Community Colleges
Students attending or planning to attend any of North Carolina’s participating community colleges who reside in a qualifying county (see map below) and demonstrate financial need are eligible to apply.
Eligibility Requirements for Curriculum Students:
- Be enrolled or enrolling in a curriculum program.
- Enroll at least full-time during the fall and spring semester(s). Scholarships for students at least half-time may be awarded at a prorated rate based on the hours of enrollment and pending the availability of funds. Colleges will determine reasonable proration award amounts.
- Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to determine need.
- Be a resident of NC as determined by Residency Determination Services (RDS).
- Reside in a qualifying county as determined by the Golden LEAF Foundation. A student who resides in an eligible county upon initial award will remain eligible if they move out of the county after the initial award was made and will be eligible for a renewal award, if awarded for the year, as long as the student’s place of residence is within the state of North Carolina.
Eligibility Requirements for Workforce Continuing Education Students:
- Be enrolled or enrolling in a Workforce Continuing Education (WCE) course(s)/pathways offered for 96 hours or more and leading to a state or industry-recognized credential.
- Completion of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is not required. College must establish a process to determine need.
- Be a resident of North Carolina. Residency Determination Services (RDS) is not required for WCE students to determine state residency.
- Reside in a qualifying county as determined by the Golden LEAF Foundation. A student who resides in an eligible county upon initial award will remain eligible if they move out of the county after the initial award was made and will be eligible for a renewal award, if awarded for the year, as long as the student’s place of residence is within the state of North Carolina.
Participating Colleges
Alamance Community College
Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College
Beaufort County Community College
Bladen Community College
Blue Ridge Community College
Brunswick Community College
Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute
Cape Fear Community College
Carteret Community College
Catawba Valley Community College
Central Carolina Community College
Central Piedmont Community College
Cleveland Community College
Coastal Carolina Community College
College of The Albemarle
Craven Community College
Davidson-Davie Community College
Durham Technical Community College
Edgecombe Community College
Fayetteville Technical Community College
Forsyth Technical Community College
Gaston College
Guilford Technical Community College
Halifax Community College
Haywood Community College
Isothermal Community College
James Sprunt Community College
Johnston Community College
Lenoir Community College
Martin Community College
Mayland Community College
McDowell Technical Community College
Mitchell Community College
Montgomery Community College
Nash Community College
Pamlico Community College
Piedmont Community College
Pitt Community College
Randolph Community College
Richmond Community College
Roanoke-Chowan Community College
Robeson Community College
Rockingham Community College
Rowan-Cabarrus Community College
Sampson Community College
Sandhills Community College
South Piedmont Community College
Southeastern Community College
Southwestern Community College
Stanly Community College
Surry Community College
Tri-County Community College
Vance-Granville Community College
Wake Technical Community College
Wayne Community College
Western Piedmont Community College
Wilkes Community College
Wilson Community College
Award Amount
Up to
per school year, including summer term, is available for curriculum students and up to $1,850 per year for students enrolling in occupational programs. Awards can be applied toward tuition, fees, books, supplies at the community college where enrolled, transportation, childcare expenses related to attending classes, and credential testing upon course completion.
How to Apply
Contact your college’s financial aid office for more information on how to apply and deadlines for your application. Information is available at your financial aid office and must be returned to the financial office. Please do not send your information to the Golden LEAF Foundation.
Deadline
Each participating college will set the deadline for the scholarship application. Contact your college’s financial aid office as soon as you plan to enroll to determine application deadlines.