2024 Guide to North Carolina Scholarships

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✔️ Edited by Unigo Staff

Did you know the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill was the first public university in the United States? It comes as no surprise that residents in North Carolina and students of the Tar Heel State make higher education a priority. In addition to UNC Chapel Hill, North Carolina has some fantastic colleges and universities to consider including East Carolina University (ECU), North Carolina State University (NC State), Wake Forest University, High Point University, and Duke University just to name a few!

North Carolina is a popular place to go to college with over half a million students attending 110 colleges and universities in North Carolina in 2024! 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 North Carolina for students to help pay for the costs of college.

List of North Carolina Scholarships in 2024

Golden LEAF Scholars Program

$3,000 Award Amount

2 Awards

Jan 1 Deadline

This scholarship is open to high school seniors and community college transfer students who reside in qualifying North Carolina counties and plan to attend a participating four-year North Carolina institution. All applicants must demonstrate financial need; grade point average will also be considered in the selection process.

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ScottMadden Inspire Scholarship

$20,000 Award Amount

2 Awards

Jan 14 Deadline

This scholarship will assist current African-American undergraduate sophomores who are current residents of Atlanta, Boston, or the Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill area of North Carolina and are pursuing a major in Business Administration, Consulting, Energy, Finance or Accounting, Human Resources, IT or Technology at an accredited four-year college or university.

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Ross Skelton Memorial Scholarship

$25,000 Award Amount

5 Awards

Jan 31 Deadline

The Ross Skelton Memorial Scholarship is available for U.S. high school seniors and undergraduate students who have been diagnosed with cancer. Applicants must be majoring in engineering and must reside in or attend school in North or South Carolina.

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Cancer for College Carolinas Scholarship

$25,000 Award Amount

5 Awards

Jan 31 Deadline

The Cancer for College Carolinas Scholarship is available for U.S. high school seniors and undergraduate students who have been diagnosed with cancer. Applicants must reside in or attend a college or university in North or South Carolina.

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Aubrey Lee Brooks Scholarship

$204,000 Award Amount

17 Awards

Jan 31 Deadline

This award is available to North Carolina high school seniors who are planning to enroll full time at North Carolina State University, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill or the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. Awards are based on financial need, merit, leadership, and character. Scholars can receive additional funding to study abroad.

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Pearl Scholarship

$1,000 Award Amount

2 Awards

Feb 1 Deadline

This scholarship is open to African-American high school seniors who reside in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina. Students must have a cumulative grade point average of 3.2 or higher.

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Thomas A. Carter Family 4-H and Poultry Scholarship

$600 Award Amount

1 Award

Feb 3 Deadline

This scholarship is available for North Carolina high school seniors and undergraduate students who are 4-H members. Students must plan to attend North Carolina State University and major in poultry science.

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District 4-H Development Fund Scholarship

$1,000 Award Amount

1 Award

Feb 3 Deadline

This scholarship is available for North Carolina high school seniors who are 4-H members.

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Anne Kristine Barnes Scholarship

$1,000 Award Amount

1 Award

Feb 3 Deadline

This scholarship is available for high school seniors who are 4-H members and residents of North Carolina's Northeastern Extension District. Students must plan to attend an institution of higher education in North Carolina in the fall of the year that they apply for the scholarship.

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Teeter Family Scholarship

$1,000 Award Amount

1 Award

Feb 3 Deadline

This scholarship is available for North Carolina high school seniors who are 4-H members. Students must plan to attend North Carolina State University and major in a curriculum related to agriculture production.

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Robert N. Wood Collegiate 4-H Scholarship

$2,000 Award Amount

2 Awards

Feb 3 Deadline

This scholarship is available for North Carolina high school seniors who are 4-H members. Students must plan to attend North Carolina State University in the fall of the year that they apply for the scholarship.

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4-H Horse Program Scholarship

$1,000 Award Amount

2 Awards

Feb 3 Deadline

This scholarship is available for North Carolina high school seniors who are 4-H members. Students must be currently enrolled in the 4-H Horse Project and must be eligible under official 4-H Horse Program Guidelines.

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Ray Wilkinson Communications 4-H Scholarship

$2,000 Award Amount

2 Awards

Feb 3 Deadline

This scholarship is available for North Carolina high school seniors who are 4-H members and majoring in some phase of communications. Students must plan to attend an institution of higher education in North Carolina in the fall of the year that they apply for the scholarship.

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Carolyn Smith Ivey Scholarship

$1,000 Award Amount

1 Award

Feb 3 Deadline

This scholarship is available for high school seniors who are 4-H members and residents of the West or North Central districts in North Carolina. Students must plan to attend an institution of higher education in North Carolina in the fall of the year that they apply for the scholarship.

