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Scholarships and Student Aid

Scholarships and Student Aid

The mission of the Office of Scholarships and Student Aid is to keep Carolina affordable for every student who earns admission. Talent and hard work should be the only criteria for success at Carolina. Financial hardship should never be an obstacle to a world-class education.

The Best Value In Public Higher Education

Carolina has earned national recognition as the best value in public higher education, a measure of top-quality academics and affordable tuition. Our office upholds that competitive advantage and UNC’s public mission by helping all students meet the costs of college. To discuss establishing a named fund please contact the Office of Development for Scholarships and Student Aid by phone or email using the links below.

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The Carolina Covenant

The Carolina Covenant is UNC-Chapel Hill’s groundbreaking program for talented low-income students. Launched in 2004, the Covenant offers a debt-free path to graduation through a combination of grants, scholarships and a work-study job. Covenant Scholars also have access to mentoring, academic and personal support services. The program has dramatically improved on-time graduation among the University’s lowest-income students, transforming individual lives and building a stronger Carolina.

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The Blue Sky Scholars Program

The privately funded Blue Sky Scholars program supports North Carolina residents from middle-income backgrounds who qualify for financial aid and demonstrate extraordinary work ethic and character, but do not meet the requirements for the Carolina Covenant. The Blue Sky program specifically aims to reduce these students’ loan burden and allow them to pursue an enrichment experience such as an internship or study abroad.

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General Scholarships

There are always opportunities to support student scholarships through the establishment of your own named fund. Private, flexible support for scholarships provides opportunities for promising students to pursue a world-class education at Carolina and ensures our ability to uphold our core values.

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Red, White And Carolina Blue Challenge

The men and women who serve America’s military often put their lives on the line for our country and for us. Yet when the time comes for our service personnel to send their loved ones to college, the financial hurdle can loom high. Carolina aims to change that through the Red, White and Carolina Blue Challenge with a goal to raise a total of $40 million in scholarship support for dependents of military families.

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Carolina Works

Carolina has long served as an engine of social mobility for North Carolinians, and today this charge – being of the public, for the public – holds greater importance than ever before. But even at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, a leader in opportunity and affordability, costs and debt are considerable barriers for many of our students. With Carolina Works, UNC will offer jobs for undergraduates who want to earn part of their college funding, gain new skills and prepare for life after graduation.

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Community Service Scholarships

Community Service Scholarships provide financial and programmatic support for students interested in growing their public service experience at Carolina and are an important demonstration of Carolina’s commitment to personalized and experiential student learning. They provide deeper engagement and help meet the challenge of meaningful and mutually beneficial partnerships between our students, the University and communities in North Carolina and beyond.

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Merit-Based Scholarships

Carolina offers merit-based scholarships to a select group of entering first-year, incoming students. Criteria include academic achievement, leadership qualities, commitment to service, and potential for success at the University. Financial need is not a consideration.

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Support Scholarships and Student Aid

Gifts of all sizes are needed and appreciated. Large goals become small when divided among many.

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Donor Resources

Need help making a gift? Reach our Gift Services team by calling 919-537-3818, emailing giving@unc.edu or clicking the Contact Us button below. To view your giving history, make a repeat gift or pledge payment, or print a tax receipt, click My UNC Giving.

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