New scholarship aimed at helping less fortunate NC students will be offered starting this year

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — Every year, it becomes more and more expensive to obtain a higher education degree.

But a new scholarship will make it easier for some North Carolina students struggling to make ends meet.

The Next NC scholarship is available to state residents planning to attend a North Carolina community college or a UNC system public university.

Students are eligible if they’re from a household earning $80,000 or less.

The scholarship will either fully cover — or cover more than half — the cost of tuition and fees at those schools.

Kathy Hastings works for the North Carolina State Education Assistance Authority.

She said this scholarship will not only help students but also the state as well.

“And again, so many students were counting themselves out because they didn’t think they could afford college,” Hastings said. “With the Next NC Scholarship, they see that they can so that helps them know that they can prepare for those jobs that are coming, which helps our state as a whole because employers are really looking to make sure that employees they hire are really ready for the jobs that are coming.”

The scholarship will be made available to any students enrolled in an undergraduate program for the 2024-2025 academic year.

Enrollment will begin at the end of December.