NextNC
The Next NC Scholarship is a financial aid program that helps most North Carolinians from households making $80,000 or less pursue higher education by fully covering tuition and fees at any community college or more than half, if not all, of tuition and fees to attend any public university in the state. The best part? It’s money that doesn’t have to be repaid.
Students attending a community college will receive at least $3,000. That’s more than the cost of full-time tuition, which means qualifying North Carolinians can choose from any of the 58 community colleges across the state and have all of their tuition and fees 100% covered.
About the Scholarship
The Next NC Scholarship combines the federal Pell Grant with the state-funded financial
aid program to form a simplified and predictable scholarship award that’s easier to
understand and makes education more affordable for most North Carolinians. It’s an
opportunity to pursue the degree you need for the career you want – and the future
you choose.
Applying is simple. Just submit the FAFSA form. If you’re eligible, you’ll receive the Next NC Scholarship. There are no additional forms to fill out.
Complete the FAFSA Apply to HCC
Be sure to join us on Thursday, July 11 from 6-7pm for a special informational session about NextNC and assistance with the FAFSA.
NextNC Chat
Through the NextNC Scholarship, eligible North Carolinians attending a community college will receive at least $3,000. We sat down with members of our Financial Aid team to learn more about this scholarship award that is easy to understand and makes education more affordable for qualifying students.
FAQs
- A North Carolina resident who is eligible for in-state tuition
- A high school graduate (high school equivalency completers are eligible)
- From a household with an annual Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) of $80,000 or less
- Enrolled in an eligible undergraduate curriculum program for the 2024-2025 academic year
- Taking at least 6 credit hours per semester (part-time students will receive a partial award)
- Meeting the Satisfactory Academic Progress standards of the school you plan to attend
- A student who has completed the 2024-2025 FAFSA, with a resulting Student Aid Index (SAI) at or below 7,500 (once complete, the financial aid office at the college/university you plan to attend will determine and confirm eligibility.)
Here are the steps you can take to apply for college and financial aid at Haywood Community College.
1. Apply to HCC using the state-wide Community College application coordinated through CFNC.
2. Complete the Residency Application (RDS). This allows all North Carolina colleges and universities to ensure you are set to receive in-state tuition if you are a North Carolina resident.
3. Complete your FAFSA. This allows you to apply for financial aid and allows colleges to determine how much financial aid you are eligible to receive such as grants, scholarships, loans, and more.
4. Complete your scholarship application. This allows our team to match you with scholarships available through the HCC Foundation. Complete one app to be automatically matched to the scholarships you qualify for.
Adjusted gross income (AGI) is the taxable income a taxpayer earns. It’s determined by subtracting eligible deductions from a family’s gross income. You can find this number on your federal income tax return.
The Student Aid Index (SAI) is a number you get from filling out the FAFSA, based on the information you share. It’s an eligibility index that each school uses to determine how much financial aid you would get should you choose to attend.
Simply visit https://nextncscholarship.org/ to learn more about the scholarship. This site will answer additional questions you may have and also shares information if you choose to attend a public North Carolina University.
Our Financial Aid team is here to help!
828-627-4756 | hccaid@haywood.edu
Drop in the Hemlock Building or set an appointment to meet with one of our Financial Aid specialists!