Next NC Scholarship
The Next NC Scholarship is a financial aid program that helps most North Carolinians from households making $80,000 or less pursue a higher education degree by fully covering tuition and fees at any community college.
It combines the federal Pell Grant with the state-funded financial aid program to form a simplified and predictable scholarship award that is easier to understand. It makes education more affordable so more North Carolinians can pursue a degree.
The scholarship is available to students who plan to enroll at Southwestern Community College and provides $3,000 per academic year to help students cover the cost of tuition, books, fees, and living or other expenses.
To receive the Next NC Scholarship, students must be:
- A North Carolina resident who is eligible for in-state tuition
- A high school graduate (high school equivalency completers are eligible)
- From a household with an annual Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) of $80,000 or less
- Enrolled in an eligible undergraduate curriculum program for the 2026-2027 academic year
- Taking at least 6 credit hours per semester (part-time students will receive a partial award)
- Meeting the Satisfactory Academic Progress standards of the school you plan to attend
- A student who has completed the FAFSA, with a resulting Student Aid Index (SAI) at or below 7,500 (once complete, the financial aid office at the college/university you plan to attend will determine and confirm eligibility.)
The first step for all financial aid for students is completing the
Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
Students beginning college in Fall 2026 will need to file the 2026-2027 FAFSA
- To submit your FAFSA, you will need to create an FSA ID for the STUDENT and the PARENT. To create a FSA ID, go to www.studentaid.gov.
- To start the FAFSA, go to www.studentaid.gov and click on "FAFSA® Form"
- Complete the login screen and review your data
- Select the FAFSA filing year you are interested in (ex., START 2026-2027 FAFSA)
