Golden LEAF Colleges and Universities Scholarship
Golden LEAF Foundation (administered by NCSEAA)
$3,500 a year (up to $14,000) for students from qualifying rural NC counties attending a participating NC college or university who intend to return to rural NC.
- How much
- Up to $14,000 ($3,500 per school year for up to 4 years; transfers $3,500/yr for up to 3 years)
- Who qualifies
- NC resident for tuition purposes (RDS) living in a qualifying rural county named by Golden LEAF; graduating NC high school senior or current NC community college transfer student enrolling full-time (degree-seeking) in the fall at a participating NC college/university; FAFSA SAI of 15,000 or less; must express intent to return to a rural NC community after graduation; students who attended college other than dual enrollment are ineligible.
- For high school seniors, students starting college, transfer students
- Need-based: your FAFSA decides how much you get.
- When to apply
- Opens later Annual; application opens mid-January, due March 1 (2027-28 cycle: opens January 11, 2027, due March 1, 2027)
- How to apply
- Complete the online Golden LEAF Colleges and Universities application on CFNC.org, submit a transcript with final grades from the most recent fall semester, and complete the FAFSA
- What you'll need
- state application + transcript + FAFSA
- Last checked
- October 5, 2026, against the official page (cfnc.org), page 2, page 3 and page 4
The details
For graduating NC high school seniors (4 years, up to $14,000) and NC community college transfer students (3 years, up to $10,500) from qualifying rural, economically distressed counties enrolling full-time at a participating public or private NC four-year school. Approximately 215 awards. Renew each year with a Renewal Profile, a FAFSA, continued need, full-time enrollment and satisfactory academic progress. Scholars also get leadership programming and the Rural Internship Initiative.
More money from North Carolina
- Golden LEAF Community Colleges ScholarshipUp to $2,250 per school year (curriculum students); up to $1,850 per year (occupational/continuing education programs)
- NC Need-Based Scholarship for Private College StudentsAmount varies
- Next NC ScholarshipAt least $5,000 per year at a UNC System university; at least $3,000 per year at an NC community college (federal Pell + state funds combined)
Keep looking
- Answer a few questions to see every program you qualify for
- Nearby states: Georgia, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia
- Federal aid and national scholarships (open to students in any state)
- The FAFSA in plain English (2027-28)
- Should I file the FAFSA if I don't think I'll qualify?
- FAFSA deadlines by state (2027-28)
- The FAFSA for parents: what you need to do
- How to save on textbooks: free, rented and cheaper options
We list programs; we don't decide who gets them. Always check the official page before you apply. Spot something wrong? Tell us.