Apply for the
Scholarship

Since establishing the scholarship program, Golden LEAF has provided more than 29,000 scholarships to help North Carolinians attend colleges and universities across the state.

Join Us in
Redefining Rural

The Golden LEAF Scholarship invests in students who commit to attend a North Carolina institution, graduate, and return to a rural community in the state.

Explore the
Scholar Experience

The Golden LEAF Scholarship is so much more than tuition and room and board. It provides leadership development opportunities, exposes scholars to career experiences, and promises a lifetime connection to an extraordinary community of Golden LEAF Scholars across the state.

Rural Roots,
Bright Futures

The Rural Internship Initiative provides eligible Golden LEAF Scholars with professional work experience related to their career field in a rural North Carolina community.

The Golden LEAF
Scholarship

The Golden LEAF Scholarship strives to increase economic opportunities for North Carolina’s rural and economically distressed areas by investing in students who commit to attend a North Carolina institution, graduate, and return to a rural community in the state.

Pick Your Path

Applicants

Counselors

Current Scholars

Alumni

Scholar Success Stories

"The Golden LEAF Scholarship changed my life for the better. Because of this scholarship, I was able to pursue my dream of receiving a college education and furthering that education to receive a Masters. I have now reached the highest level of education out of my entire family and have paved a way for those who will come after me, and I could not be more grateful that the Golden LEAF Foundation believed and invested in me."

"If you have a passion for rural areas in North Carolina, similar to where you live or were raised, this scholarship is meant for you. It’s the best scholarship you could get and will continue to fuel your passion to give back to rural areas after you graduate."

The Golden LEAF Scholarship Program connects you to other people from similar rural backgrounds at your college. It also brings you into a large network of scholars, mentors, companies, and potential employers that the Golden LEAF Foundation has helped.

Apply for a Scholarship

Colleges and University Scholarship

For students planning to attend a North Carolina public or private college/university.

Community Colleges Scholarship

For students planning to attend one of the 58 NC Community Colleges.

Rural Internship Initiative

Career Experience
and Impact

The Golden LEAF Rural Internship Initiative supports Golden LEAF’s commitment to preparing our next generation of rural workforce leaders by offering a paid internship to Golden LEAF Scholars. Participants gain professional work experience related to their career fields in a rural North Carolina community.

Interested Golden LEAF Scholars and Site Hosts can:

At-a-Glance

First scholarship awarded

Current 4-year scholars

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Scholarships provided to help North Carolinians attend participating NC colleges and universities

North Carolina Community Colleges with current scholarship recipients

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Scholarship funding over 23 years

The Golden LEAF Scholarship