Our Promise of Access

Imagine a bold, confident Wolfpack filled with students of every background, preparing for success without financial worry. Imagine a state where talent is never wasted and possibility never feels out of reach.

With the Extraordinary Opportunity Scholarship Initiative, this vision can become reality.

In February 2020, we announced the creation of the Extraordinary Opportunity Scholarship Initiative (EOSI). The goal was simple: to keep our promise of access for every student admitted to NC State by closing the gap between the cost of higher education and what a student can afford.

The difference has been life-changing.

“The Extraordinary Opportunity Scholarship Initiative has had an incredible impact for our most underresourced undergraduates from North Carolina,” said Krista Ringler. “Because of this initiative, we have been able to offer essential scholarship funding to 434 students. Without this support, these students likely would have applied for additional student loans or may have decided that NC State was out of reach for them financially.”

The legacy and impact of the Extraordinary Opportunity Scholarship Initiative has just begun.
Krista Ringler
Associate vice provost for scholarships and financial aid

Empowering more North Carolinians – of every family background and economic situation – with the opportunity to earn a college degree has always been at the heart of our land-grant mission to solve problems and fuel prosperity.

While we are recognized for our affordability, the average annual need per student is $17,000, and few students can cover this cost through summer jobs or by working during the school year. More than 70% of undergraduates apply for financial aid each year, and nearly 50% of undergraduates qualify for need-based aid based on federal guidelines.

With the Extraordinary Opportunity Scholarship Initiative (EOSI), we’re coming together to make sure that every accepted student can make the most out of their chance to join the Pack – because when we give first-generation students and students from low- to middle-income families the opportunity to succeed by removing financial barriers, the results are extraordinary.

Breaking Down Barriers

In only four years, NC State’s Extraordinary Opportunity Scholarship Initiative (EOSI) has made a difference in the lives of more than 400 students, some of whom have received the award multiple years. A reaffirmation of our university’s commitment to educating North Carolinians of every background, EOSI has quickly become a popular way for donors to have an immediate impact as the university continues to build its culture of philanthropy. Here’s a closer look at our EOSI recipients to date:

58% Are From North Carolina’s Tier 1 and Tier 2 Counties

These represent our state’s most economically challenged areas.

42% Are From Underrepresented Groups

The class of 2026 is NC State’s most diverse class to date.

23% Are the First in Their Family at a Four-Year College

The impact of EOSI extends beyond the award recipients.

Launched With Student Voices

There are no more powerful voices to speak about the impact of need-based support than those of our students. Starr Gibens ’22 helped launch EOSI in a 2020 video and by speaking at NC State’s annual celebration of philanthropy events. “Helping with EOSI is special because it’s not just one scholarship and done. It’s something that’s changing students’ lives for a long time — so that they can come to NC State, so that they can graduate from college. So they can have the experiences I’ve had.” Click the image to hear from Starr.

Why EOSI?

More than 70% of our undergraduates apply for financial aid.
Nearly 50% of our undergraduates qualify for some form of need-based aid, based on federal guidelines.
The average cost of attendance at NC State is $26,814. Although we are recognized for our affordability, a student cannot hope to cover this cost through summer jobs or by working during the school year.
The average annual need of our undergraduate students is almost $18,000, and we lose promising scholars because we currently cannot meet 100% of need.
With a combination of endowed and current-use gifts of all sizes, EOSI is closing the gap in real-time — and ensuring we can continue to provide for our students for years to come.

Students are challenged with the same economic factors we all face. Rising costs, particularly for housing in our area, adds additional pressure. There is still work to do to ensure that the extraordinary opportunity of an NC State education remains within reach.
Krista Ringler
Associate vice provost for scholarships and financial aid

434 students have received EOSI scholarships since spring 2021.

Learn how a $5 million gift helped

Opening Doors, Fulfilling Dreams

Meet some of our most recent and inaugural EOSI recipients and learn more about how need-based scholarships make an immediate and direct impact.

Extraordinary Opportunity: Kristine Huynh

Students like Kristine Huynh have a lot on their plates. Scholarships help relieve the financial pressure, providing more time to form communities and get involved on campus.

Extraordinary Opportunity: Brady Farlow

Brady Farlow knows about the importance of scholarships — financial assistance has connected the second-year horticulture and Spanish student to study abroad, a passion for his future career, and close-knit communities at NC State that welcomed him with open arms.

Kacey Cooper with her mother and grandmother in front of the 1911 building

Extraordinary Opportunity: Kacey Cooper

Kacey Cooper ’23 grew up hearing stories of NC State from family members who worked at the university. With support from the Nell Family Extraordinary Opportunity Scholarship, she’s continuing their legacy as a first-generation college graduate.

Bailey Pollard does the wolfie in the cockpit of a plane while flying

Extraordinary Opportunity: Bailey Pollard

Bailey Pollard entered a whole new world as a first-generation college student in NC State’s Poole College of Management. This private pilot has taken full advantage of her Extraordinary Opportunity Scholarship and set herself up for success.

Extraordinary Opportunity: Victoria Moore

Growing up in Raleigh as the child of an alumna meant Victoria Moore ’22 always had her eye on attending NC State, but it was Prague, Czech Republic, that actually brought her to the Pack.

Extraordinary Opportunity: Rome Williams

NC State defensive tackle Rome Williams is the recipient of a new type of financial aid that allows him to play for the Pack while preparing for life after football. The only thing more impactful than this student-athlete is his scholarship.

Extraordinary Opportunity: Nataly Vazquez Perez

As one of the inaugural recipients of the Extraordinary Opportunity Scholarship, Nataly Vazquez Perez sees a bigger, bolder path from her first year at NC State to a future career as a lawyer.

Extraordinary Opportunity: Will Gibson

A new type of scholarship enabled Will Gibson to become the latest member of his family to join the Pack. Thanks to NC State’s numerous learning possibilities, the sky is the limit on where he goes from here.

Extraordinary Opportunity: Rachel Cherry

After receiving the Extraordinary Opportunity Scholarship, Rachel Cherry ’22 found the freedom to explore a new major and an exciting new job opportunity — most importantly, the support gave her the motivation to work harder with confidence in her future.