College Aid for North Carolina Students

Selling Yourself for Financial Gain

North Carolina is host to an extensive selection of premier colleges and universities.  In addition to the University of North Carolina and NC State; Duke, Wake Forest and Appalachian State are located within North Carolina’s borders.  Average cost of attending North Carolina State University for the 2012-13 school year; including tuition, room and board exceeds $20,000, so North Carolina students of higher education face the same financial hurdles confronting other students around the country.

Large-scale federal college assistance programs serve North Carolina students, including Pell Grants, FSEOG Grants and William D. Ford Federal Direct Loans.  But when  funding shortfalls exist beyond the reach of Federal Financial Aid dollars, North Carolina students turn to state-specific assistance to close the affordability gap.

Since many NC financial aid programs use the federal application to qualify students, filing the Free Application for federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is the first step for North Carolina aid-seekers.  The application opens the door to Department of Education assistance, but it also gets the ball rolling for these forms of North Carolina financial aid:

• State sponsored
• Privately funded
• Need-based
• Merit-based
• Camous specific
• Career specific

Need-Based Aid for North Carolina Higher Education

The North Carolina State Education Assistance Authority administers a far-reaching portfolio of student financial aid.  One popular program for under-funded students, the North Carolina Student Incentive Grant (NCSIG), is offered to North Carolina resident students attending  state colleges and universities full time. However, the grant does not apply to students enrolled in career courses for religious vocations.

To be considered for state aid, North Carolina applicants are required to file FAFSA requests before the state deadline. Current opportunities for state-sponsored financial aid in North Carolina include:

• Aubrey Lee Brooks Scholarship Program
• Golden Leaf Scholars Program – High school seniors from certain North Carolina counties are eligible to apply for this scholarship, which is administered by the Golden Leaf Foundation.  Qualified applicants are eligible for up to three-thousand dollars annually, or a total of $12, 000 over the course of a four-year university program.  The state-specific effort also includes a financial assistance option aimed at Community College students within North Carolina.
• Students at Historically Black Colleges and Universities benefit from the John B. Mclendon Scholarship.  College funding is awarded annually to two stand-out athletes from the state who are enrolled at HBCUs.
• If you, a parent, or your spouse is employed by the state your North Carolina technical school, trade school, community college, or four-year university education may quaily for assistance under the State Employees Association of North Carolina (SEANC) Scholarship. Awards range between $500 and $1000 each, and recipients can reapply for them each year.
• Similarly, the State Employees’ Credit Union Foundation “People Helping People” Public University Scholarship Program is available to public sector employees and their families. Total scholarship values can be as much as $10,000, over 8 semesters. The State Employees’ Credit Union Foundation also funds education for North Carolina Community College students.

Career-Specific Student Assistance for University

Students pursuing careers in dentistry, medicine and optometry, benefit from State of North Carolina Contract Programs in Dentistry, Medicine, & Optometry. If you plan to study medicine, or a related field, contact the North Carolina State Education Assistance Authority, 800-700-1775, x313 for specific information about health-related studies in North Carolina. Programs like the Board of Governors Dental Scholarship-Loan Program (BGDSL) and the Board of Governors Medical Scholarship-Loan Program (BGMSL) help ambitious students complete advanced degree programs.

North Carolina Sheriffs Association Undergraduate Criminal Justice Scholarships serve full-time undergraduates within the state that are enrolled in participating Criminal Justice degree programs. One award is granted annually for each of the constituent institutions within the UNC system. This aid available to criminal justice majors who attend:

• Appalachian State University
• East Carolina University
• Elizabeth City State University
• Fayetteville State University
• North Carolina Central University
• North Carolina State University
• University of North Carolina at Charlotte
• University of North Carolina at Pembroke
• University of North Carolina at Wilmington
• Western Carolina University

The face value of each scholarship is $2,000 (over 2 semesters). Check with financial aid officials at any of the above universities for more information about the program.

The Assistance League of the Triangle Scholarship Program offsets educational expenses for college students living in the research triangle area. In addition to general funds for high school seniors, the group puts forth targeted assistance for health-related studies and diversity aid for single, working mothers.

North Carolina Teacher Assistance Scholarship Fund helps the state meet its growing need for qualified education professionals.  Recipients qualify by exhibiting high academic standards and financial need paying for college.  Funding varies according to legislative activity, so the number of students who benefit from the award annually is subject to change.  the program applies to initial licensure studies at qualified four-year universities, and also to community college classes that eventually lead to teacher certification at four-year colleges.

Campus Aid for North Carolina College Students

North Carolina Community College students are eligible for need-based financial aid.  To qualify, each applicant must:

• Be a North Carolina resident for income tax purposes
• Be enrolled for at least six credit hours of study each semester
• Maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress standards set-forth by the college of attendance

The North Carolina College Grant Program awards funds based on Pell application information, so community college aid starts with a timely- filed FAFSA.

Within a comprehensive stable of financial assistance, Duke University administers several unique campus-specific programs.  One such opportunity, called Summer Global Education provides institutional aid for Duke summer programs.  the aid is supplemental to federal assistance and other financial aid a student is receiving.  There is no separate application required for this campus aid.

Students at Appalachian State University are eligible for scholarships, grants and work-study plans that help make higher education affordable.  The university stands as a significant value in education, with projected education costs; including room, board and tuition of around $12,000 annually, for full time resident students.  The financial aid efforts at the school recognize academic excellence and promote diversity within the student body.  Need-based and merit-based financial aid candidates must file a Federal FAFSA application to be considered for campus-specific ASU assistance.

The Office of Student Employment helps Appalachian State students find part-time jobs on and off campus, with help from the Federal Work Study program and Student Educational Employment Program.

Jagannathan Scholarships target students within the UNC system for financial assistance.  High school seniors are invited to apply for the funds, which are awarded based on the following criteria:

• Class Rank
• Cumulative GPA
• SAT Score
• Leadership Abilities
• Financial Need.

Each scholarship is worth a maximum of $3,500.

Private Funding For North Carolina Higher Education

Crumley Roberts, a North Carolina law firm, offers encouragement and financial assistance to North Carolina college students who show promise in serving their communities.  Ten students earn $1000 each, and an iPad for college.  The Chairman’s Scholarship is available to students with outstanding aptitude and extraordinary passion for collective behavior.  Crumley Roberts Next Step Scholarships target currently enrolled Community College students within the state of North Carolina who are transitioning to four-year universities.

The Wachovia Technical Scholarship Program assists financially-needy students who are already enrolled in two-year technical programs. More than 100 $500 scholarships ($250/semester) are awarded annually, to students showing academic aptitude and financial need.  Funds are reserved for second-year students completing 2-year programs at North Carolina Community Colleges.Recipients are enrolled full-time, and can use the money for expenses like books, tuition and transportation.

North Carolina 4-H Development Fund Scholarships are available to students enrolled as undergraduates at accredited North Carolina universities, community colleges and junior colleges. Qualified applicants receive between $500 and $2,500 each by meeting these selection criteria:

• Excellent record of 4-H club participation
• Outstanding High School academic record
• Demonstrated college aptitude through high SAT score
• Financial need
• Meet geographic requirements of particular award