Scholarships
Top North Carolina Scholarships in 2022
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By Maria Geiger Maria Geiger is Director of Content at Scholarships360. She is a former online educational technology instructor and adjunct writing instructor. In addition to education reform, Maria’s interests include viewpoint diversity, blended/flipped learning, digital communication, and integrating media/web tools into the curriculum to better facilitate student engagement.Maria earned both a B.A. and an M.A. in English Literature from Monmouth University, an M. Ed. in Education from Monmouth University, and a Virtual Online Teaching Certificate (VOLT) from the University of Pennsylvania. Learn about oureditorial policies
Updated: April 22nd, 2022
Are you a student in the state of North Carolina? If so, you should pay for college or graduate school with some of the top North Carolina scholarships! These scholarships include awards from private organizations, as well as merit scholarships from the top NC institutions of higher education.
Jump ahead to:
- Top North Carolina Scholarships
- Other Resources for Students
- Summary of Top Scholarships at North Carolina Colleges
Keep on reading to learn more about these top NC scholarships including award amounts, eligibility requirements, and deadlines!
Top North Carolina scholarships
Business and Professional Women of the Triangle
- Eligibility: Females in good academic standing (2.5 GPA or higher) within the North Carolina counties of Wake, Durham, Orange, or Johnston (but can attend school outside the area)
- Amount: $1,500
- Deadline: Rolling
North Carolina Hispanic College Fund Scholarship
- Eligibility: Be a senior of Hispanic/Latino background in a North Carolina high school OR enrolled in a degree program at a community college (must have graduated from a North Carolina high school within the past two years. Applicants must have a four-year cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher on a 4.0 scale (3.5 on a 5.0 scale)
- Amount: $500 to $2,500
- Deadline: January 13
NC Sheriffs’ Association Undergraduate Criminal Justice Scholarship
- Eligibility: Applicants must be full-time undergraduates majoring in criminal justice who are residents of North Carolina for tuition purposes
- Amount: $2,000 (12 scholarships for each UNC constituent institution are awarded)
- Deadline: Varies
Gordon Hay Scholarship Fund
- Eligibility: Charlotte region high school seniors, college freshman, or sophomores, who plan to pursue a non-performing career in theater
- Amount: $5,000
- Deadline: June 2, 2022
North Carolina AmeriCorps
- Eligibility: Applicants must be U.S. citizens, U.S. nationals or lawful permanent resident aliens of the United States who gave a high school diploma or a GED, or obtain one while serving
- Amount: Varies
- Deadline: Rolling
Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant Program
- Eligibility: Be enrolled as an undergraduate, post-baccalaureate, or graduate student with a minimum cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.25 in a postsecondary educational institution that has chosen to participate in the TEACH Grant Program. Recipients must sign a TEACH Grant Agreement to Serve and Promise to Pay
- Amount: $4,000 per year (up to $16,000 total)
- Deadline: January 1
Scholarships at North Carolina colleges & universities
In the list below, you will read about scholarship opportunities at some of the most highly ranked colleges and universities in the state of North Carolina. Our list focuses mainly on merit scholarships for in-state and out-of-state first-year students. Good luck!
Davidson College
- Eligibility: High academic achievers with experiences that reflect a variedrange of interests, talents and achievements. Some of the merit scholarships, like the Belk Scholarship, require a nomination, so be sure to read up
- Amount: Up to full cost of attending, including a $3,000 living stipend
- Deadline: Thedeadlinefor submission is thedeadlineof your chosenadmissionplan (Early Decision 1 – Nov. 15; Early Decision II – Jan. 4; Regular Decision – Jan. 11)
Duke University
- Eligibility: All applicants are automatically considered for Duke merit scholarships by virtue of their admissions application. The most competitive will be considered for merit scholarships
- Amount: Up to full cost of attending
- Deadline: Depending on whether you apply EA (11/16) or Regular Decision (1/4)
East Carolina University
- Eligibility: Scholarships are usually available only to the most outstanding new first-year students
- Amount: $500 and $5000 per semester. The Honors College awards merit scholarships equal to the value of in-state tuition.
- Deadline: Depending on the scholarship, deadlines can range from November (Honors College) – January 15 (for most other programs.
