The Taco Bell scholarship (nee Live Mas Scholarship) is a financial aid program from the designers of Doritos Locos Tacos under the umbrella of the Taco Bell Foundation, a nonprofit organization. The scholarship is designed to assist students in their degree studies in US schools.
The Taco Bell Scholarship differs from other scholarship awards in that rather than focusing solely on academics and athletics it caters to other areas of human endeavors specifically sports, video games, and music.
However, only applicants between the ages of 16 and 26 who are passionate about improving the future and positively impacting their communities are eligible for this scholarship.
Host school
The scholarship is awarded to all tertiary institution applicants in the United States.
Value/inclusion
The Taco Bell Scholarship awards more than $8 million in scholarships to 772 students. This includes $1 million for the Live Más Scholarship, $1 million for the Live Más Scholarship for Restaurant Employees, and $4 million for the renewal program for past candidates:
- Five thousand dollars maximum, with a maximum of thirty awardees.
- 60 recipients are awarded Grants of up to $10,000.
- A maximum of $2.5 million distributed among up to ten lucky winners.
Requirements
To be eligible for the 2026 Live Más Scholarship Program (i.e. Taco Bell Scholarship), all applicants must meet these requirements:
- The applicant is a legal resident of the 50 United States and the District of Columbia (“D.C.”) who is at least 16 years old and no older than 26 years old on the last day of the Program Period and lives in the United States or D.C.
- If an applicant is under 18 in the state where he or she lives, he or she must get permission from his or her parent or legal guardian to apply.
- The applicant must be processing an application to or already enrolled in an accredited program in a tertiary institution in the USA after high school (including accredited two-and four-year colleges, universities, vocational-technical, and trade schools).
- Applicants must be willing to work with the Taco Bell Foundation’s Scholarship Management Company throughout the application and award process.
- Employees of Taco Bell Foundation, Inc., Taco Bell of America, LLC, Taco Bell Corp. and its parent, subsidiaries of its parent, franchisees, licensees, and advertising and marketing agencies are not eligible.
The Live Más Scholarship (i.e. Taco Bell Scholarship) for Restaurant Employees Program is open to people who work at Taco Bell.
How to Apply
To apply for the Taco Bell Live Mass Scholarship, applicants must first create an original video describing why they desire the award. It could be a short film, an animation, or a straightforward account.
Note, however, that your video must not exceed 2 minutes (at least 30 seconds) and 100 MB for the application to load properly. However, there may be instances in which you have completed the application but wish to modify the video.
After submitting your request, you will not be able to delete or change your video. This is because all video presentations are deemed to be final.
Apply here: www.tacobellfoundation.com.
Acceptance rate
The acceptance rate is high with 100 recipients, 430 renewal winners (fans and team members who applied to renew a Live Más Scholarship they previously won), 150 Taco Bell Restaurant employees, and nearly 200 brand enthusiasts. Besides, any applicant for a U.S tertiary institution can apply irrespective of the course of study.
Application opening date: November 2026
Deadline
The application deadline for all Taco Bell Scholarship Programs is January 11
Award announcement date: the award are announced in the April and May of each year
Contact
Email: tacobellfoundation@tacobell.com
For more details about the Taco Bell
Scholarship Contact: tacobell@mykaleidoscope.com
Website:https://www.tacobellfoundation.org/live-mas-scholarship/eligibilityfaq/