Last Updated on January 29, 2024 2:04 pm
BOONE, N.C. β North Carolinians from households earning $80,000 or less will receive a minimum scholarship of $5,000 per year to attend any University of North Carolina System institution, provided they fill out and submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aid β FAFSA β by June 1, 2024.
βThe Next NC Scholarship is yet another example of how North Carolina is making higher education more accessible and affordable,β said UNC System President Peter Hans. βWeβve worked to streamline this effort for years because we understand that for many financial aid is the deciding factor between going to college or not. The Next NC Scholarship provides money for college that students donβt have to pay back β a tremendous opportunity for North Carolinians from all corners of our state.β
The Next NC Scholarship combines federal Pell Grants and state-funded financial aid to provide students enough money to cover half, if not all, of their tuition and fees at any UNC System institution. Students with greater need can qualify for even more support. The scholarship also covers the entirety of tuition and fees at any of the stateβs 58 community colleges.
Eligibility requirements include North Carolina residency, a high school diploma or equivalent and a household income requirement of $80,000 or less. North Carolinaβs median household income is $66,186, according to data collected by the United States Census Bureau from 2018 to 2022. About 55% of all North Carolina households would qualify for the Next NC Scholarship, according to data provided by the North Carolina State Education Assistance Authority. The FAFSA is a critical tool for college goers seeking grants, scholarships, loans and other forms of student financial aid. For North Carolinians from low- and middle-income families, a completed FAFSA is the only application needed to determine eligibility for the Next NC Scholarship.
