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.
$500
Award Amount
1
Award
Feb 3
Deadline
This scholarship is available for residents of Mitchell County, North Carolina who are 4-H members or staff members and plan to attend an institution in North Carolina as a freshman. If no freshman is eligible, then an upperclassman may be awarded the scholarship.
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$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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$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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$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 Western District of North Carolina. The student must be planning to attend an institution in North Carolina, and his/her family must be a member of their county farm bureau.
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$1,000
Award Amount
1
Award
Feb 3
Deadline
This scholarship is available for undergraduate students at North Carolina State University who are studying poultry science and have participated in 4-H.
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$12,000
Award Amount
12
Awards
Feb 10
Deadline
This is a writing contest for residents of Tennessee, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, South Carolina, and North Carolina. To enter, students may submit their work in one of four categories: fiction, poetry, nonfiction or drama. Applicants should review the website for the requirements to enter their specific writing category.
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$3,000
Award Amount
1
Award
Feb 1
Deadline
This award is available for U.S. and international undergraduate or graduate students who have a current or permanent address that is located in one of the following states or plan to move to one of these states prior to March 1 of the year in which the application is made: Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Delaware, Maryland, the District of Columbia, Virginia, West Virginia, or North Carolina.
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$1,050
Award Amount
1
Award
Feb 1
Deadline
This award is available to U.S. and international undergraduate and graduate students who are reside in an eligible Southern state. Applicants must major in nursing and have a grade point average of 3.0 or higher.
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$750
Award Amount
2
Awards
Feb 1
Deadline
This award is available for U.S. college sophomores and graduate students who are residents of North Carolina and who are currently attending a college/university in North Carolina. Students must be members of the American Occupational Therapy Association and be pursing a career in occupational therapy.
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$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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$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 or a U.S. military academy. Preference is given to applicants from Edgecombe and Cumberland counties.
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$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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$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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$750
Award Amount
1
Award
Feb 3
Deadline
This scholarship is available for North Carolina high school seniors who are outstanding 4-H members in the area of family and consumer science. 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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$1,000
Award Amount
1
Award
Feb 3
Deadline
This scholarship is available for North Carolina high school seniors who are former or current participants in North Carolina 4-H Youth Development. First preference will be given to a freshman or upperclassman at North Carolina State University.
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$2,500
Award Amount
1
Award
Mar 1
Deadline
U.S. and Canadian citizens who will have earned no more than 12 hours towards a Master of Library Science degree by June of the award year are eligible for this award. Students must be members of a principal minority group; attend an ALA-accredited school; and plan to enter the library automation field.
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$5,000
Award Amount
1
Award
Mar 15
Deadline
This scholarship is available for U.S. and Canadian students who are in the second year of a doctoral program in veterinary medicine at North Carolina State University.
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$4,000
Award Amount
4
Awards
Apr 1
Deadline
HBCUConnect.com encourages minority students from all around the nation to pursue bachelors degrees at U.S. historically black colleges and universities. Applicants must be minority graduating high school seniors, transfer, or full time undergraduate students attending historically black college or university.
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$5,000
Award Amount
1
Award
Jun 30
Deadline
This award is available for Korean-American students living in and attending school in Delaware, District of Columbia, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Virginia, or West Virginia. Applicants must demonstrate financial need, have a grade point average of 3.0 or higher, and plan to enroll full time.
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$15,000
Award Amount
3
Awards
Jun 30
Deadline
This scholarship is available to a student who is entering North Carolina State University as a full-time freshman. The student must demonstrate leadership experience, strong personal character, and integrity.
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$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 Cleveland or Gaston counties in North Carolina. Students must plan to attend an institution of higher education in North Carolina.
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$1,000
Award Amount
2
Awards
Feb 3
Deadline
This scholarship is available for high school seniors who are 4-H members currently enrolled in the 4-H Horse Project and eligible under official 4-H Horse Program guidelines. Students must be residents of the north central district of North Carolina, and 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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$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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$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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$2,000
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 Campbell University or North Carolina State University.
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Understanding Scholarships In North Carolina
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 2025
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?
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
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.
Our Scholarships
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$1,500 – I Have a Dream
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$10,000 – Unigo $10K Award
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$1,500 – Sweet and Simple
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$2,500 – Superpower
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$3,000 – All About Education
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$1,500 – Fifth Month Scholarship
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$1,500 – Do-Over
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$1,500 – Flavor of the Month
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$1,500 – Make Me Laugh
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$1,500 – Shout It Out
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$2,000 – Zombie Apocalypse
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$5,000 – Education Matters
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$1,500 – Top Ten List
Written by Dave Moniz
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Edited by Unigo Staff