4-Year NC College Program

Golden LEAF Scholarship Program – to attend NC 4-year colleges or universities

Since establishing the scholarship program, Golden LEAF has provided over 5,300 scholarships to help North Carolinians attend participating NC 4-year colleges and universities.

Participating NC colleges and universities
Participating institutions include UNC system universities and NC’s private, nonprofit institutions. Click here for the list of participating colleges and universities.

Eligibility
High school seniors or community college transfer students planning to attend any of the participating colleges or universities who reside in a qualifying county and demonstrate financial need. Recipients are selected based upon multiple factors including the ability to communicate a commitment to returning to a rural county that is economically distressed, length of residence in the county, financial need, and grade point average.

Award Amount

• High school seniors are eligible for a 4-year scholarship totaling $12,000 ($3,000 a year over 4 years).
• Community college transfer students are eligible for $3,000 a year for up to 3 years.
• Years of scholarship support are subject to the number of credits transferred and the degree sought, among other eligibility factors.
• Approximately 215 scholarships will be awarded each year.

How to apply
Visit CFNC.org/goldenleaf to fill out the application form or call 866-866-CFNC for assistance. Your FAFSA, application, and transcripts are all processes through CFNC.org. Please do not send your information to the Golden LEAF Foundation.

Deadline
March 1, 2018 to submit your application, FAFSA, and transcripts.

Golden LEAF Scholars Leadership Program
Students awarded Golden LEAF Scholarships are also eligible to participate in the Golden LEAF Scholars Leadership Program (subject to funding availability). The optional program provides:

• Leadership training at the Center for Creative Leadership, one of the nation’s leading leadership development organizations.
• Paid internship opportunities in rural NC communities.
• Stipends up to $8,830 (for all four years of participation) in addition to Golden LEAF Scholarship funding.
• Click here for more information about the Golden LEAF Scholars Leadership program.