The University of North Carolina Chapel Hill is the oldest state university in the U.S. It comes as no surprise that residents in North Carolina and students of the Tar Heel State make a priority for higher education. With the rising costs of tuition, the dreams of a college education may seem almost out of reach. Luckily, there are plenty of scholarships in NC for residents to help pay for the costs of college.
Many North Carolina colleges also offer scholarships to undergraduate and graduate school students. To qualify, you may need to come from a specific county (Alamance, Chatham, Stokes etc.) Out of state and transfer students planning to attend one of the 131 NC colleges may find awards too.
Many NC scholarships also help those who demonstrate financial need. To qualify for financial aid based on need, you fill out a Free Application for Federal Student Aid. The FAFSA is a standard form that may help you receive a Pell Grant and other federal aid.
States also use the FAFSA to provide grants for college. The North Carolina Community College Grant is one. It is from the NC State Education Assistance Authority. Funds are up to $2,400 depending on availability. You must be a full time student in need to qualify. You also must be pursuing an undergraduate degree program.
Your scholarship search should also include scholarship programs from NC colleges. All admitted first year students at NC State University may be automatically considered for merit scholarships. Eligibility entails a 3.0 GPA. Award amounts range from $1,000 to $10,000. They could also be renewable each year.
10 North Carolina Scholarships You Should Apply for in 2024
There are so many scholarship opportunities in the state of North Carolina. Some awards are only for North Carolina resident. Submit your application before the deadline!
Felicia Brewer Opportunity Scholarship
Aubrey Lee Brooks Scholarship
Glaxo Smith Kline Opportunity Scholarship
Winston Salem Foundation Scholarship
Wake Forest University Nancy S. Reynolds Scholarship
Safety in North Carolina Scholarship
Traub-Dicker Rainbow Scholarship
PFLAG Greensboro Chapter Carter Stroupe Memorial Scholarship
NC Sheriffs Association Undergraduate Criminal Justice Scholarships
Couch Oil Cares Scholarship
How Much Does College Cost in North Carolina?
According to the NCES, attending a public four year college costs North Carolina residents an average of $17,343 per academic year. If you are an out of state student, tuition and fees average $24,274 which is slightly below the national average. It’s about $2,499 per year for a two year college or $8,496 for out of state. Private colleges also tend to cost more.
Are There Full Ride North Carolina Scholarships?
Some NC colleges like NCSU, Duke, and UNC Chapel Hill offer full ride scholarships in NC. Full ride scholarships may cover tuition, fees, and room and board. It tends to pay for your entire four year degree program. These awards typically are given to college students with outstanding academic achievements. NC colleges with these scholarship funds typically offer them to new high school seniors entering as incoming freshmen.
Duke University and UNC Chapel Hill offer the Robertson Scholars Leadership program. It covers eight semesters of full tuition, fees, and room and board. Scholars also access funding for up to three summer experiences. Other benefits also include paid conferences and two study abroad semesters.
North Carolina State University offers the Park Scholarship. It is a four year full ride scholarship. About 40 new undergraduate students receive an award each year. The current award amount is $112,000 for in state students and $203,000 for out of state students. It also typically covers tuition and fees, room and board, books and supplies, travel, and personal expenses. Selectees also access early course registration and score an invite to the University Scholars or Honors program.
Can Graduate Students Receive Scholarships in NC?
There are plenty of scholarships for graduate students in NC if you need financial assistance. According to NCES, in 2017 to 2018, the average tuition and fees of graduate school was $18,416. Various colleges partner with the National Science Foundation. For example, NSF Cyber Corps Scholarship for Service is a full ride scholarship for graduate students in NC. University of North Carolina at Charlotte is one of the providers.
Eligible students must be pursuing a bachelor’s degree or master’s degree in cybersecurity. Each SFS scholar receives support for up to two years or three years for PhD. That includes tuition, fees, stipend for housing, meals and more. You also must be a United States citizen. Selected recipients also sign a contract to work in a government cybersecurity job after graduation.
This scholarship is open to U.S. students who are first-year graduate students studying engineering with a concentration in the water environment in an ABET-accredited engineering curriculum at a University of North Carolina campus. Students must be residents of North Carolina and have a grade point average of 3.0 or higher.
This scholarship is open to U.S. students who are pursuing a degree in environmental sciences or environmental education at a community college in North Carolina during the upcoming academic year. Students must have a grade point average of 2.75 or higher.
This scholarship is open to high school seniors who are residents of Alleghany County, NC, who have a grade point average of 3.0 or higher. Students must demonstrate financial need, community involvement and/or employment, and a desire to impact the world in a positive manner.
This scholarship is open to graduating high school seniors from Forsyth and Yadkin counties in North Carolina who demonstrate outstanding leadership, integrity, school service, and significant community service; preference is given to dependents of an active member of a local law enforcement agency. Students must have a grade point average of 3.0 or higher and some financial need.
This scholarship is open to U.S. high school seniors who attend Forsyth County (NC) high schools and plan to attend an accredited four-year North Carolina college/university. Students must have an unweighted grade point average of 3.5 or higher and demonstrate some financial need.
This scholarship is open to graduating high school seniors from Forsyth County (NC) high schools who have a grade point average of 3.5 or higher and a challenging course selection. Students must also demonstrate financial need, although merit will be given greater consideration.
This scholarship is for graduating high school seniors from Forsyth County (NC) high schools who will attend North Carolina State University’s College of Engineering. Students must have a grade point average of 3.5 or higher and high ACT/SAT scores; students must also demonstrate financial need, although merit will be given greater consideration.
This scholarship is open to graduating high school seniors who attend a Forsyth County (NC) public high school. Students must plan to pursue an undergraduate mathematics degree and rank in the top 15 percent of their class.
This scholarship is open to graduating high school seniors from Forsyth County, North Carolina, who are African-American or Hispanic. Students must have a grade point average of 3.0 or higher and demonstrate financial need; academic merit will be given greater consideration than financial need.
This scholarship is open to high school seniors who attend a Forsyth County (NC) high school and reside in the Winston-Salem Foundation’s service area. Students must have a grade point average of 3.0 or higher and demonstrated financial need (not limited to lower incomes).
