NC Longleaf Commitment Grants

New! Members of the high school classes of 2022 and 2023 in North Carolina can receive a grant for tuition and fees to attend North Carolina community colleges this spring!

Amount

$700 to $2,800 for
full-time enrollment

Awards Available

to qualifying
2022 & 2023 NC Graduates

Deadline

NO Deadline
Follow the steps below

Eligibility

To receive the Longleaf Commitment Grant, you must

  • Be a 2021-2022 school year North Carolina high school graduate attending one of North Carolina’s community colleges beginning in the 2022-2023 academic year
  • Be a 2022-2023 school year North Carolina high school graduate attending one of North Carolina’s community colleges beginning in the 2023-2024 academic year
  • Have an Expected Family Contribution (EFC) of $15,000 or less as determined by the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
  • Be a North Carolina resident for tuition purposes
  • Enroll for at least six credit hours per semester in a curriculum program
  • Meet WPCC’s Satisfactory Academic Progress requirements of the community college

What is the Longleaf Commitment Grant?

North Carolina received a total of $137.8 million in aid from the Governor’s Emergency Education Relief (GEER) fund through federal COVID-19 relief packages allowing the Governor’s Office to launch the Longleaf Commitment for 2021 North Carolina high school graduates in partnership with the NC Community College System and the State Education Assistance Authority to guarantee that students graduating from high school in 2021 from low-income and working-class families receive enough financial aid to cover tuition and fees, at any of the state’s 58 community colleges, in order to earn an associate degree and/or credits to transfer to a four-year institution.

The North Carolina General Assembly provided State Fiscal Recovery funding in the 2021 budget to extend the Longleaf Commitment to students graduating from high school in 2022.

Additionally, the North Carolina General Assembly budget bill approved funding in the 2023 budget to extend the Longleaf Commitment to students graduating from high school in 2023.

Other Information

Consideration for funding is automatic once the FAFSA is filed.  Eligible students will be notified of grant awards by the college Financial Aid Office.

2022 High School Graduates:

The grant is available to 2021-2022 school year high school graduates (one cohort) attending a NC Community College, beginning in the fall of 2022 and during the 2022-2023 and 2023-2024 academic years. The grant will end after the Spring 2024 semester.

Eligible full-time (12+ credits) students will receive a minimum grant of $700 to $2,800 per year for two years. Award amounts will adjust based on how many credits a student is enrolled in during a semester. For example, the minimum and maximum grants for students enrolled half-time (6 credits) is $350 and $1,400 per year.

2023 High School Graduates:

The grant is available to 2022-2023 school year high school graduates (one cohort) attending a NC Community College, beginning in the fall of 2023 and during the 2023-2024 and 2024-2025 academic years. The grant will end after the Spring 2025 semester.

Eligible full-time (12+ credits) students will receive a minimum grant of $700 to $2,800 per year for two years. Award amounts will adjust based on how many credits a student is enrolled in during a semester. For example, the minimum and maximum grants for students enrolled half-time (6 credits) is $350 and $1,400 per year.

Questions? Please contact the WPCC Financial Aid Office.