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Scholarships for High School Students

The Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid offers a limited number of competitive scholarships for entering freshmen in an effort to recognize and encourage exceptional academic ability and talent. To be considered, students must apply for admission by November 1.

Some academic scholarships also require that students demonstrate financial need. All students who apply for admission by November 1 and apply for financial aid by submitting the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) by March 1 will automatically be considered for need-based academic scholarships.

To learn about specific scholarship programs, please review the following:

Distinctive Scholarships

  • Park Scholarship Program - Prestigious, competitive academic scholarship program for students who demonstrate exceptional academic ability, exemplary character, and exceptional potential in leadership and service.
  • General Hugh Shelton Leadership Initiative Scholarship - Competitive academic scholarship program to promote the mission of the Shelton initiative, "to inspire, educate and develop value-based leaders committed to personal integrity, professional ethics, and selfless service."
  • Chancellor's Leadership Scholarship – Program for students with demonstrated leadership potential, academic achievement, personal talents, unique work or service experience, and financial need. Applicants should demonstrate an understanding and appreciation of diversity.
  • Goodnight Scholarship - The Goodnight Scholarship provides funding to cover the cost of tuition and fees annually for 50 incoming freshmen students from North Carolina.  To qualify, students must apply for financial aid by completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid.  No separate scholarship application is required; financially needy students from middle-income families who plan to major in Education and STEM disciplines (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) receive automatic consideration for this scholarship.  In addition to financial aid, a leadership development program prepares Goodnight Scholars to take on leadership roles as students on campus and in their professional and civic lives.

College Based Scholarships:

Each of the Colleges at NC State offers scholarship opportunities to students enrolled in their academic programs. Consult the college website for specific criteria, application materials, and important deadlines.

Employer Specific Scholarships:

Eligibility for some scholarships requires an employment affiliation.

  • Carrier/Bryant Dependent Scholarship - Students with a parent employed by an authorized Carrier/Bryant dealer in North or South Carolina and demonstrate financial need as determined by the FAFSA are eligible to apply. The scholarship application will be available February 1 through June 1.
  • Caterpillar Dependent Scholarship - Eligible dependents of Caterpillar employees are encouraged to apply. The scholarship application will be available from February 1 to June 15.
  • City of Raleigh Dependent Scholarship - This need-based scholarship is for an incoming freshman that is the dependent of a permanent employee of the City of Raleigh. Eligible students must show exceptional academic achievement and demonstrate financial need as determined by the FAFSA. The scholarship application will be available February 1 through June 1.
  • Cross & Chalice J. Smith Capel Scholarship - Eligible dependents of members of Capel are encouraged to apply. The scholarship application will be available from February 1 to June 1.
  • NC Department of Transportation Dependent Scholarship - The Tom Glover Memorial scholarship is a need-based scholarship for NC State students who are dependent children of NC Department of Transportation employees. Eligible students must demonstrate financial need as determined by the FAFSA.  The scholarship application will be available February 1 through June 1.
  • NC State Family Scholarship & George and Reba Worsley Scholarship - Need-based scholarship opportunities for students whose parent(s) is a full-time employee of NC State University. NC State Family Scholarships are intended to benefit full-time first-degree undergraduate students enrolled at NC State whose parent is a permanent full-time employee of NC State University. The George and Reba Worsley Scholarship is intended to benefit full-time graduate or undergraduate students who are children of permanent employees in the Finance and Business division at NC State. Students complete one application for consideration for both scholarships. The scholarship application will be available from February 1 to May 1.
  • News & Observer Scholarship - Eligible dependents of members of the News & Observer are encouraged to apply. The scholarship application will be available from February 1 to June 1.
  • Southeastern Gas Association Dependent Scholarship - Eligible dependents of members of the Southeastern Gas Association are encouraged to apply. The scholarship application will be available from February 1 to June 1.
  • Student Action for Farmworkers Scholarship - Eligible dependents 1) whose parents or guardians are currently engaged in migrant farm labor or have been migrant farmworkers in the past or 2) whose parents or guardians work, or have worked, in food processing plants are encouraged to apply. The scholarship application will be available from February 1 to June 1.

Other Funding:

  • Gatling Grant - Established by alumnus John Gatling to fund educational opportunities for students who are born with the surname Gatlin or Gatling.
  • Tobacco Farmers Scholarship Fund – Established by Howrey, LLP of Washington, DC to fund educational opportunities for students at NC State who are the children or grandchildren of rural tobacco farmers. The scholarship application will be available from January 1 to March 1.
  • Non-North Carolina state grants

Outside Scholarships:

NC State encourages students to search for private scholarships offered by agencies not affiliated with the university.

There are a number of community foundations serving the residents of North Carolina. Students are encouraged to search foundation sites for scholarships.

Minority Scholarships:

NC State encourages students to search for private scholarships offered by agencies not affiliated with the university.

ROTC Scholarships:

Students participating in ROTC are required to complete the ROTC Scholarship Notification Form and report benefits to the University Cashier's Office.