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Last updated on November 11, 2024

The Best Scholarships for North Carolina Students with Upcoming Deadlines in 2024

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60 SCHOLARSHIPS
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  1. Leela Shah "Be Bold" Womens' Empowerment Scholarship

    Funded by
    Leela Shah Family
    This scholarship seeks to support women who are pursuing post-secondary education in order to build a better future for themselves.

    Eligibility Criteria:

    • Education Level: Undergraduate, graduate, or trade school student
    • Gender: Female-identifying
    • Age: 18-30
    • State: North Carolina or Texas
    Amount:$4,021
    Deadline:Apr 30, 2025
    One Click Apply
    1
  2. Stephanie Staggers Curtis Memorial Scholarship

    Funded by
    Stephanie's Perfect Gift
    This scholarship aims to support single mothers fron North Carolina or South Carolina who are balancing their education with their parental duties.

    Eligibility Criteria:

    • Education Level: Undergraduate student
    • Identity: Single mother
    • State: South Carolina or North Carolina
    Amount:$1,100
    Deadline:Jan 03, 2025
    One Click Apply
    2
  3. Ann Holiday Memorial Scholarship

    Funded by
    Anwar Armstrong
    This scholarship seeks to honor the life of Ann Holiday by supporting students pursuing higher education at HBCUs.

    Eligibility Criteria:

    • Education Level: Undergraduate student
    • School Name: North Carolina A&T State University
    Amount:$10,000
    Deadline is Approaching! 2 days left
    One Click Apply
    3
  4. Beulah C. Parker Memorial Scholarship

    Funded by
    Giving Circle
    This scholarship seeks to support students who are just starting out on their journeys in higher education so they can stay in school and complete their degrees.

    Eligibility Criteria:

    • Education Level: Undergraduate freshman
    • Field of Study: STEM
    • Region: Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Mississippi, Florida, Alabama or Louisiana
    Amount:$6,000
    Deadline is Approaching! 17 days left
    One Click Apply
    4
  5. Vickie Drum Memorial Scholarship

    Funded by
    David Cline
    In honor of Vickie Drum, this scholarship will support North Carolina female students with a child in their pursuit of higher education

    Eligibility Criteria:

    • State: NC
    • Background: Female student with a child
    • GPA: 3.0+
    • Education Level: Undergraduate
    Amount:$2,000
    Deadline is Approaching! 18 days left
    One Click Apply
    5
  6. Jackie Hudson Memorial Scholarship

    Funded by
    Lapatra Bowen-Harbison
    This scholarship aims to honor the memory of Jackie Hudson by encouraging students to continue her legacy of service and helping young people achieve their goals.

    Eligibility Criteria:

    • Education Level: High school or undergraduate student
    • GPA: 2.5 or higher
    • Background: Financial need
    • State: North Carolina (western NC preferred)
    Amount:$800
    Deadline:Dec 31, 2024
    One Click Apply
    6
  7. India Terrell Memorial Scholarship

    Funded by
    Terrell Crooms
    This scholarship seeks to honor the life and legacy of India Terrell by investing in the future of Black leadership in the fields of health sciences.

    Eligibility Criteria:

    • Education Level: High school senior or undergraduate student
    • Race: Black or African
    • State: North Carolina resident
    Amount:$500
    Deadline:Jan 04, 2025
    One Click Apply
    7
  8. Carol B. Warren, You are Loved Scholarship

    Funded by
    Katherine Gardner
    This scholarship aims to honor the legacy of Carol B. Warren by supporting non-traditional students who are pursuing their educational goals.

    Eligibility Criteria:

    • Education Level: Non-traditional student pursuing an undergraduate degree or planning to after finishing a GED
    • Gender: Female-identifying
    • State: Colorado, Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, or North Carolina
    Amount:$5,000
    Deadline:Feb 14, 2025
    One Click Apply
    8
  9. Alexander Hipple Recovery Scholarship

    Funded by
    Hipple Family & Friends
    This scholarship aims to honor the life and legacy of Alexander Hipple by helping people who are struggling with addiction, or personally impacted by it, to achieve their educational goals.

