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Giving

Undergraduate Scholarships

NC State is passionate about making college degrees accessible and affordable. Thanks to the commitment of our donors, we continue to put opportunities in the hands of more students. Increasing the number of endowed scholarships available each year is one of our most urgent fundraising priorities.

Over the last 10 years, we have been able to support more than 5,000 additional students with scholarships. NC State donors have created hundreds of new scholarship funds, and our work is not yet done.

a distanced view of students walking through the Talley atrium

~1 in 5 Students Are First-Generation

Each year, first-generation students comprise roughly 20% of NC State’s incoming class.

70% Apply for Aid

Each year, approximately 70% of undergraduates raise their hand for financial assistance by applying for aid.

12% Increase in Applications

First-year and transfer student applications rose to a new high in 2025.

Scholarships at NC State

Scholarships can be awarded on the basis of financial need, merit or both. Academic scholarships may be designated as universitywide, benefiting students in any college, or for a specific college or department.

NC State is increasingly the college of choice for talented students across our state, and merit-based scholarships — awarded based on a student’s achievements rather than financial need — are a critical piece of bringing the best and brightest students to campus.

Need-based scholarships — awarded based on a student’s demonstrated financial need — are also critical, as more than 70% of NC State undergraduates raise their hand for assistance by applying for financial aid each year. Your gift represents a life-changing opportunity.

Keeping award criteria as flexible as possible offers donors the opportunity to have the greatest impact on NC State and help ensure their scholarship can be awarded. However, your philanthropy officer can walk you through adding a maximum of one additional preference, like geographic location.

Opportunities for Your Support

Endowed merit- and need-based scholarships begin at $100,000, as of July 1, 2026, and open doors for generations of students, empowering them to make the most of their Wolfpack experience.

  • Endowed Cost-of-Attendance Scholarship: Creates a scholarship award that funds a student’s annual cost of attendance, including tuition, fees, books, meals and housing.
  • Endowed Full-Tuition Scholarship: Creates a scholarship award that funds a student’s annual tuition and fees.
  • Endowed Partial-Tuition Scholarship: Creates a scholarship award that funds approximately half of a student’s annual tuition and fees.
  • Endowed Scholarship: Creates a merit- or need-based scholarship that helps students cover expenses like books, meals, supplies and other fees and may help a student choose NC State over another university.

More Scholarship Opportunities at NC State

Contact Us

Learn more about supporting NC State students by contacting a member of our team.