North Carolina Scholarships
Key takeaways:
- College attendance for the average in-state North Carolina student cost almost $19,000 per year in 2024.
- Scholarships offered exclusively to students who live or attend school in North Carolina may vary in their additional eligibility criteria.
- The best way for North Carolina students to find applicable scholarships is through Scholarships.com’s personalized scholarship match system.
As of 2025, 553,180 students are enrolled in college in the state of North Carolina. With more than half a million students competing for financial aid, those hoping to attend college in North Carolina might not know how to finance their education. However, there are countless scholarships available to North Carolina students; keep reading to find out how you can apply.
Jump to:
- 25 Best North Carolina Scholarships
- What are North Carolina scholarships?
- How to apply for North Carolina scholarships
- What are the best North Carolina scholarships?
- Frequently asked questions about North Carolina scholarships
The 25 Best North Carolina Scholarships with Approaching Deadlines in 2026
What are North Carolina scholarships?
North Carolina scholarships are financial aid awards for students who reside in or attend college in the state of North Carolina. Unlike loans, scholarships do not need to be paid back, which makes them a great option for students who want to avoid student debt. Like all scholarships, North Carolina scholarships may have different eligibility criteria depending on the award.
Some North Carolina scholarships may only require that a student lives in the state, for example, while others may also require students to have a certain GPA, financial need, or minority status. Some awards known as institutional scholarships may only be offered to students at a particular North Carolina school. It all depends on the award.
How to apply for North Carolina scholarships
The best way to find scholarships for North Carolina students is to sign up for a free account on Scholarships.com. It takes just 5 minutes to input your basic demographic information so Scholarships.com can create a personalized list of scholarship matches for you, including North Carolina scholarships.
Once you have your scholarship matches, you can view a full list of their eligibility criteria and find step-by-step instructions to apply in their descriptions. You can use these details to easily apply for all the North Carolina scholarships for which you are eligible, no searching required.
What are the best North Carolina scholarships?
Because every student has different life circumstances and every scholarship has different criteria, there is no universal best North Carolina scholarship; rather, the best scholarship for any particular student will vary. It’s important to prioritize your applications so that the majority of your effort is focused on the best scholarships for you, specifically.
Generally, you can determine which scholarships are best for you by assessing your personal traits and looking for awards tailored to them. The more specific a scholarship’s eligibility requirements are, the fewer students will be able to apply, and thus those who are eligible have a higher chance of winning.
Frequently asked questions about North Carolina scholarships:
What are the best North Carolina scholarships for high school seniors?
Of all student age groups, high school seniors have the most scholarships offered to them. Not every senior will be eligible for every scholarship, though, so it’s important to narrow down your options when looking for scholarships to ensure you apply to the ones you have the best chance of winning. One way North Carolina students can do this is to localize their search based on their county or city of residence.
For instance, high school seniors in North Carolina who live in the Northwest corner of the state might find that the Donna Easter Student Ethics Awards are their best scholarship options. The Better Business Bureau of Central and Northeast North Carolina provides essay-based scholarships of up to $2,500 to 4 North Carolina high school seniors in select counties each year.
What are the best scholarships for current college students in North Carolina?
Undergraduate students who attend college in North Carolina may qualify for scholarships whether or not they hold permanent residence there. To determine what scholarship is the best for them, North Carolina college students can look for awards based on their year in school, their financial need status, and their major.
North Carolina undergraduate students involved in the arts, for example, can apply for the Spirit Square Center for the Arts and Education Scholarship. The exact award amount varies. Applicants must be rising juniors or seniors in the Carolinas, with preference given to those from particular counties. The specific criteria for this award make it a low-competition scholarship, so it may be the best option for eligible students.
Are there North Carolina scholarships for graduate students?
While the majority of scholarships cater to students entering their undergraduate studies for the first time, there are also many options for continuing and adult students, including those who plan to attend or are attending graduate school. North Carolina graduate students can apply to these scholarships to offset the cost of their advanced studies.
For example, the Winston-Salem Foundation awards numerous scholarships to North Carolina students of all different grades, including graduate-level students. Aside from the basic criteria of residence in Forsyth, Davidson, Davie, Stokes, Surrey, Wilkes, or Yadkin county, these awards’ requirements vary widely, so graduate students from the eligible counties have many options.
Are there scholarships for minorities in North Carolina?
There are countless scholarship organizations dedicated to diversifying higher education in the United States, including in North Carolina. North Carolina students who are part of ethnic or racial minority groups, such as Black or Hispanic students, have many scholarship options available to them; there are also awards specifically for non-racial minorities in North Carolina, including LGBTQ+ students, disabled students, and nontraditional students.
The Brighthouse Scholar Connections program, for instance, awards underrepresented Charlotte-area students with up to $40,000 for college. The scholarship caters specifically to first-generation students from communities of longstanding underrepresentation, including racial minorities and refugees.
An even more specific award for minority students in North Carolina is the Carolinas Chinese Chamber of Commerce (CCCC) Scholarship. This award varies in amount, but offers unique study abroad support and networking opportunities for Asian American students in North and South Carolina.
Do North Carolina scholarships require financial need?
Many North Carolina scholarships require students to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and demonstrate financial need to be eligible to apply. However, there are plenty of solely merit-based awards available to North Carolina students as well. These scholarships judge students only through personal circumstance, academic excellence, or extracurricular performance, with no consideration to financial need.
One merit-based scholarship for North Carolina students is the Ruff Ryders of Raleigh Scholarship Giveaway. Worth $1,000, this essay scholarship is open only to graduating high school seniors in Wake County with a consistent record of community service. There is no need-based component to the award, and because it is so localized, it may be the best option for Wake County seniors without financial need.