    Eligibility Criteria:

    • Background: Direct or indirect experience with substance abuse, addiction and/or recovery
    • State: North Carolina
    Amount:$5,000
    Deadline:Mar 01, 2025
    One Click Apply
    9
  10. Chellez Brand Scholarship

    Funded by
    The Chellez Brand
    This scholarship seeks to support students from underrepresented communities who are passionate about arts.

    Eligibility Criteria:

    • Education Level: High school or undergraduate student
    • Race: BIPOC
    • Field of Study: Arts
    • State: North Carolina, Virginia or Colorado
    Amount:$1,000
    Deadline:Mar 31, 2025
    One Click Apply
    10
  11. Therese Ingelaere Murray Memorial Scholarship

    Funded by
    Jack Murray
    This scholarship aims to honor the memory of Therese Ingelaere Murray by supporting students who share her love for teaching.

    Eligibility Criteria:

    • Education Level: Graduate student
    • State: North Carolina
    • Field of Study: Education
    Amount:$2,000
    Deadline:Apr 01, 2025
    One Click Apply
    11
  12. Skybrook Men's Golf Association Scholarship

    Funded by
    Skybrook Golf MGA
    This scholarship seeks to support student golfers who need financial assistance to further their educational goals.

    Eligibility Criteria:

    • Education Level: High school student
    • Background: Financial need
    • State: North Carolina
    • Sport: Golf
    Amount:$2,000
    Deadline:Apr 01, 2025
    One Click Apply
    12
  13. J.D. Currin Memorial Scholarship

    Funded by
    James Routh
    This scholarship seeks to honor the life of J.D. Currin by supporting students who are preparing to leave high school and begin their pursuit of higher education.

    Eligibility Criteria:

    • Education Level: High school student
    • School Name: Eastern Randolph High School
    • State: North Carolina
    Amount:$1,410
    Deadline:Apr 01, 2025
    One Click Apply
    13
  14. Spaghetti and Butter Scholarship

    Funded by
    McVeigh Family
    This scholarship aims to support first-generation students so they can overcome the hurdles they face and achieve their goals.

    Eligibility Criteria:

    • Education Level: High school senior
    • State: North Carolina
    • GPA: 3.0 or higher
    • Background: First-generation college student
    Amount:$500
    Deadline:Apr 02, 2025
    One Click Apply
    14
  15. Della Fleetwood-Sherrod Humanitarian Scholarship

    Funded by
    Fleetwood-Sherrod Family
    This scholarship will support a BIPOC high school senior in North Carolina.

    Eligibility Criteria:

    • Background: Low-income
    • State: North Carolina
    • Race/Ethnicity: BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color)
    • Education Level: High school senior or GED
    Amount:$550
    Deadline:Apr 25, 2025
    One Click Apply
    15
  16. Kristen McCartney Perseverance Scholarship

    Funded by
    Kristen’s Krew
    This scholarship will support North Carolina female students who demonstrate perseverance and are passionate about their community.

    Eligibility Criteria:

    • Education Level: High school junior or senior
    • State: North Carolina
    • Gender: Female
    • GPA: 3.5 or higher
    • Experience: Volunteer or non-profit work
    Amount:$4,000
    Deadline:May 15, 2025
    One Click Apply
    16
  17. Josh Edwards Memorial Scholarship For Creative Artists

    Funded by
    Holly Lloyd
    This scholarship seeks to honor the legacy of Josh Edwards by supporting students who share his calling to artistic endeavors.

    Eligibility Criteria:

    • Education Level: High school senior or undergraduate student
    • Background: First-generation college student
    • State: North Carolina
    • Field of Study: Music, art, photography, or writing
    Amount:$500
    Deadline:Jul 07, 2025
    One Click Apply
    17
  18. Bear Fan Scholarship

    Funded by
    Bold.org
    This scholarship seeks to support fans of "The Bear" who have a vision for the characters' futures!
    All students are eligible
    Amount:$500
    Deadline is Approaching! 18 days left
    One Click Apply
    18
  19. Love Island Fan Scholarship

    Funded by
    Bold.org
    This scholarship aims to support students who are fans of "Love Island" and are invested in the stories on screen.
    All students are eligible
    Amount:$500
    Deadline is Approaching! 18 days left
    One Click Apply
    19
  20. NYT Connections Fan Scholarship

