That’s right. The Next NC Scholarship is a financial aid program that helps most North Carolinians from households making $80,000 or less pursue higher education by fully covering tuition and fees at any community college or more than half, if not all, of tuition and fees to attend any public university in the state. The best part? It’s money that doesn’t have to be repaid. Must complete the FAFSA form to be eligible.
Information for Graduating Seniors
Get money for college that you don’t have to pay back.
How much money are we talking about?
Students attending any of the 58 community colleges would receive at least $3,000.
Students attending any of the 16 public university in North Carolina will get a minimum of $5,000.
Find out what funding you can expect using the Next NC Scholarship Calculator.
Students with the greatest need for financial aid could qualify for even more funding to help make paying for college more manageable.
NC College Connect & NCICU Direct Admissions Programs
NC College Connect program provides a simpler way to apply to college.
The best part? If you’re a high school senior at a public high school with a weighted GPA of 2.8 or above, you are eligible. Look out for a letter that will be mailed to you in October with details on how you can secure your spot at participating colleges and universities. Learn more at NC College Connect
Twenty-seven North Carolina private colleges and universities are offering eligible students more immediate acceptance to their campuses for the 2026-2027 academic year. North Carolina Independent Colleges & Universities (NCICU) proudly presents to North Carolina high school seniors and their families the NCICU Direct Admission Program. This groundbreaking initiative simplifies the college application process for North Carolina high school seniors with a weighted GPA of 2.8 or higher. In just five minutes, students can complete their application at www.ncicu.org without the worry of any application fees. Among the 36 NCICU campuses, 26 are part of this innovative program, offering eligible students the exciting opportunity to confirm their acceptance.
NC College Connect & NCICU Participating Locations
High School Student Services - Click to View
