Introduction to North Carolina Scholarships
For the 2020-2021 academic year, North Carolina was home to over 500,000 students, undergraduate and graduate combined. Whether you’re one of those students already, or you’re still in high school but already looking ahead (kudos to you!), you’ve come to the right place to find all things North Carolina scholarships and financial aid resources.
North Carolina, also known as the Tar Heel State, is home to many highly ranked public and private institutions, including the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill (among other schools in the UNC system), Duke University, and Wake Forest University. Keep reading to learn more about attending college in North Carolina, North Carolina scholarships, and where you can go to get even more helpful information on NC state-based financial aid and college planning.
North Carolina colleges and universities: the basics
I already mentioned that North Carolina is home to more than a few great schools that fall into a wide range of categories, but let’s dive into the details!
The most well-known higher education system in North Carolina is the UNC system. The UNC system comprises 16 public four-year colleges and universities across the state, and has a total of over 225,000 students enrolled among them. In-state students attending one of North Carolina’s public four-year schools can expect to pay around $7,000 per year in tuition.
Conversely, North Carolina is also home to nearly 50 private four-year institutions, such as Greensboro College, Elon University, and Davidson College. The average annual in-state tuition at North Carolina’s four-year private schools is approximately $25,000.
In addition to these public and private four-year universities, North Carolina is also home to several dozen public two-year schools such as Wake Technical Community College and Coastal Carolina Community College, which have an average in-state tuition of around $2,500 per year.
Regardless of which type of school you’re looking at, the bottom line is that college can be expensive! Keep reading to learn about some great North Carolina scholarships to help you offset your costs.
North Carolina scholarships to apply for
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Amount: $1,000
Deadline: June 30, December 31
Eligibility: This awesome no-essay scholarship is open to high school students of all years in the US, including US citizens, permanent residents, and students with DACA. No minimum GPA required!
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Amount: $2,500
Deadline: January 15
Eligibility: Open to recent high school graduates who are Hispanic/Latino. Must plan to enroll in a degree program at a community college, or a 2 or 4-year university. Preference will be given to foreign born applicants or children of foreign-born parents.
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Amount: Varies
Deadline: Varies (first monday in February)
Eligibility: Open to North Carolina high school seniors.
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Amount: $12,000
Deadline: February 14
Eligibility: Open to graduating NC high school seniors with financial need from the counties listed on the application page. Must be planning to enroll for the first time as a full-time student at NC State, UNC Chapel Hill, or UNC Greensboro. Minimum 2.5 GPA.
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Amount: $1,000
Deadline: March 1
Eligibility: Open to American Indian students with a preference for NC-state recognized tribe members.
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Amount: up to $14,000
Deadline: March 1
Eligibility: Open to graduating North Carolina high school senior or currently enrolled North Carolina community college transfer students. Must reside in a rural North Carolina county, have a minimum 2.5 GPA, and demonstrate financial need.
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Amount: $7,500
Deadline: March 1
Eligibility: Open to residents of Wake, Durham and Orange counties. Must be a US citizen and have at least a 2.5 GPA.
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Amount: up to $16,000
Deadline: March 1
Eligibility: Open to refugee and immigrant high school graduates in Wake County who will be first-generation college students. Minimum 2.5 GPA.
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Amount: $10,000
Deadline: March 1
Eligibility: Open to permanent residents of Durham, Orange, Wake, and Chatham counties who plan to attend a 4-year public or private college/university in North Carolina. Minimum 2.5 GPA, must have financial need and demonstrate a commitment to community service.
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Amount: $3,000
Deadline: March 11
Eligibility: Open to North Carolina students who have had experience as a restaurant employee. Minimum 3.0 GPA.
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Amount: $1,500
Deadline: April 15
Eligibility: Open to female students at community colleges, colleges, and universities with at least a 2.5 GPA. Must be a US citizen and resident of North Carolina.
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Amount: $5,000
Deadline: June 2
Eligibility: Open to Charlotte region high school seniors, college freshmen, and college sophomores planning to pursue a non-performing career in theater (see scholarship page for more details!).
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Amount: $1,200
Deadline: July 1
Eligibility: Open to undocumented/DACA LatinX students studying at any college or university in Western North Carolina or who have graduated from a high school in Western North Carolina. Undergraduate and graduate students may apply.
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Amount: Varies
Deadline: July 28
Eligibility: Open to high school seniors who are North Carolina residents. Minimum 3.0 GPA.
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Amount: $2,500
Deadline: October 21
Eligibility: Open to NC residents enrolled in accounting degree programs at North Carolina colleges and universities. Minimum 3.0 GPA.
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Amount: $5,000
Deadline: November 5
Eligibility: Open to graduating high school seniors with a minimum 3.5 GPA and annual household income no greater than $70,000.
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Amount: Varies
Deadline: Varies (March 15 / July 1)
Eligibility: Open to female students attending Salem College, UNC Greensboro, North Carolina A&T, Winston-Salem State University, High Point University, Wake Forest University, Guilford College or Greensboro College, with a preference for Salem College.
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Amount: up to $2,000
Deadline: N/A
Eligibility: Open to nursing students seeking their BSN.
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Amount: $1,000
Deadline: N/A
Eligibility: Open to African American male students living in Durham county pursuing four-year college degrees.
Additional scholarship and financial aid resources for North Carolina students
North Carolinians, rejoice! Your state has the College Foundation of North Carolina, which is an extremely informative and comprehensive resource providing information on all things NC financial aid and scholarships. On the CFNC website, you can explore:
- Planning resources to prepare to apply to NC institutions
- Majors and programs at various schools
- The NC 529 Plan to help you save for college
- Even more state-specific scholarship opportunities
- And so so much more!
The North Carolina Community Foundation also partners with organizations across the state to offer dozens of scholarships to NC students. On their website, you can search for scholarships by county, and you can also apply for many scholarships using their Standard Scholarship Application.