    Funded by
    Bold.org
    This scholarship seeks to support avid players of The New York Times' "Connections" puzzle who have an idea for their own puzzle!
    All students are eligible
    Amount:$500
    Deadline is Approaching! 18 days left
    One Click Apply
    20
  21. Team USA Fan Scholarship

    Funded by
    Bold.org
    This scholarship aims to encourage students to root for Team USA and share their appreciation for their favorite athletes!
    All students are eligible
    Amount:$500
    Deadline is Approaching! 18 days left
    One Click Apply
    21
  22. LeBron James Fan Scholarship

    Funded by
    Bold.org
    This scholarship seeks to support students who are fans of LeBron James and have been inspired by his career.
    All students are eligible
    Amount:$500
    Deadline is Approaching! 18 days left
    One Click Apply
    22
  23. Sabrina Carpenter Superfan Scholarship

    Funded by
    Bold.org
    This scholarship seeks to support fans of Sabrina Carpenter who have been impacted by her career.
    All students are eligible
    Amount:$500
    Deadline is Approaching! 18 days left
    One Click Apply
    23
  24. CREATIVE. INSPIRED. HAPPY Mid-Career Writing Scholarship

    Funded by
    CREATIVE. INSPIRED. HAPPY
    This scholarship seeks to support aspiring writers so they can go on to professional writing careers and find happiness.

    Eligibility Criteria:

    • Field of Study: Writing
    • Background: Experience in the workforce
    Amount:$2,000
    Deadline:Dec 31, 2024
    One Click Apply
    24
  25. GUTS- Olivia Rodrigo Fan Scholarship

    Funded by
    Bold.org
    This scholarship is perfect for students who have been impacted by Olivia Rodrigo's "Guts" album!
    All students are eligible
    Amount:$500
    Deadline is Approaching! 18 days left
    One Click Apply
    25
  26. Joe Gilroy "Plan Your Work, Work Your Plan" Scholarship

    Funded by
    Smart Boy Studios
    This scholarship aims to support any student who has dreams and a detailed plan on how to pursue and achieve them.

    Eligibility Criteria:

    • Background: Anybody pursuing further education
    Amount:$2,075
    Deadline:Feb 28, 2025
    One Click Apply
    26
  27. Billie Eilish Fan Scholarship

    Funded by
    Bold.org
    This scholarship aims to support students who are fans of Billie Eilish and have been impacted by her music.
    All students are eligible
    Amount:$500
    Deadline is Approaching! 18 days left
    One Click Apply
    27
  28. Wicked Fan Scholarship

    Funded by
    Bold.org
    This scholarship seeks to support fans of Wicked who are excited about the new movie adaptation of the story!
    All students are eligible
    Amount:$500
    Deadline is Approaching! 18 days left
    One Click Apply
    28
  29. Redefining Victory Scholarship

    Funded by
    Chris & Mary Carnduff
    By embracing diverse avenues for personal growth, anyone can conquer the challenges of life and attain the pinnacle of success.

    Eligibility Criteria:

    • Education Level: Any
    Amount:$20,000
    Deadline:Apr 01, 2025
    One Click Apply
    29
  30. NBA 2K25 Fan No-Essay Scholarship

    Funded by
    Bold.org
    This scholarship seeks to support dedicated fans of the iconic NBA video game series.
    All students are eligible
    Amount:$500
    Deadline is Approaching! 18 days left
    One Click Apply
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North Carolina students and student debt

North Carolina is home to many students of various demographics, many of whom go on to pursue a college education in their home state. Each year there are new high school seniors preparing for the next step in education. Like students in the rest of the US, North Carolina residents have also been affected by the rising costs of college and many have turned to loans as a means to pursuing higher education.

North Carolina K-12 students

In the 2020-2021 school year, 1,431,121 students attended public schools in North Carolina. Last year, North Carolina Virtual Public School had 51,000 students enrolled, an increase that is likely due to COVID.

The North Carolina high school graduation rate is 87.6%, resulting in a sizable pool of prospective college students each year.

Around 20% of North Carolina children live in poverty and 44% are from low-income or poor families with 68% of Hispanic or Latinx children falling into this category and 61% of Black children.

