Finish Line Grant

The Finish Line Grant program, administered by College Foundation, Inc., aims to assist community college students in North Carolina who are facing unexpected financial hardships that could hinder their education. This initiative provides crucial support for expenses such as housing, medical needs, and childcare. The program, which transitioned to state-appropriated funds in FY 2023-2024, seeks to empower students to overcome financial barriers and complete their academic goals.

College Foundation
Focused on financial assistance for higher education, CFI administers a large portfolio of education loans, several state and private grant and scholarship programs for students attending North Carolina colleges and universities, and the NC 529 college savings program on behalf of the N.C. State Education Assistance Authority.
Finish Line Grants
Finish Line Grants support community college students who are working to complete their education or training and are faced with an unanticipated financial hardship that may prevent them from doing so. Too often, financial emergencies—like unexpected healthcare costs, childcare expenses, or car breakdowns— prevent students from completing their programs. Finish Line Grants are awarded to eligible students facing unforeseen challenges. Grants can be used for housing, medical needs, dependent care, or other financial hardships that students face through no fault of their own.
Historically, former Governor Roy Cooper proposed budgets in both 2018 and 2019 with funding for Finish Line Grants to be made available for students at four-year public and private institutions, in addition to community college students; however, the General Assembly did not fund the Finish Line Grants program resulting in Governor Cooper making available federal Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) funds.
Effective Fall 2022, the Governor’s office identified a new funding source of Emergency Assistance to non-Public Schools (EANS), effective the Fall semester of 2022, to specifically serve community college students.
With Finish Line Grants transitioning from the NC Department of Commerce to the North Carolina Community College System, funding also transitioned, becoming State-appropriated funds in FY 2023-2024

Eligibility

In order to be eligible for a Finish Line Grant, a student must:Be enrolled in a North Carolina community college in a curriculum program or an eligible workforce continuing education course leading to an industry-recognized credential;Be in good academic standing as defined by the community college. The threshold may not be higher than a 2.0 grade point average; andEffective July 1, 2025, there is no minimum completion level. The 25% and 50% completion requirements from previous years are no longer applicable.