Eligibility
- Be a 2020-2021 school year North Carolina high school graduate attending one of North Carolina’s community colleges beginning in the 2021-2022 academic year or
- Be a 2021-2022 school year North Carolina high school graduate attending one of North Carolina’s community colleges beginning in the 2022-2023 academic year
- Have an Expected Family Contribution (EFC) of $15,000 or less as determined by the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
- Be a North Carolina resident for tuition purposes
- Enroll for at least six credit hours per semester in a curriculum program
- Meet the Satisfactory Academic Progress requirements of the community college
Description
North Carolina received a total of $137.8 million in aid from the Governor’s Emergency Education Relief (GEER) fund through federal COVID-19 relief packages allowing the Governor’s Office to launch the Longleaf Commitment for 2021 North Carolina high school graduates in partnership with the NC Community College System and the State Education Assistance Authority to guarantee that students graduating from high school in 2021 from low-income and working-class families receive enough financial aid to cover tuition and fees, at any of the state’s 58 community colleges, in order to earn an associate degree and/or credits to transfer to a four-year institution.
The North Carolina General Assembly provided State Fiscal Recovery funding in the 2021 budget to extend the Longleaf Commitment to students graduating from high school in 2022.
Application Requirements
- Applicants must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
- In addition, applicants need to apply for admission at the community college they intend to attend and complete residency determination through the North Carolina Residency Determination Service (RDS)
Other Information
Consideration for funding is automatic once the FAFSA is filed. Eligible students will be notified of grant awards by the college Financial Aid Office.
2021 High School Graduates
The grant is available to 2020-2021 school year high school graduates (one cohort) attending a NC Community College, beginning in the fall of 2021 and during the 2021-2022 and 2022-2023 academic years. The grant will end after the Spring 2023 semester.
Eligible full-time (12+ credits) students will receive a minimum grant of $700 to $2,800 per year for two years. Award amounts will adjust based on how many credits a student is enrolled in during a semester. For example, the minimum and maximum grants for students enrolled half-time (6 credits) is $350 and $1,400 per year.
2022 High School Graduates
The grant is available to 2021-2022 school year high school graduates (one cohort) attending a NC Community College, beginning in the fall of 2022 and during the 2022-2023 and 2023-2024 academic years. The grant will end after the Spring 2024 semester.
Eligible full-time (12+ credits) students will receive a minimum grant of $700 to $2,800 per year for two years. Award amounts will adjust based on how many credits a student is enrolled in during a semester. For example, the minimum and maximum grants for students enrolled half-time (6 credits) is $350 and $1,400 per year.