Wake forest has announced that free tuiton will be offered to admitted students with household incomes below $200,000 beginning in Fall, 2026. Students are still responsible for housing and other costs of attendance. Wake Forest Regular Decision application deadline is January 1, 2026; students applying by that date will receive a decision on or around April 1, 2026. More information is linked here: North Carolina Gateway - Wake Forest University

The document below contains many scholarship resources, including links to school-specific scholarship programs such as UNC Charlotte, NC State, NC Community Colleges, as well as for specific student populations. 

Looking for resources with multiple scholarships? Scan the QR codes below to be directed to some of the most popular scholarship platforms.

Many North Carolina Colleges and Universities offer merit-based scholarships. The chart below summarizes key components, including eligibility criteria, due dates, program summaries, and websites for applications.  Due dates are approaching quickly – reach out to your school counselor if you have questions.

The Next NC Scholarship program provides financial assistance to students from households with incomes of $80,000 or less. See the graphic below and the Week of September 29 announcements tab for details. 

Eligibility Requirements:

To be eligible for the Park Scholarships program, candidates must:

• Have a minimum unweighted GPA of 3.8.
• Be a United States citizen, permanent resident of the U.S., or graduating from a high school located in the U.S. (regardless of citizenship status).
• Apply for fall, first-year admission into a baccalaureate program at NC State.
  • Not open to transfer students.

The Robertson Scholars Leadership Program is a four year, full-tuition, room and board and summer stipend merit scholarship for students who attend Duke University and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. See the graphic below and link attached here for more information: Robertson Scholars Leadership Program - Applying.

The Robertson Scholars program has its own deadlines: October 15  and November 15. These deadlines are separate from UNC Chapel Hill and Duke University application deadlines; students who apply for the Robertson by October 15 will receive earlier notification of advancement to the next phase. Questions should be directed Kay-Frances Brody, Director, Recruitment and Selection for Robertson Scholars: brody@robertsonscholars.org 

The Jack Kent Cooke Foundation provides scholarships to high-achieving students (3.75 unweighted GPA and higher) from low-income families. In addition to financial support, recipients have access to advising, internships, conferences, and other events for program participants. Applications are made through the Common App. See the graphic below for more information.