Next NC Scholarship
Offered by North Carolina State Education Assistance Authority · Free to apply
North Carolina students from households with adjusted gross income of $80,000 or less and a Student Aid Index of 7,500 or less are promised at least $3,000 a year at any of the 58 community colleges, or at least $5,000 a year at any of the 16 UNC System universities. Federal Pell dollars and state funds are combined into one award, and most eligible community college students end up with tuition and fees fully covered. The FAFSA is the entire application: no separate form, no essay. Filing order still decides funding, since priority dates are June 1 for UNC System campuses and August 15 for community colleges, and later filings are reviewed in the order received and paid only while money remains. Six credit hours earns a partial award, and support runs 6 semesters for a two-year degree or 10 for a four-year degree.
How hard is the Next NC Scholarship to win?
This is not a competition. Aid is allocated by a published formula, so meeting the criteria and filing on time is what determines whether the money arrives.
- Estimated odds
- qualifying students generally receive it
- Paperwork
- ~1 hr to file
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 income ceiling applies
How Solyo estimates this: State programs that allocate by published formula are modelled on qualification and filing, not on competition, because there is no selection committee choosing between applicants. 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 Next NC Scholarship?
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
- Open to high school seniors, current college students, transfer students, and adult learners
- Open to U.S. citizens or permanent residents (green card)
- Household income of $90,000 or less
- Must qualify for in-state tuition and be a high school graduate or equivalency completer
- Requires household AGI at or below the program cap AND a Student Aid Index at or below 7,500; must also meet federal Pell/Title IV eligibility rules
- Enroll in at least 6 credit hours in an eligible undergraduate program (part-time students receive partial awards)
- Cannot be in default on a state loan or grant, and must maintain satisfactory academic progress
- Awarded automatically from the FAFSA; there is no separate scholarship application
- Usable at all 58 North Carolina community colleges and all 16 UNC System universities, with a higher award at the universities
- Limited to 6 semesters for two-year degrees, 10 for four-year degrees, and 12 for five-year programs
What the application takes
No essay, recommendation letters, or transcript are required. This is one of the lighter applications in the directory.
Deadline and application cycle
The current deadline is June 30, 2027. This award runs on an annual cycle, with deadlines around June 30 each year. Applications open when the FAFSA opens on October 1. Beat your sector's priority date, June 1 for UNC System schools and August 15 for community colleges; later filers are funded only if money is left.
- Community college priority date
- August 15, 2026
- FAFSA opens
- October 1, 2026
- UNC System priority date
- June 1, 2027
- Award year ends
- June 30, 2027
Does your student actually qualify?
See if your student qualifies in 30 seconds. Solyo checks 20+ criteria against their real profile: GPA, state, grade level, intended major, and more, across every award in this directory at once.
Common questions about the Next NC Scholarship
How much is the Next NC Scholarship worth?
The Next NC Scholarship awards at least $3,000/yr (community college) or $5,000/yr (UNC System) and is renewable in later years.
When is the Next NC Scholarship deadline?
The current deadline is June 30, 2027. This award runs on an annual cycle, with deadlines around June 30 each year. Applications open when the FAFSA opens on October 1. Beat your sector's priority date, June 1 for UNC System schools and August 15 for community colleges; later filers are funded only if money is left.
When do Next NC Scholarship applications open?
Applications open when the FAFSA opens on October 1, and close June 30, 2027. Beat your sector's priority date, June 1 for UNC System schools and August 15 for community colleges; later filers are funded only if money is left.
Who is eligible for the Next NC Scholarship?
Key requirements: Must be a resident of North Carolina; Open to high school seniors, current college students, transfer students, and adult learners; Open to U.S. citizens or permanent residents (green card); Household income of $90,000 or less.
Does the Next NC Scholarship require an essay?
No essay is required. The application is light on requirements. Expect to spend about 1 hour on it.
How hard is it to win the Next NC Scholarship?
This is not a competition. Aid is allocated by a published formula, so meeting the criteria and filing on time is what determines whether the money arrives. Solyo classifies this award as formula-based, meaning qualifying students generally receive it. Plan on about 1 hr of paperwork.
Is the Next NC Scholarship free to apply?
Yes. The Next NC Scholarship is free to apply. Legitimate scholarships never charge an application fee, and Solyo verifies every listed award against its official page.
More state grants & programs
- 802 Opportunity GrantFull tuition and the $100 administrative fee at CCV (last-dollar)
- Access Missouri Financial Assistance ProgramVaries by SAI and school type per statutory table (amounts prorated if funding is short)
- Alabama Student Grant ProgramUp to $3,000/yr ($1,500 per semester; actual amount depends on state funding)
- Alaska Education Grant$500-$4,000/yr based on need and enrollment level
- Alaska Performance Scholarship$3,500-$7,000/yr depending on tier
- Arizona Promise ProgramFull tuition & mandatory fees at Arizona public universities (last-dollar)
Lists this award appears on
Award details are curated by Solyo and verified against the official scholarship page. Deadlines and requirements can change between cycles, so always confirm on the provider's site before applying.