Scholarships for North Carolina

Dominion Energy Educational Equity Scholarship Program

Due: 4/15/26
$10,000
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Steve Bayless Undergraduate Scholarship

Due: 4/15/26 No essay No Recommendations Required No min. GPA Required No Transcripts Required
$2,000
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Lettie Pate Whitehead Foundation Scholarship

Due: 5/1/26 No essay No Recommendations Required No Transcripts Required
Varies
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Colonel Kathleen Swacina Scholarship

Due: 5/1/26
$1,500
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North Carolina Veterans Scholarships Class IV

Due: 6/1/26 No min. GPA Required
$7,000
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North Carolina Veterans Scholarships Class I-A

Due: 6/1/26 No min. GPA Required
$7,000
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North Carolina Veterans Scholarships Class I-B

Due: 6/1/26 No min. GPA Required
$2,800
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North Carolina Jaycees Outstanding Teenager Scholarship

Due: 7/11/26
Varies
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North Carolina Vending Association Academic Scholarships

Due: 9/1/26 No Recommendations Required No min. GPA Required
$1,500
Apply now

What to know about North Carolina scholarships

  • North Carolina scholarships can come from several sources including state aid, institutional scholarships, and private organizations.
  • FAFSA® is a major first step. Many state and school-based aid programs in North Carolina depend on information from the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®).
  • Public colleges may offer top opportunities. Students at universities and community colleges in North Carolina may have access to major statewide aid programs.
  • Local awards can help close remaining gaps. County foundations, local nonprofits, and civic organizations often offer smaller scholarships you can combine with bigger awards.
  • It's smart to look beyond the biggest state programs. A strong scholarship plan usually includes both broad statewide aid and smaller awards based on your school, region, or background.

If you're looking for scholarships for North Carolina students, treat the process as a layered search. Start with the best-known state and public college programs, then build out your list with local and institutional opportunities.

That approach matters because college costs are rarely covered by one award alone. Students attending schools such as University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, North Carolina State University, and Central Piedmont Community College often use a mix of scholarships, grants, and school-based aid to make college more affordable.

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What are North Carolina scholarships?

North Carolina scholarships are financial awards that help residents pay for college, workforce training, grad school or other forms of education. These awards can come from state programs, colleges and universities, nonprofit organizations, community foundations, and private donors.

Unlike student loans, scholarships don't need to be repaid. Some focus on academic achievement, but many also look at financial need, leadership, service, local ties, or intended field of study.

  • North Carolina residency
  • FAFSA® completion or aid eligibility
  • Academic achievement
  • Enrollment at an eligible college
  • Financial need
  • Leadership or community service
  • Regional or county ties

What scholarships are available for North Carolina students?

North Carolina students can find scholarships through statewide affordability programs, college financial aid offices, private foundations, and local organizations. Some awards are broad and intended for many residents, while others are more specific to income level, county, major, or campus.

Scholly Scholarships can help you search for scholarships based on your profile, including your background, field of study, and career interests.

Next NC Scholarship

The Next NC Scholarship is one of the biggest affordability programs for eligible North Carolina students attending public universities and community colleges. It's designed to simplify college funding and help cover a large share of costs for qualifying students. For students planning to stay in-state, this is one of the best programs to review because it can serious lower your college costs.

Institutional scholarships

Many North Carolina colleges offer their own scholarships based on merit, financial need, leadership, academic departments, or transfer status. Some awards are granted automatically through the admissions process, while others require a separate scholarship application. These programs can be an important part of your overall financial aid package, especially if you apply early and meet priority deadlines.

Students comparing schools should review scholarship opportunities and campus deadlines at institutions such as the  University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, North Carolina State University, and Central Piedmont Community College, along with any other colleges on their list.

Community foundation and local scholarships

County and community-based scholarships can be especially helpful for students because they often have smaller applicant pools and more specific eligibility requirements. These awards may come from local foundations, nonprofits, businesses, civic organizations, school districts, and employers. They can be a strong option for students with ties to a particular city, county, school district, or rural community in North Carolina.

Additional financial aid resources

UNC need-based grant

The UNC Need-Based Grant is part of the broader aid landscape for students attending institutions in the UNC System. While it's not a scholarship in the traditional sense, it can be an important form of financial support for students with demonstrated need.

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Hot tip! Smaller scholarships may have less competition, increasing your odds of winning.

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How to apply for North Carolina scholarships

  1. Pull together key documents early, including your transcript, resume, activity list, and recommendation contacts.
  2. Build a scholarship list that includes state, institutional, and local opportunities.
  3. Complete applications in small batches so you can stay organized and reuse materials like your essay or personal statement wisely.
  4. Submit the FAFSA® so you can be considered for need-based scholarships, grants, and campus aid.
  5. Track priority dates and deadlines with a checklist or spreadsheet.
  6. Proofread each application before you submit it.

You can also use Scholly Scholarships to keep finding outside scholarships while you work through your state and school-based applications.

What are the eligibility requirements for NC scholarships?

Eligibility varies, but many North Carolina scholarships focus on similar things:

  • North Carolina residency
  • FAFSA® completion
  • Enrollment at an eligible college
  • Academic progress or GPA
  • Financial need for some awards
  • Leadership, service, or extracurricular involvement
  • Program-specific or local criteria

How do I improve my chances of winning a scholarship?

  • Start with major state programs. They can form the foundation of your aid package.
  • Don't skip local awards. County and community scholarships may be easier to win than large statewide competitions.
  • Apply early when possible. Some colleges use priority deadlines for scholarship consideration.
  • Keep your application materials organized. A strong resume and essay draft can save time on future applications.
  • Search by county and school name. That can help uncover smaller scholarships that don't show up in broad searches.

More scholarship resources

North Carolina students can expand their search with resources like these:

Your next steps

North Carolina students can build a strong scholarship plan by starting with statewide aid and then adding school-based and local opportunities. That layered approach gives you more ways to reduce costs and avoid relying on one award.

To keep your search moving, look at monthly opportunities like Scholly Easy Apply Scholarships, our $2,000 No Essay Scholarship, and $5,000 No Essay Grad School Scholarship. These low-effort options can help you start applying, even if you are short on time. And use Scholly Scholarships to search for opportunities based on your state, background, interests, or major.

FAQs about North Carolina scholarships

What scholarships are available for North Carolina students?

Students can explore statewide programs such as the Next NC Scholarship, institutional scholarships from colleges, and local awards from county foundations and community organizations. 

Do North Carolina scholarships require FAFSA®?

Many do. FAFSA® is a key step for need-based aid and some broader state and institutional programs. 

Do North Carolina colleges offer scholarships?

Yes. Schools such as UNC-Chapel Hill, NC State University, and Central Piedmont Community College offer institutional scholarships. 

Are there local scholarships in North Carolina?

Yes. Students may find local awards through county foundations, school districts, employers, nonprofits, and civic organizations. 

Need more money for college?

Private student loans can help you cover additional costs for school.

No purchase necessary. Void where prohibited. Odds of winning depend on number of entries received. See Official Rules and Entry Periods on each scholarship page.

FAFSA® is a registered service mark of U.S. Department of Education, Federal Student Aid.