Elon University
- Eligibility: For most merit scholarships, students are automatically considered when they apply. Selection is based on your high school academic record and application essay
- Amount: From $4,500 to $13,500 per year
- Deadline: For most, January 10th. For Fellows and Scholars, there is a separate application due on January 15
North Carolina A&T State University
- Eligibility: The National Alumni Scholarship and the Louis and Elizabeth Dowdy Scholarships recognize exceptional academic talent and ability
- Amount: Awards cover full tuition, related fees, room, and board for four years
- Deadline: January 15
North Carolina State University
- Eligibility: Awarded on the basis of outstanding accomplishments and potential in scholarship, leadership, service, and character
- Amount: Up to full cost of attending
- Deadline: November 1
Salem College
- Eligibility: All admitted students are considered for scholarships
- Amount: Half to full tuition
- Deadline: For the Davis Art Scholarship, the deadline in January 20th. For all scholarships, the deadlines vary, so check here
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
- Eligibility: Applicants are automatically considered for scholarships when they apply to UNC. Applicants must have impressive academic and extracurricular achievements and show promise of engagement in the life of the University. Scholarships administered by private foundations — like theMorehead-CainandRobertsonscholarships require an additional application
- Amount: Up to the full cost of attending
- Deadline: Non-binding EA is October 15and Regular Decision is January 15
University of North Carolina at Asheville
- Eligibility: Academic excellence, as demonstrated by a high grade point average/scores on the SAT or ACT, interest in or passion for an academic program, extracurricular engagement
- Amount: Up to full tuition
- Deadline: It is recommended that you apply early. Early Decision I (Binding): November 1, Early Decision 2 (Binding): January 15, Regular Decision (Non-binding): February 1
University of North Carolina at Wilmington
- Eligibility: When you are accepted to both UNCW and the Honors College, you areautomaticallyconsidered for competitive Honors College Merit Scholarships
- Amount: Awards range from $500 a year to an award equivalent of in-state tuition and fees
- Deadline: November 1st to be considered for Early Action and February 1st to be considered for Regular Decision
Wake Forest University
- Eligibility: Students with extraordinary achievement, leadership, and talent
- Amount: Up to the full cost of attending, including generous living stipends
- Deadline: Applicants need only submit a complete application for undergraduate admissions by December 1
Warren Wilson College
- Eligibility: Students who excel in academics, work, service –the scholarship program recognizes achievement in one or more of these areas
- Amount: $4,000 each year up to full tuition
- Deadline: Warren Wilson does not require a separate application for scholarship consideration except for the Milepost One full-tuition scholarship (due 2/1). Early Decision Deadline (binding): November 1, Early Action Deadline (non-binding): November 15, and Regular Decision rolling admissions
Other resources for students
College Foundation of North Carolina
This one-stop shopping website offers planning tools, timelines, test prep resources and financial literacy guidance are everything you need to set a course for college. Lots of scholarships that are easy to search for too!
Community College Student Resources
Important resources for students planning to/or attending community college, including course library, curriculum, licensure/certifications, and high school equivalency information.
Golden Door Scholars
For DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals), TPS (Temporary Protected Status) and Undocumented students. Applicants must be currently in high school or graduated from a United States high school or obtained a GED (General Education Development) certificate from a United States GED Program. They also must be applying to or attend one of the Golden Door Scholars Partner Schools.
Summary of merit scholarships at top NC colleges
- Davidson College
- Duke University
- East Carolina University
- Elon University
- North Carolina A&T State University
- North Carolina State University
- Salem College
- University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
- University of North Carolina at Asheville
- University of North Carolina at Wilmington
- Wake Forest University
- Warren Wilson College
FAQs
How do you get a 2022 full-ride scholarship? ›
- Plan ahead. Students should start doing research as soon as they start high school. ...
- Keep grades up. Students should demonstrate academic excellence. ...
- Be a leader. ...
- Get involved. ...
- Build relationships with mentors. ...
- Find strengths. ...
- Submit a great scholarship application.
- $10,000 “No Essay” Scholarship.
- $2,000 Nitro College Scholarship – No Essay.
- $40,000 BigFuture Scholarships.
- $2,500 Christian Connector Scholarship.
- $5,000 Graduate School Scholarship.
- $2,000 College Repayment Grant.
- Annual Protestant Faith Based College Scholarship.
- Treat scholarship applications like a job. ...
