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UNC Chapel Hill Scholarships
By
Will Geiger
Will Geiger is the co-founder of Scholarships360 and has a decade of experience in college admissions and financial aid. He is a former Senior Assistant Director of Admissions at Kenyon College where he personally reviewed 10,000 admissions applications and essays. Will also managed the Kenyon College merit scholarship program and served on the financial aid appeals committee. He has also worked as an Associate Director of College Counseling at a high school in New Haven, Connecticut. Will earned his master’s in education from the University of Pennsylvania and received his undergraduate degree in history from Wake Forest University.
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Kira is a content writer at Scholarships360. Kira earned a Bachelor of Media and Journalism with a concentration in Advertising and Public Relations from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
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The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is one of the oldest and most prestigious public universities in the US. While many people know UNC from Tar Heel basketball (UNC has one of the best college basketball programs in the world), the opportunities offered at the university are top-notch. If you’re interested in going to this school, but aren’t sure about the cost, let’s go over some financial aid options that are exclusive to UNC Chapel Hill!
Also read: How to get in-state tuition as an out-of-state student
What types of scholarships does UNC offer?
UNC offers many different scholarships, as well as grants. One of the most prominent grants at Carolina is the Carolina Computing Initiative, which ensures that all students have access to the technology needed to be successful at Carolina. The main types of scholarships available at UNC are need-based and merit-based.
Read next: Merit-Based vs. Need-Based Aid: Everything You Need to Know
UNC need-based financial aid
UNC’s need-based scholarships are generous, especially considering all their other financial aid offerings. The college is need-blind, meeting demonstrated financial need for all admitted students. One of the best programs that UNC offers is the Carolina Covenant, which provides debt-free funding for students who come from families making less than 200% of the federal poverty level. Note that UNC requires both the FAFSA and CSS Profile to qualify for financial aid, and most of their need based financial aid does not require a separate application.
Tar Heel Guarantee
In 2024, UNC announced a new initiative that aims to make college more accessible to North Carolina families called the TarHeel Guarantee. Carolina will cover out-of-pocket costs for tuition and mandatory fees for North Carolina undergraduates whose families make less than $80,000 a year. This commitment is only available to North Carolina residents.
UNC merit scholarships
The most prestigious of UNC Chapel Hill scholarships is the Morehead-Cain Scholarship which is a four-year, fully-funded program within the University. The Morehead-Cain Scholarship aims to support the top academic students and leaders in the world. This scholarship, along with the Robertson Scholarship, requires a separate application. Additionally, UNC offers a variety of other merit scholarships that only require the UNC admissions application.
If you excel in certain subjects like science, music or creative writing, there are additional merit scholarships at UNC to apply to.
Kenan Music Scholars Program
The Kenan Music Scholars Program is a four-year full-tuition scholarship (including student fees, room, and board). Every year UNC hosts auditions for the scholarship for prospective first year students. Here are the audition dates for students planning on entering the university in the fall of 2026:
- November 22, 2025 (No piano)
- December 6, 2025
- January 3, 2026
- January 10, 2026
Students also have the option to submit their audition virtually, though in-person auditions are preferred.
The Thomas Wolfe Scholarship
The Thomas Wolfe Scholarship covers full, four-year financial support to one incoming student per year, including tuition, room and board, books, a new laptop, and a summer stipend. In order to apply, prospective students must apply to UNC by the university’s early deadline in October, and then apply to the scholarship separately in November.
As for application materials, students must submit a writing sample that consists of anywhere from forty (40) to fifty (50) pages of original creative writing composed in English, as well as a separate personal essay.
Chancellor’s Science Scholars Program
The Chancellor’s Science Scholars Program gives students the opportunity to get a head start on their education with a fully funded intensive six-week Summer EXCELerator program before their first year of college. As for financial support, the CSS scholarship awards $10,000 to NC residents (which is renewable for up to four years) and it covers tuition, fees, and room & board for out-of-state students.
To apply, high school seniors must first apply Early Action to UNC. Then students are selected from the common app based on academic excellence and a demonstrated interest in STEM and research. Finalists are invited to come on campus for Selection Weekend, where they are interviewed by UNC faculty and staff. 2 weeks after Selection Weekend, applicants will be notified with final decisions.
Related: Top North Carolina scholarships
How to win merit scholarships
Merit scholarships, especially the Morehead-Cain Scholarship and the Robertson Scholarship, require students to demonstrate excellence in academics and leadership. This is typically shown with impressive GPAs, essays, and test scores, and participation in extracurricular activities. Chapel Hill’s merit scholarships mentioned above are highly competitive and highly valuable, so keep that in mind when you are applying.
If your goal is to win merit scholarships, start by trying to improve your academics as much as possible. Then look into getting involved with your local community through volunteering or taking on a leadership role at a school club.
Remember not to stop your search at scholarships exclusive to Chapel Hill. The best thing you can do to win scholarships is become aware of any opportunities that could help fund your education. There are many national merit scholarships, national need-based scholarships, or local scholarships in your community that you may qualify for. To start your search, make an account at Scholarships360 to get matched with all sorts of scholarships, from need based to merit based!
Frequently asked questions about UNC Chapel Hill scholarships
What is the most prestigious scholarship at UNC?
What is the average tuition at UNC Chapel Hill?
Is UNC generous with financial aid?