgetown University

The application period for the 2024-2025 academic year is now open through February 6, 2025. While applications are underway, McDonald’s is also visiting schools across the country with its HACER® Education Tour, a series of motivational assemblies and workshop events focused on leadership development and parental involvement. The workshops are hosted by CoolSpeak, a leading youth engagement company in the country, and aim to motivate and inspire students to overcome challenges, while providing them with key educational resources to navigate the college application process. 

Black & Positively Golden® Scholarship

Building on its more than 20-year partnership with Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF) and third year partnership with Black-owned digital health company Alkeme Health, the Black and Positively Golden® National Scholarship Program continues to help ease the financial and mental health burdens of future thought leaders.  

“Being awarded with the Black and Positively Golden® Scholarship gave me the breathing room I need to focus on developing the mark that I want to leave on the world.” – 2023 Black and Positively Golden® recipient and junior at Florida A&M University 

The application period for the 2024-2025 academic year is now open through April 25, 2025. Eligible current and incoming Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) students and their families are invited to visit www.MCDBlackScholars.com for details on how to apply. For the 2024-2025 academic year, McDonald’s has granted scholarships to 63 students attending HBCUs. Nearly 2,000 Black and Positively Golden® 2024 applicants have also received one-year subscriptions to Alkeme Health. The subscription grants access to the platform and provides wellness kits that empower students to achieve their goals.  

As part of our promise to fuel advocacy, opportunity and investment within the communities we serve, McDonald’s is helping bridge the opportunity gap by providing scholarships, enabling equitable access to resources, and offering a pathway to employment. Additionally, through Archways to Opportunity®, McDonald's gives eligible employees at participating U.S. restaurants the ability to earn a high school diploma, receive upfront college tuition assistance, access free education/career advising services and learn English as a second language.

As 2024-2025 applications for APIA Scholarship, HACER® and Black & Positively Golden® open nationwide, McDonald’s and its Owner/Operators congratulate all 2023-2024 scholarship recipients, including those that are Crew members.  

ABOUT McDONALD'S USA EDUCATION EFFORTS:  

McDonald's isn't just a place to grab a delicious meal; it's also where we serve up brighter futures within the communities we call home. Over the years, we've teamed up with our dedicated Owner/Operators to channel more than $38 million into scholarships like the APIA Scholarship, McDonald’s HACER® National Scholarship, and the Black & Positively Golden® Scholarship. These impactful programs have opened doors for more than 18,000 college-bound students from Asian and Pacific Islander American and Hispanic backgrounds, as well as those attending Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs).

Inside our restaurants, we've devoted $185 million to the Archways to Opportunity® crew member program, helping over 82,500+ U.S. employees further their education. Initiatives like Thank You Crew, Youth Opportunity and Passport to Success also continue to give back to our incredible McDonald’s Crew through exclusive experiences and opportunities in job readiness and workplace development.

ABOUT McDONALD’S USA

McDonald's USA, LLC, serves a variety of menu options made with quality ingredients to millions of customers every day. Ninety-five percent of McDonald's approximately 13,500 U.S. restaurants are owned and operated by independent business owners. For more information, visit www.mcdonalds.com, or follow us on X @McDonalds and Facebook at www.facebook.com/mcdonalds.