Golden LEAF Colleges and Universities Scholarship Grant

The Golden LEAF Colleges and Universities Scholarship aims to support high school seniors and community college transfer students from economically distressed rural counties in North Carolina. This scholarship not only covers tuition and room and board but also fosters leadership development and career opportunities. Recipients are encouraged to commit to returning to their communities after graduation, thus contributing to the economic growth and sustainability of rural North Carolina.

NOTE: Golden LEAF partners with the North Carolina State Education Assistance Authority (NCSEAA) to administer our scholarship application. Interested applicants should visit the CFNC.org scholarship page here and fill out the Golden LEAF Colleges and Universities application form.
Scholarship Goals
The Golden LEAF Scholarship is more than tuition and room and board. It provides leadership development opportunities, exposes scholars to career experiences, and promises a lifetime connection to an extraordinary community of Golden LEAF Scholars across the state.
ConnectionConnect to Golden LEAF’s mission of increasing economic opportunity in rural North CarolinaSuccessful WorkforceSuccessful workforce outcomes and a return to rural North Carolina after graduating from collegeLeadership & ExperiencePossession of leadership skills and collegiate work experienceCollege AchievementEnrollment in and graduation from a college in North Carolina
This Golden LEAF Scholarship is open to high school seniors and community college transfer students who reside in a qualifying rural, economically distressed North Carolina county and are planning to enroll full-time in a participating public or private college or university located in North Carolina.

Eligibility

Eligibility RequirementsBe a North Carolina resident for tuition purposesReside in a qualifying rural North Carolina countyBe a graduating North Carolina high school senior or a currently enrolled North Carolina community college transfer student enrolling full-time in the fallHave a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5Plan to enroll in a participating North Carolina public or private college/universityHave a Student Aid Index (SAI) of 15000 or less as determined by the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)Be able to communicate a commitment to returning to a rural North Carolina county after graduation from college