Criteria
US citizens or permanent residents enrolled in an eligible program, demonstrated exceptional financial need, and meet additional eligibility requirements.
Application
FAFSA
Deadline
Priority deadline March 15th
Award Amount
$500 per year
The Golden Leaf Community College Scholarship Program offers annual scholarships of up to $2,250 for curriculum students enrolled in certificate, diploma, or degree programs and up to $1,850 for continuing education students enrolled in a course that trains towards a credential listed on the Workforce Continuing Education Credentials list. Scholarships are awarded to students residing in counties designated as qualifying by the Golden Leaf Foundation.
The initiative is aimed at supporting students and their families by offsetting costs associated with curriculum and workforce continuing education programs. The costs may include tuition, fees, books, credential exams, childcare, and transportation.
Curriculum Student Eligibility Requirements
- Be a NC resident as determined by the Residency Determination Service (RDS).
- Reside in a qualifying county as designated by the Golden Leaf Foundation.
- Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) as a demonstration of need.
- Be enrolled at least full-time for the fall and spring semesters. Scholarships for a less than full-time enrolled student may be prorated based on enrollment hours and the availability of funds.
- Be enrolled for at least 6 credit hours during the summer semester to receive a scholarship award.
Award Amount
- Up to $2,250 annually per academic year for curriculum students
Workforce Continuing Education Student Eligibility Requirements
- Be a NC resident as determined by the Residency Determination Service (RDS).
- Reside in a qualifying county as designated by the Golden Leaf Foundation.
- Be enrolled in a course that trains toward credentials listed on the Workforce Continuing Education (WCE) Credentials list. Click here for the latest WCE Credentials list.
Award Amount
- Up to $1,850 annually per academic year for workforce continuing education students
North Carolina Community Colleges Golden LEAF Community College Scholarship 2025-2026 Student Application
Qualifying Counties
Criteria
- Participant must be a full-time returning student or incoming freshman seeking an Associate in Fine Arts degree in Music at Coastal Carolina Community College.
- Eligible instruments include: voice, piano, strings, woodwinds, brass, percussion, and guitar.
- Winners must take classes toward completion of the degree in the Fall 2025 and Spring 2026 semesters.
Application
Deadline
Application submissions are due May 28, 2025. Auditions will be held Friday, May 30, 2025, 3:00 PM - 5:00 PM.
Award
- First Place Award: full in-state tuition for both Fall 2025 and Spring 2026 semesters only.
- Second Place Award: half in-state tuition for both Fall 2025 and Spring 2026 semesters only.
This is a no essay scholarship contest and a new winner is selected each month. Students can re-enter each month for a chance to win. The monthly winner will receive a $1,000 scholarship. For more information and the link to enter, please visit
https://www.ncassist.org/nc-assist-no-essay-scholarship-giveaway/
The Next NC Scholarship, formerly known as the NC Scholarship Program, is a financial aid program that helps most North Carolinians from households making $80,000 or less pursue higher education by fully covering tuition and fees at any community college or more than half, if not all, of tuition and fees to attend any public university in the state.
The Next NC Scholarship combines the Federal Pell Grant and other state-funded financial aid for students attending a community college that may receive at least $3000 in an academic year (fall and spring).
Eligibility and Criteria:
- An NC resident is eligible for in-state tuition as determined by the Residency Determination Service (RDS). A high school graduate or General Equivalency Diploma (GED).
- Complete the 2025-26 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) by August 15, 2025.
- Meet Pell eligibility criteria: Is eligible to receive financial assistance under Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended.
- An Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) of $80,000 or less.
- Enrolled in an eligible undergraduate curriculum certificate, diploma, or degree program with no prior bachelor's degree for the 2024-2025 academic year.
- Enrolled in at least 6 credit hours per semester (part-time students will receive a partial award).
- Meet the Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) standards as defined by the college.
- Not be in default on any State loan or grant program.
Final eligibility will be determined and confirmed by the college financial aid office.
Eligibility Limitations:
- An eligible student may not receive the Next NC Scholarship or a scholarship or grant from any combination of the other State Funded Need-Based Financial Aid Programs for more than ten (10) full-time semesters, or the equivalent if enrolled part-time, or if the student is enrolled in a program officially designated by the postsecondary institution as a five-year degree program, twelve (12) full-time academic semesters, or the equivalent if enrolled part-time, unless the institution has granted the student a waiver for up to one additional equivalent full-time academic semester.
- An eligible student enrolled at a community college may not receive a scholarship for more than six (6) full-time academic semesters, or the equivalent if enrolled part-time, unless the student has been granted a waiver for up to one additional equivalent full-time academic semester.
Criteria
Veteran parent was a legal resident of North Carolina at time of said veteran's entrance into that period of service in the Armed Forces during which eligibility is established.
OR
The veterans child who was born in North Carolina and has been a resident of North Carolina continuously since birth.
Application
https://www.milvets.nc.gov/services/scholarships
Deadline
February 14
Award Amount
Up to eight semesters
Since its inception in 2003, Patriot Foundation has utilized donations from corporate partners, private foundations, and individual donors to fund scholarships to our military communities throughout the country. In 2020, Patriot Foundation and the North Carolina State Legislature entered into a public/private partnership. It was one of the first of its kind. The allocations from the State Legislature allow Patriot Foundation to increase its scholarship support of North Carolina military families attending North Carolina post-secondary institutions. Patriot Foundation currently administers two scholarship programs using North Carolina state and federal funds: NC Patriot Star Family Scholarship (Star Program) and NC Patriot Star Family Recovery Scholarship (Recovery Program).
For more information such as application deadlines, eligibility requirements, and how to apply visit the NC Patriot STAR Family Scholarship site.
North Carolina Tuition Assistance Program (NCTAP)
The North Carolina Tuition Assistance Program (NCTAP) is a reimbursement tuition assistance program for actively drilling Army and Air Guard members of North Carolina.
Important Dates for AY 2025 - 2026:
- Fall Term Application Window: August 1 - August 30
- Spring Term Application Window: January 1 - January 30
- Summer Term I Application Window: April 12 - May 10
- Summer Term II Application Window: June 1 - June 12
*No applications will be accepted after deadlines.*
For eligibility requirements, important deadline dates, and the NCTAP application, visit:
https://ng.nc.gov/north-carolina-tuition-assistance-program
The Federal Pell Grant Program provides need-based grants to low-income undergraduate and certain post baccalaureate students to promote access to postsecondary education. Students may use their grants at any one of approximately 5,400 participating postsecondary institutions. Grant amounts are dependent on: the student's expected family contribution (EFC) (see below), the cost of attendance (as determined by the institution), the student's enrollment status (full-time or part-time), and whether the student attends for a full academic year or less.
Application
FAFSA
WIOA is a federally-funded program for low income adults and dislocated workers enrolled or wishing to enroll in occupational training through Curriculum or Continuing Education. These funds may assist with registration fees, books, tools, required supplies, and childcare.
Applicants must be 18 years or older and a US citizen or eligible non-citizen. To apply, students must complete a WIOA application, assessment tests, and provide eligibility verification.
Contact us for more information
For more information, contact the Human Services Department in the Kenneth B. Hurst Continuing Education Building, room 109, or at 910.938.6309.
Information regarding scholarship sources is available at no cost, but you have to do your homework. You won’t get any better information than you can get from the free services available on the web:
- 2.0 GPA
- Must have spent time in foster care
- Must be attending an NC college
- Scholarships are $1,500 to $2,000 annually
For more information and access to the application click here.