- The more involved, the less amount of competition. ...
- Look for local scholarships. ...
- Find scholarships that fit your unique personality. ...
- Don't forget to look at your part-time job or your parent's job.
Some scholarship committees only consider applicants whose GPA meets a certain threshold. Minimum requirements range from around 2.0 on the lower end to 3.75 or higher for competitive academic scholarships. Generally speaking, a 3.0 GPA or higher will give you a decent shot at qualifying for a variety of scholarships.
What SAT score will get you a full ride? ›Eligible students will need to have SAT scores of at least 1480 or ACT scores of at least 33, a 3.5 GPA or higher, and a rigorous academic course load.
What is the hardest scholarship to get? ›- Rhodes Scholarship.
- Fullbright Scholarship.
- Gates Cambridge Scholarship.
- Princeton Scholarship.
- Mitchell Scholarship.
- Churchill Scholarship.
- Marshall Scholarship.
- Jardine Scholarship.
The best way to find scholarships or internships is to use a personalized search, like Fastweb, that compares your student profile with a database of awards. Only those awards that fit your profile are identified as matches. Fastweb has the largest, most accurate and most frequently updated scholarship database.
Where is the best place to look for scholarships? ›- the financial aid office at a college or career school.
- a high school or TRIO counselor.
- the U.S. Department of Labor's FREE scholarship search tool.
- federal agencies.
- your state grant agency.
- your library's reference section.
- Start Your Scholarship Applications Early. ...
- Explore College Scholarships. ...
- Look Locally for Private Scholarships. ...
- Use Scholarship Search Engines to Expand Your Search. ...
- Prioritize the Scholarships You're Seeking. ...
- Continue Applying to Scholarships Throughout College.
- Official grade transcript.
- One or more essays.
- Lists of your extracurricular activities.
- Letters of recommendation.
- Demonstrated financial need (if that's part of the specific scholarship)
What is a full-ride scholarship? ›
Full-ride scholarships cover all university expenses aside from tuition fees, such as accommodation, meals, and transportation. A good example is the USDA 1890 National Scholars' Program, a four-year, full-ride scholarship designed to cover the recipient's full tuition, room and board, study materials, and other fees.
How can I get a full-ride scholarship with a low GPA? ›- Play the scholarship “lotto” ...
- Go for “no” or “low” GPA scholarships. ...
- Tap your parents' network. ...
- Pre-package your application materials. ...
- Use social media. ...
- Embrace failure.
There's no limit to the number of scholarships a student can apply for or receive.
What is an easy scholarship? ›Easy scholarships are simple and quick to apply for. They may also be considered no essay scholarships. The scholarship application may take less than 5 minutes to complete. It's way more different from the college application process! Financial aid may be available to those who qualify.
Why are scholarships so hard to find? ›It's very hard to get college scholarship because a student has to go through various levels to get selected. The criteria or the process may vary from college to college. Some of the criteria college follow are academic qualifications, scholarship test, interview etc.
Which college gives the most merit scholarships? ›| School | Location | Percent of students receiving non-need based aid |
|---|---|---|
| Fairfield University | Fairfield, CT | 57% |
| Samford University | Birmingham, AL | 57% |
| Franklin W. Olin College of Engineering | Needham, MA | 56% |
| Trinity University | San Antonio, TX | 55% |
| Rank | College | Students receiving need-based aid |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Columbia University | 2,973 |
| 2 | Yale University | 2,732 |
| 3 | Williams College | 1,014 |
| 4 | Amherst College | 1,066 |
Scholarship amounts are based on the student's annual family income. Students who score 1300 or higher earn the honor of being an SAT India Top Performer. Scholarship recipients have the added distinction of being a College Board India Scholar.
› ... › Paying for College ›12 Ways to Win a College Scholarship
What GPA Do You Need To Get a Scholarship? (With a Guide)
10 Great Ways to Win a College Scholarship
In general, grants are given based on financial-need, while scholarships are merit-based and awarded to students based on their academic achievements, extracurricular activities, field of study, and more.
Why is it important to seek as much aid as possible through scholarships and grants? ›
Scholarships go further than being financial aid for many students. They reward deserving students with the ability to afford higher education. This could help them pursue a college degree. They bring brand awareness of sponsoring companies to students who want to jumpstart their career.