North Carolina Teaching Fellows

North Carolina Teaching Fellows pays up to $5,000 a semester, or $10,000 a year, toward tuition, books and fees for students who commit to teaching elementary education (K-6), special education or a STEM subject in a North Carolina public school. The money is a forgivable loan: each year of funding is cancelled by one year of teaching in a North Carolina public school, and it turns into a loan with interest if the Fellow does not complete the service. High school seniors apply directly to the program, separately from college admission, and must also be admitted to one of the ten partner teacher-preparation programs at North Carolina universities to accept the award. High school applicants need at least a 3.0 unweighted GPA; SAT or ACT scores are encouraged but not required. The application asks for three short essays and two letters of recommendation. For the 2027-28 award year, early action closes November 1, 2026, and the final deadline is February 14, 2027.

Other deadlines near this one

• ACB Scholarship Program
  Due February 14, 2027 · $2,500 to $7,500
• Alabama Law Enforcement Officers' Family Scholarship
  Due February 15, 2027 · Up to $2,500 a semester
• Alabama Student Grant Program
  Due February 15, 2027 · Up to $3,000/yr ($1,500 per semester; actual amount depends on state funding)

How hard is the North Carolina Teaching Fellows to win?

A large applicant pool chases this award. Apply if the student is a genuinely strong fit, but build the plan around better-odds awards first. The provider does not publish applicant or winner counts, so Solyo shows no odds figure for this award.

What drives the odds here

Odds on a scholarship are mostly a question of how many students can enter. Each rule below changes the size of that field.

• Fewer rivalsOpen only to North Carolina residents
• Fewer rivalsAn essay is required, which filters out casual applicants
• Fewer rivalsRecommendation letters are required, a step many applicants skip
• Fewer rivalsAn official transcript is required
• Fewer rivalsRestricted to specific intended majors
• Fewer rivalsOpen to a single grade level only
• Fewer rivalsRequires at least a 3 GPA
• More rivalsA five-figure award attracts a bigger field

How Solyo estimates this: We model the applicant field from how narrow the eligibility rules are, then divide the awards available by that field. Requirements such as essays and recommendation letters improve a serious applicant’s odds, because most browsers never complete them. These are estimates derived from each award's published structure, not reported acceptance rates, which almost no scholarship provider discloses. Treat them as a way to rank where the hours go, not as a guarantee.

Who can apply for the North Carolina Teaching Fellows?

These are the eligibility rules Solyo verified against the official award page, translated into plain English. Your student must meet each one.

• ✓Must be a resident of North Carolina
• ✓Must attend a college in North Carolina (the award does not travel out of state)
• ✓Open to high school seniors
• ✓GPA of 3 or higher (unweighted)
• ✓Planning to study Education or STEM

What the application takes

• Essay required, about 500 words.
• 2 letters of recommendation. Ask teachers or counselors early; good letters take time.
• Transcript required. Request it from the school registrar ahead of the deadline.

Deadline and application cycle

The current deadline is February 14, 2027. This award runs on an annual cycle, with deadlines around February 14 each year. Applications open Early fall (2027-28 application open now). Apply by November 1 for a mid-December answer; the program application is separate from college applications, and the student must still be admitted to a partner campus.

Early action deadline (decision mid-December)

November 1, 2026, 11:59 p.m.

Regular decision window opens

January 4, 2027

Final application deadline (2027-28)

February 14, 2027

Regular decision update

Late March 2027

Common questions about the North Carolina Teaching Fellows

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Lists this award appears on

• North Carolina Scholarships and State Grants
• Merit Scholarships
• Renewable Scholarships (Multi-Year Awards)
• STEM Scholarships
• Scholarships With February Deadlines