There are several types of financial aid students and parents can pursue in order to pay for college.  These include:  scholarships, grants, loans, work-study, entitlement programs, and employment. All types of financial aid come from various sources that include the federal government, local clubs, civic organizations, as well as colleges and universities. 

Monthly Scholarship Bulletins

There are many scholarship opportunities for ALL students!  The trick is finding which ones are applicable to your individual situation.  

This is not an exhaustive list; websites are listed here to assist with other scholarship searches.  Be forewarned—the application process for scholarships is often as detailed as applying for college and sometimes the rewards are not large.  The most important thing to remember is to never pay for a scholarship or for scholarship information.  Individual colleges and universities also offer merit-based scholarship programs which will be offered to qualified students once accepted.  Check with colleges for specific information. 

Examples of Scholarship Criteria: academic merit or good grades, leadership activities, community service, extracurricular activities/athletics, honors and achievements, financial need, personal statement, overcoming adversity, etc.

Scholarship Resources:

• Go to www.scholarshipplus.com/wake - for Wake County-specific scholarship information.

• Go to www.cfnc.org for information about need based grants and scholarships, merit based scholarships, and other forms of aid specific to North Carolina.  From their homepage, click on "Pay for College"

• College Board offers a Scholarship Search Tool and Opportunity Scholarships (chance to win $40,000 just by completing 6 steps)

• Latinx Education (LatinxEd – “lah-teen-ex-ed”) is a non-profit educational initiative in NC providing targeted, multi-year support to Latinx students and immigrant families striving for higher education and greater opportunity. They share a list of scholarships specific to Latinx students here.

WYMLA Scholarship Bulletins 2023-24  

• September 2023

NC Merit Scholarships

View this presentation to hear from the representatives of five North Carolina merit scholarships about their programs and how to apply. Representatives include:

• Christina Garrett, Cheatham-White Scholarship Program, NC Central University

• Margaret Turner, EC Scholars, East Carolina University

• Abey Dessie, Levine Scholars Program, UNC Charlotte

• Justine Okerson, Morehead-Cain, UNC Chapel Hill

• Reneé Tutchton, Park Scholarships, NC State University 

The FAFSA must be completed by all students wishing to be considered for any federal financial aid. The FAFSA form is the gateway to all federal money. To initiate the financial aid process, you and your parents must submit a financial aid form.  The FAFSA is a confidential document used to collect information for determining a student’s need for financial aid. Note: Due to major changes to the FAFSA, the FAFSA will not be available for Seniors and families until December 2023. We will share more detailed info as it becomes available.

An estimate of your family’s financial ability to contribute to the costs of education beyond high school is computed. Note: For families previously familiar with FAFSA, The Expected Family Contribution (EFC) is transitioning to the Student Aid Index (SAI) beginning in the 2024-25 Award Year. The SAI is a number that determines each student's eligibility for certain types of federal student aid. It is an indicator of how much the government believes the family can pay each year for their student’s education.  This amount however does not necessarily mean that the college or university will require the family to pay the entire amount. This estimate and a copy of the appropriate form are forwarded at your request to the Pell Grant Program, to state scholarship and grant programs, and to financial aid officers at the colleges or other post-secondary institutions you specify on the form. 

The decision to award financial aid rests with individual institutions and programs, which directly inform students whether or not they are eligible for financial aid.  Speak with the college or university financial aid officer directly to discuss adjustments to this financial aid package.  

Some colleges and universities require submission of both the FAFSA and the CSS PROFILE along with their own financial aid application for consideration for merit or academic scholarships. Only 5 colleges require the CSS PROFILE in North Carolina: UNC Chapel Hill, Davidson, Duke, Elon, and Wake Forest. Complete the PROFILE at www.collegeboard.org 

Complete the FAFSA at https://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsa

The U.S. Department of Education publishes an annual guide for high school and college students regarding financial aid.  This guide explains in-depth the federal aid process.  You can view this guide on-line at https://studentaid.gov/complete-aid-process/how-calculated 

Stafford Loan:  Stafford Loans are available to undergraduates on the basis of demonstrated financial need.  Interest rates continue to be favorable and interest is paid by the federal government for the first six months after graduation.  A program called the “Unsubsidized Federal Stafford Loan Program,” is available to undergraduates who do not demonstrate financial need.  Students must file the FAFSA for the regular Stafford Loan first and if not eligible, will automatically be considered for the Unsubsidized program.  Although borrowing limits and interest rates are identical to the regular Stafford Loan, interest will not be subsidized while the undergraduate is attending college.  Students have the option of either paying interest on the loan as it accrues or capitalizing the interest and paying it off along with the principle following graduation.  Even though the government does not pay interest, this option is attractive because of the very favorable interest rate.

Pell Grants and Supplemental Educational Grants:  Pell Grants and SEOG’s are distributed to students based solely on need as determined by the FAFSA.  The college financial aid office determines the amount received through a SEOG.

Work-Study:  Work-Study is a federally funded program that allows students to work on campus to help defray the costs of education.  This program is organized by the school’s financial aid office.

Perkins Loan:  The Perkins Loan provides funds for students who demonstrate need as determined by the FAFSA.  Colleges have a restricted amount of funds available for Perkins Loans and allocate it accordingly.  Repayment begins six months after graduation.

Parents Loan For Undergraduate Students (PLUS):  Through this program, parents may borrow the entire cost of their students’ education, minus awarded financial aid.  Repayment of PLUS loans must begin within 60 days of disbursement.  Bank approval of a PLUS loan hinges on examination of the family’s credit history.  The low interest rates on PLUS loans make these an attractive option for families who plan to finance educational costs.

What is NC Promise?

The State of North Carolina established the NC Promise Tuition Plan to increase access to a quality university education by reducing student costs. Undergraduate students at three UNC System campuses: Elizabeth City State University, the University of North Carolina at Pembroke, and Western Carolina University, pay only $500 for in-state tuition each fall and spring semester.

Who is Eligible?

There are no eligibility requirements to take advantage of NC Promise. All undergraduate students, including full and part-time new freshmen, returning students, transfer students, and students in online programs, receive the NC Promise tuition rate. Costs for part-time students are pro-rated based on the number of credit hours taken.