Students of color are also less prepared for online school as Black, Native American, and Latinx households are 10% less likely to have access to the internet. In order to have an equal opportunity for higher education as their white counterparts, students of color need more resources and better funding for their schools.

As a whole, North Carolina has a lower than average per-pupil spending amount of $10,632 as compared to the national average of $13,597. In the last decade, per-pupil spending in North Carolina has fallen by 6%, resulting in NC having the sixth lowest spending amount in the country.

Low spending amounts also carry over to teachers' salaries with the average North Carolina teacher making only $54,150 per year, $10,000 less than the national average. North Carolina ranks 44th in school principal salaries and teachers in NC make more than 25% less than similar college graduates in the state.

As a result, prospective teachers who are passionate about helping children and teaching the value of education may be disincentivized from pursuing the field.

North Carolina college students

In North Carolina, there are 564,470 college students, 486,732 of whom are undergraduate students. College populations in North Carolina are predominantly female as 339,569 college students are women as compared to only 224,901 male students. Many of these students opt for online learning as more than 260,000 North Carolina college students take fully online courseloads.

Of all of the college students in North Carolina, 309,899 are white, 116,864 are Black, 52,803 are Hispanic, and 21,639 are Asian.

Education opportunities in North Carolina

North Carolina offers many opportunities for higher education with 53 colleges and universities in the state, 17 of which are public. These institutions include Duke University, North Carolina State University, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and North Carolina A&T, four Tier 1 research universities.

North Carolina also has 58 community colleges which over 800,000 students attend each year.

Costs of a college education in North Carolina

Based on out-of-state rates, the average cost of attendance (COA) for the 2020-2021 academic school year was $32,134 for on-campus living and $32,127 for off-campus students. Undergraduate tuition and fees cost an average of $17,028 for out-of-state students but only $3,367 for in-state students.

As high school seniors in North Carolina are preparing for higher education, it's important to understand the associated costs. The average in-state graduate tuition is $8,161 and $17,807 for out-of-state students with an additional living cost of $13,734.

Student debt in North Carolina

Student loan debt in America as a whole has reached a record amount of $1.7 trillion due to a lack of financial assistance available for graduating high school seniors, undergraduate students, and graduate students.

Federal student aid aims to help students with financial need but often doesn't go far enough in paying for higher education. North Carolina students have not been exempt from the student loan crisis and are in need of financial aid.

Over 60% of public and private college graduates in North Carolina have student loans, owing an average of more than $25,000 each.

Eligible undergraduate students can receive between $5,500 to $12,500 in federal loans each year and many parents also take out PLUS loans to help with tuition. Students with financial need may also qualify for federal work-study jobs to help with education expenses.

How to apply for scholarships as a North Carolina resident

There are many different types of scholarships you can find to help cover your college costs; some will be North Carolina scholarships that a North Carolina resident is eligible for, others will be general scholarships available to students across the United States (a North Carolina resident should consider applying to these as well). Your school may provide merit-based scholarship awards as well as financial aid based on your demonstrated financial need.

You can also turn to scholarship platforms to find more opportunities for financial assistance. Bold.org is one such scholarship program that lists hundreds of high school and college scholarships.

Applying for scholarships on Bold.org is simple, as each scholarship will have instructions in the description, an "apply now" button, and a space for your essay or other application materials.

Before applying, check all of the eligibility requirements to ensure that you're one of the qualified applicants. Then, just follow the application prompts and click submit!

Each scholarship will have different requirements, such as degree type, field of study, or location. For North Carolina scholarships, make sure you have your address and school put in correctly so donors know you qualify.

What scholarships are available in North Carolina?

Searching for financial assistance can feel daunting and overwhelming. However, there are plenty of opportunities available if you know where to look. On Bold.org, you can find all kinds of scholarship opportunities for qualified applicants, so start your search today!

North Carolina scholarships for high school students

With Bold.org, you don't even have to wait until you're in college to start earning scholarship money. You can start your search while in high school and you can find the proper scholarships by choosing high school as your education level.

You can also use the other scholarship filters to see the highest value scholarships, newest opportunities, or scholarships with the nearest deadline. Everyone ranging from high school seniors to high school freshmen should get started.

