The Taco Bell Foundation’s Live Mas Scholarship is open with more than $13 million for students ages 16 to 26. No grades or test scores are needed, and applications close Jan. 5.
Taco Bell wants to pay for your passion, not your GPA.
The Taco Bell Foundation has opened applications for its Live Mas Scholarship, with more than $13 million available, the foundation announced Tuesday, Oct. 27. It’s the program’s 12th year.
Applicants don’t need grades, test scores, or a resume, according to Taco Bell.
How much is the Taco Bell Live Mas Scholarship?
Awards of $5,000, $10,000 and $25,000, according to Taco Bell. Scholarships can be renewed up to three times.
In 2025, more than 95% of eligible scholars who applied for renewal got more support, the foundation said.
Who can apply for the Taco Bell scholarship?
People ages 16 to 26 who are legal U.S. residents and are applying to or enrolled in an accredited program after high school, according to Sporked. That includes college, trade school, and other post-secondary programs.
Taco Bell fans and Taco Bell team members can both apply.
How do you apply for the Live Mas Scholarship?
Submit a two-minute video or a 250- to 500-word essay at tacobellfoundation.org/live-mas-scholarship, according to Taco Bell.
Your entry should cover your passions, the community you care about and the impact you hope to make, Sporked reported.
When is the Taco Bell scholarship deadline?
Tuesday, Jan. 5, 2027. Winners will be announced in spring 2027, according to Taco Bell.
Do you need good grades for the Taco Bell scholarship?
No. The Live Mas Scholarship doesn’t look at GPA, test scores or resumes. Instead, it focuses on what you’re passionate about and your plans for the future.
Taco Bell Foundation Executive Director Morgan Tabor said your “path to success is yours to define.”
How much has Taco Bell given in scholarships?
More than $78 million to thousands of scholars since 2015, according to the foundation.
The first award of the new cycle already went out. Taco Bell CEO Sean Tresvant surprised a Los Angeles team member with a $25,000 scholarship, the company said. The team member said they started crying when they saw the big check.
How does Taco Bell pay for the scholarships?
Partly through its customers. Taco Bell fans can round up their orders to donate to the foundation. In 2025, the average round-up was 43 cents, and the donations raised more than $51 million, according to Taco Bell.
What is the Taco Bell Foundation?
Taco Bell’s nonprofit arm. It focuses on helping young people chase their education and career goals, and the Live Mas Scholarship is its best-known program.
Tips for applying to the Live Mas Scholarship
Be yourself. Since grades don’t count, the video or essay is your whole application. Talk about what excites you and why, and give real examples of how you’ve helped your community.
Keep the video under two minutes, and check the eligibility FAQ on the foundation’s website before you submit.
Article compiled with the help of the Pirates & Princesses newsroom.
Pirates and Princesses is your destination for Disney news, theme park updates, and the pop culture you love. From Disney cruises and travel tips to Disney fashion, food, collectibles, and movie news, PNP covers it all. Visit us at piratesandprincesses.net for daily coverage. Follow PNP on Facebook and Instagram, and listen to the Pirates & Princesses podcast on Apple Podcasts and YouTube.
Hat Tips:
Taco Bell (Oct. 27, 2026), the scholarship amounts, renewals, application format, deadline, round-up figures, Willy Chavarria collab, Morgan Tabor quote and CEO surprise
Sporked, Jay Wilson (Oct. 29, 2026), the eligibility details and application topics
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