North Carolina students from households making $80,000 or less could have their tuition and fees fully covered at any of the state’s 58 community colleges or more than half of, if not all, of their tuition and fees covered at any of North Carolina’s 16 public universities thanks to the Next NC Scholarship. Eligible North Carolina students attending a community college will receive at least $3,000 per year; those with the greatest need for financial aid could qualify for even more funding. (Students attending a public university within the UNC System will receive a minimum of $5,000 per year.)
The scholarship will be awarded to those who qualify after completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The 2025-2026 FAFSA form will be available to the public on or before December 1, 2024. The Office of Federal Student Aid recommends that students begin preparing ahead of time so they can complete this year’s form as soon as it becomes available.
“Affordability is the number one issue for students and families considering college. This scholarship will help keep a life-changing education within reach,” said UNC System President Peter Hans. “The Next NC Scholarship builds on North Carolina’s long tradition of low college costs and strong financial aid. We’re fortunate to live in a state with such consistent, bipartisan support for higher education.”
The Next NC Scholarship combines the federal Pell Grant with state-funded financial aid into a simplified, predictable scholarship award that helps make paying for college more manageable for North Carolinians pursuing a degree.
Do I qualify?
To be eligible for the Next NC Scholarship, students must be:
- A North Carolina resident who is eligible for in-state tuition
- A high school graduate (high school equivalency completers are eligible)
- From a household with an annual Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) of $80,000 or less
- Enrolled in an eligible undergraduate curriculum program for the corresponding academic year
- Taking at least 6 credit hours per semester (part-time students will receive a partial award)
- Meeting the Satisfactory Academic Progress standards of the school they plan to attend
- A student who has completed the corresponding FAFSA, with a resulting Student Aid Index (SAI) at or below 7,500
(once complete, the financial aid office at the college/university they plan to attend will determine and confirm eligibility)
Key stakeholders in the state, including the UNC System, the North Carolina Community College System, and the North Carolina State Education Assistance Authority, worked together to consolidate state and federal aid to create the scholarship, making it easier for North Carolinians to know how much aid they can expect so they can make the most informed decisions about their future. The Next NC Scholarship was introduced in 2023.
“Making postsecondary education more accessible is at the core of our mission, and that includes ensuring that college is affordable,” said Dr. Jeff Cox, President of the North Carolina Community College System. “Not only [does] the Next NC Scholarship make attending a North Carolina community college a reality for many residents who may not have previously been able to afford it, it will also help North Carolina meet its growing workforce needs and close the educational attainment gap.”
What if I still have questions?
Those not eligible for the Next NC Scholarship may be eligible for other scholarship opportunities. Students attending a private school in North Carolina may qualify for the NC Need-Based Scholarship for Private Colleges and Universities.
For more information about the Next NC Scholarship, please visit nextncscholarship.org or follow @nextncscholarship on social media.
To learn about other options to help pay for college, contact Vance-Granville’s Financial Aid Office at [email protected] or (252) 738-3280.
Class registration for VGCC’s spring 2025 semester opens on Friday, November 1. Apply today and start your journey through one of our many career-enhancing programs!