Scholarships for undergraduate students in North Carolina

Many scholarships on Bold.org are geared towards undergraduate students. To find these opportunities, you can filter by education level to pull up undergraduate scholarships.

You can also choose a category to find more specific scholarships, such as athletic scholarships, scholarships for women, or scholarships for students pursuing a certain career field.

Nursing scholarships in North Carolina

Nursing scholarships are one such example of a scholarship niche that you can find. By clicking on the "healthcare" category, you'll find scholarships such as the WiseGeek Nurse Appreciation No-Essay Scholarship, the Faith, Hope, & Nursing Scholarship, and the National Healthcare Heroes Grant for Nurses.

You can find similar opportunities for other career fields, such as education, business, psychology, computer science, etc. by clicking on the proper category for each field.

North Carolina need-based scholarships

Many scholarships are open to students regardless of financial status but there are also plenty of opportunities exclusively for students with financial need. Most of these scholarships require applicants to be low-income, such as the You Glow Differently When You're Happy Scholarship.

Additional scholarships in NC that students should consider

For a graduating high school senior, and any other student pursuing financial aid, your scholarship search is ultimately up to you; but to have the best chances of winning, you should consider scholarships with as many eligibility requirements as possible.

Scholarships that are only open to a certain gender, race, financial status, field of study, and/or education level will have fewer eligible applicants, giving you a greater chance of winning. And, while there are North Carolina scholarships available, we encourage browsing all of the additional scholarships available on Bold.org; we are confident you'll find what you're looking for!

Frequently asked questions

What is a scholarship?

A scholarship is a form of financial aid that acts as a gift. Unlike some other financial aid options, such as loans, scholarships do not need to be paid back.

How many scholarships can I win?

There is no limit to the number of scholarships you can win on Bold.org. Scholarships are free to apply for so you can apply to as many as possible to increase your chances of winning.

How much money are scholarships worth?

Each scholarship is different, with some being smaller awards and others more significant. Scholarships on Bold.org are each worth at least $500 with others offering more. The highest scholarship currently listed is worth $75,000!

Who is eligible for scholarships?

Some scholarships are open to all students while others have additional requirements, such as race, first-generation status, etc. In order to qualify for any scholarships on Bold.org, you must be at least 14 years old, in high school or higher education, and attending a school located in the United States.

Some scholarships will require applicants to demonstrate financial difficulty, such as by being low-income, others will target specific demographics, such as Hispanic students, and some will seek out students with a certain background or talent, such as leadership skills. Some scholarships are also exclusively open to students in a certain state, such as North Carolina scholarships.

As a result, you won't be among the qualified applicants for every scholarship, but Bold.org has plenty of opportunities for everyone.

There are scholarship opportunities for all kinds of degrees, such as for a master's degree, an undergraduate degree, doctoral programs, all high school students, high school seniors, community college students, graduate students, and even students pursuing a trade school degree program.

Can scholarships be used towards student loans?

Most scholarships have to be applied to college tuition and are only open to current students pursuing high school or higher education. However, there are a few scholarships that graduates or current students can use toward their student loans.

These scholarships include the Forget Your Student Debt. No-Essay Grant, the @ESPDaniella Debt Grant, the Nitro Student Loan Forgiveness Grant, and more.

How do I use a scholarship?

Scholarships that are applied to student loans will be provided to you after signing a grant agreement to use it towards your loans.

For regular college scholarships, the award money will be sent to your school's financial aid office by check to be applied to your tuition and costs.

What are the easiest scholarships to apply for?

Each scholarship on Bold.org is designed to be as simple to apply for as possible. However, some have a quicker process than others. No-essay scholarships, for example, require less time and effort to apply than essay-based scholarships.

However, no-essay scholarships are also more likely to receive a higher number of applications as a result, reducing your chances of winning. No-essay scholarships also give you less of an opportunity to stand out since you can't showcase your personality through an essay or other submission.

Do I have to have a minimum GPA to apply?

There are some scholarships on Bold.org that require students to display demonstrated aptitude or academic excellence by having a certain GPA. However, most scholarships are open to students regardless of academic achievement or grade point average.

Are scholarships taxable income?

As a form of gift aid, scholarships awarded are not taxable income and simply serve to help you pay your college tuition and student fees.

Frequently Asked Questions