By Cara Beth Lewis
Thanks to the Longleaf Commitments Grant, North Carolina 2021 high school graduates may be eligible for two years of free community college. Governor Roy Cooper allotted over 86 million dollars from the Emergency Education Relief fund. According to Spectrum Local News, “This funding will combat the immediate impacts of the pandemic on incoming college students.”
There are some eligibility requirements to receive this funding. Here are the requirements from NCcommunitycolleges.edu.
- Graduate from a North Carolina high school in 2021
- Be a North Carolina resident for tuition purposes.
- Be a first-time college student (Career & College Promise (CCP) and early/middle college high school students are eligible)
- Enroll in a curriculum program during the 2021-22 academic year
- Enroll in at least six credit hours per semester
- Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) for 2021-22
- Have an Expected Family Contribution (EFC) less than $15,000. (EFC is based upon student’s FAFSA determination)
- Renew FAFSA for the 2022-23 academic year and meet the Satisfactory Academic Progress requirements of the college
No application needs to be submitted to apply for this funding. The students will automatically be considered upon applying for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). There is not a deadline set currently; however, funding is limited. Apply as soon as possible for the best chance of being awarded the grant.
Helpful Links
- Find a community college in NC
- College Foundation of NC (CFNC)
- College Foundation of NC Longleaf Commitment Webpage
- Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
- Learn more about the educational pathways in the North Carolina Community College System
- Governor Cooper’s Press Release Announcement
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