By Maria Geiger

Maria Geiger is Director of Content at Scholarships360. She is a former online educational technology instructor and adjunct writing instructor. In addition to education reform, Maria’s interests include viewpoint diversity, blended/flipped learning, digital communication, and integrating media/web tools into the curriculum to better facilitate student engagement. Maria earned both a B.A. and an M.A. in English Literature from Monmouth University, an M. Ed. in Education from Monmouth University, and a Virtual Online Teaching Certificate (VOLT) from the University of Pennsylvania.

Updated: July 14th, 2021

Are you a student in the state of North Carolina? If so, you should pay for college or graduate school with some of the top North Carolina scholarships! These scholarships include awards from private organizations, as well as merit scholarships from the top NC institutions of higher education.

Jump ahead to:

• Top North Carolina Scholarships
• Scholarships at North Carolina Colleges & Universities
• Other Resources for Students
• Summary of Top Scholarships at North Carolina Colleges

Keep on reading to learn more about these top NC scholarships including award amounts, eligibility requirements, and deadlines!

Top North Carolina scholarships

Business and Professional Women of the Triangle

• Eligibility: Females in good academic standing (2.5 GPA or higher) within the North Carolina counties of Wake, Durham, Orange, or Johnston (but can attend school outside the area)
• Amount: $1,500
• Deadline: Rolling

North Carolina Hispanic College Fund Scholarship

• Eligibility: Be a senior of Hispanic/Latino background in a North Carolina high school OR enrolled in a degree program at a community college (must have graduated from a North Carolina high school within the past two years. Applicants must have a four-year cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher on a 4.0 scale (3.5 on a 5.0 scale)
• Amount: $500 to $2,500
• Deadline: January 13

NC Sheriffs’ Association Undergraduate Criminal Justice Scholarship

• Eligibility: Applicants must be full-time undergraduates majoring in criminal justice who are residents of North Carolina for tuition purposes
• Amount: $2,000 (12 scholarships for each UNC constituent institution are awarded)
• Deadline: Varies

North Carolina AmeriCorps

• Eligibility: Applicants must be U.S. citizens, U.S. nationals or lawful permanent resident aliens of the United States who gave a high school diploma or a GED, or obtain one while serving
• Amount: Varies
• Deadline: Rolling

Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant Program

• Eligibility: Be enrolled as an undergraduate, post-baccalaureate, or graduate student with a minimum cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.25 in a postsecondary educational institution that has chosen to participate in the TEACH Grant Program. Recipients must sign a TEACH Grant Agreement to Serve and Promise to Pay
• Amount: $4,000 per year (up to $16,000 total)
• Deadline: January 1

Scholarships at North Carolina colleges & universities

In the list below, you will read about scholarship opportunities at some of the most highly ranked colleges and universities in the state of North Carolina. Our list focuses mainly on merit scholarships for in-state and out-of-state first-year students. Good luck!

Davidson College

• Eligibility: High academic achievers with experiences that reflect a varied range of interests, talents and achievements. Some of the merit scholarships, like the Belk Scholarship, require a nomination, so be sure to read up
• Amount: Up to full cost of attending, including a $3,000 living stipend
• Deadline: The deadline for submission is the deadline of your chosen admission plan (Early Decision 1 – Nov. 15; Early Decision II – Jan. 4; Regular Decision – Jan. 11)

Duke University

• Eligibility: All applicants are automatically considered for Duke merit scholarships by virtue of their admissions application. The most competitive will be considered for merit scholarships
• Amount: Up to full cost of attending
• Deadline: Depending on whether you apply EA (11/16) or Regular Decision (1/4)

East Carolina University

• Eligibility: Scholarships are usually available only to the most outstanding new first-year students
• Amount: $500 and $5000 per semester. The Honors College awards merit scholarships equal to the value of in-state tuition.
• Deadline: Depending on the scholarship, deadlines can range from November (Honors College) – January 15 (for most other programs.

Elon University

• Eligibility: For most merit scholarships, students are automatically considered when they apply. Selection is based on your high school academic record and application essay
• Amount: From $4,500 to $13,500 per year
• Deadline: For most, January 10th. For Fellows and Scholars, there is a separate application due on January 15

North Carolina A&T State University

• Eligibility: The National Alumni Scholarship and the Louis and Elizabeth Dowdy Scholarships recognize exceptional academic talent and ability
• Amount: Awards cover full tuition, related fees, room, and board for four years
• Deadline: January 15

North Carolina State University

• Eligibility: Awarded on the basis of outstanding accomplishments and potential in scholarship, leadership, service, and character
• Amount: Up to full cost of attending
• Deadline: November 1

Salem College

• Eligibility: All admitted students are considered for scholarships
• Amount: Half to full tuition
• Deadline: For the Davis Art Scholarship, the deadline in January 20th. For all scholarships, the deadlines vary, so check here

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

• Eligibility: Applicants are automatically considered for scholarships when they apply to UNC. Applicants must have impressive academic and extracurricular achievements and show promise of engagement in the life of the University. Scholarships administered by private foundations — like the Morehead-Cain and Robertson scholarships require an additional application
• Amount: Up to the full cost of attending
• Deadline:  Non-binding EA is October 15 and Regular Decision is January 15

University of North Carolina at Asheville

• Eligibility: Academic excellence, as demonstrated by a high grade point average/scores on the SAT or ACT, interest in or passion for an academic program, extracurricular engagement
• Amount: Up to full tuition
• Deadline: It is recommended that you apply early. Early Decision I (Binding): November 1, Early Decision 2 (Binding): January 15, Regular Decision (Non-binding): February 1

University of North Carolina at Wilmington

• Eligibility: When you are accepted to both UNCW and the Honors College, you are automatically considered for competitive Honors College Merit Scholarships
• Amount: Awards range from $500 a year to an award equivalent of in-state tuition and fees
• Deadline: November 1st to be considered for Early Action and February 1st to be considered for Regular Decision

Wake Forest University

• Eligibility: Students with extraordinary achievement, leadership, and talent
• Amount: Up to the full cost of attending, including generous living stipends
• Deadline: Applicants need only submit a complete application for undergraduate admissions by December 1

Warren Wilson College

• Eligibility: Students who excel in academics, work, service –the scholarship program recognizes achievement in one or more of these areas
• Amount: $4,000 each year up to full tuition
• Deadline: Warren Wilson does not require a separate application for scholarship consideration except for the Milepost One full-tuition scholarship (due 2/1). Early Decision Deadline (binding): November 1, Early Action Deadline (non-binding): November 15, and Regular Decision rolling admissions

Other resources for students

College Foundation of North Carolina

This one-stop shopping website offers planning tools, timelines, test prep resources and financial literacy guidance are everything you need to set a course for college. Lots of scholarships that are easy to search for too!

Community College Student Resources

Important resources for students planning to/or attending community college, including course library, curriculum, licensure/certifications, and high school equivalency information.

Golden Door Scholars

For DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals), TPS (Temporary Protected Status) and Undocumented students. Applicants must be currently in high school or graduated from a United States high school or obtained a GED (General Education Development) certificate from a United States GED Program. They also must be applying to or attend one of the Golden Door Scholars Partner Schools.

Summary of merit scholarships at top NC colleges

1. Davidson College
2. Duke University
3. East Carolina University
4. Elon University
5. North Carolina A&T State University
6. North Carolina State University
7. Salem College
8. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
9. University of North Carolina at Asheville
10. University of North Carolina at Wilmington
11. Wake Forest University
12. Warren Wilson College