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Reece and Jessie Crouse 4-H Scholarship

$1,000 Award Amount

1 Award

Feb 3 Deadline

This scholarship is available for undergraduate students who are 4-H members and residents of North Carolina's North Central District. Preference is given to applicants from Davidson County.

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Robert and Helen Runion Scholarship

$600 Award Amount

1 Award

Feb 3 Deadline

This scholarship is available for undergraduate 4-H members who are attending an institution in North Carolina. First preference goes to applicants from Mitchell County, NC; in the event there are no qualified applicants, the scholarship will be given to residents of North Carolina's western district. First preference also goes to freshman students; in the event that no freshman is eligible, an upperclassman may be awarded the scholarship.

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Rudolph Carl Ellis Scholarship

$1,000 Award Amount

1 Award

Feb 3 Deadline

This scholarship is available for high school seniors who are 4-H members and plan to attend North Carolina State University. First preference goes to a Cumberland County (NC) 4-H member; second preference goes to a South Central District 4-H member.

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William Edmond Sawyer 4-H Scholarship

$600 Award Amount

1 Award

Feb 3 Deadline

This scholarship is available for North Carolina high school seniors who are 4-H members and residents of Currituck County, NC. If there are no applicants from Currituck County, the award may be given to a member from the Northeast District of North Carolina. Students must plan to attend an institution of higher education in North Carolina in the fall of the year that they apply for the scholarship.

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Rachel Kirby Thomas & Dr. Frank Bancroft Thomas 4-H Foods and Nutrition Scholarship

$1,000 Award Amount

1 Award

Feb 3 Deadline

This scholarship is available for North Carolina high school seniors who are 4-H members with an outstanding record in foods and nutrition. Students must plan to attend an institution of higher education in North Carolina.

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NCSU Pulp and Paper Foundation Merit Scholarship

$11,500 Award Amount

1 Award

Feb 15 Deadline

This scholarship is available for international and U.S. undergraduate students at North Carolina State University who have an interest in majoring in paper science. Students who are currently majoring in paper science or are majoring in a similar discipline such as chemistry, chemical engineering, or engineering are all eligible to apply.

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Martha Watson Scholarship

$2,500 Award Amount

1 Award

Feb 15 Deadline

This scholarship is open to U.S. students who have been accepted into a degree program at any institution of higher education. Students must be North Carolina residents and members of a North Carolina Baptist church, unless they are blood relatives of Mrs. Fawn Watson.

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Luther H. Butler Scholarship for NC Baptist Students

$2,500 Award Amount

1 Award

Feb 15 Deadline

This scholarship is open to North Carolina who have been accepted for full-time enrollment in a degree program at one of the following schools: Campbell University, Chowan University, Gardner-Webb University, Mars Hill University, Meredith College or Wingate University. Students must be members of a church affiliated with the Baptist State Convention of NC

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Bullard Family Fund Scholarship

$2,500 Award Amount

1 Award

Feb 15 Deadline

This award is available to North Carolina students who are members (or have parents who are members) of a church affiliated with the North Carolina Baptist State Convention. Students must be committed to preparing for full-time Christian ministry.

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MathWorks Math Modeling (M3) Challenge

$20,000 Award Amount

1 Award

Feb 21 Deadline

This award is for U.S. high school juniors and seniors who participate in a mathematical modeling challenge as part of a school-based group.

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Assistance League of the Triangle Area Scholarshp - Technical School Students

$7,500 Award Amount

1 Award

Mar 1 Deadline

This scholarship is open to students who reside in the Triangle Area of North Carolina (Durham, Orange, and Wake counties) and plan to attend a North Carolina technical institution. Financial need will be considered in the selection process.

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Understanding Scholarships In North Carolina

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Before we introduce the various grants and scholarships available for going to college in North Carolina, it is important to understand the cost of going to school in North Carolina. If you are attending UNC Chapel Hill and are a resident of the Tar Heel state, you will pay $7,020 in undergraduate tuition and just under $2,000 in fees, for the 2024-25 school year. Out of state students can expect to pay over $40,000 in tuition and fees.

Tuition and fees at NC State is roughly the same for North Carolina residents and $33,034 for out-of-state residents. Tuition and fees at other North Carolina public universities are a little more affordable. For example, in-state tuition and fees at East Carolina is $7,516 and $23,793 for students who do not live in the state.

If you are looking to attend a private college or university in North Carolina, you can expect to pay tuition and fees of up to $69,000 at Duke University. Tuition and fees at Wake Forest are just about the same. High Point University is considerably more affordable with 2024-25 tuition and fees of $47,712.

The great news is there are a good number of grants and scholarships available for students who want to study in North Carolina, that can make going to school much more affordable!

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

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There are so many scholarship opportunities in the state of North Carolina. Some awards are only for North Carolina residents. 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?

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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.

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.

Scholarships for Graduate Students in NC

Sunset over Asheville, NC, with colorful skies and mountain backdrop.

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.