Top 5 Scholarship/Grant Sources 

1. Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), also known as "financial aid".

• Find out if you qualify for grants and/or loans from the state and national level. You can start the application for FAFSA on October 1st your senior year. Do not complete it before then or it will be filed for the wrong year! Get it done as soon as possible, because it is a process not just a "one and done".

2. College/University

   • • Most colleges award merit scholarships to their top applicants, based on GPA and SAT/ACT scores. In general, private schools offer more scholarhsips (but they also cost more to attend).

     • Also look at departmental scholarships, meaning they are awarded by the major in which you plan to pursue. 

3. Local Scholarships (Ex- Rotary Club, Optimist Club, Faith-Bases Organizations, etc.)

   • • Many of these have applications during the spring of your senior year. 

4. State Scholarships 

   • • Look at CFNC under the "pay" tab. They have a list of state-wide scholarships, loan-for-service programs, and grants. 

5. National Scholarships 

   • • A good tool for looking for these is Collegeboard. 

Helpful Links 

• Scholarships and Financial Aid (FAFSA) 

• NC Community Foundation Scholarship Website