The Golden LEAF Foundation makes scholarships available to students from qualifying counties who demonstrate financial need to help them attend a North Carolina community college. The goal of the Golden LEAF Foundation is to support funding of scholarships for recipients to gain talent, knowledge, and the skills to help their communities thrive.
The Golden LEAF Community College Scholarship provides scholarships of up to $750 for Fall 2025. The scholarships help cover the cost of tuition, fees, books, supplies, credentialing tests, transportation, childcare, and other components of the total cost of attendance for the 2025-2026 academic year. Workforce Development scholarships are also available. Please reach out to your program coordinator for an application when applying to your program.
Eligible students must:
- Be enrolled at least full time in a curriculum program for Fall 2025. Less than full-time students may be considered pending the availability of funds.
- Have financial need as determined by completion of the FAFSA.
- Be a resident of North Carolina as determined by Residency Determination Services (RDS).
- Reside in a rural county that is tobacco dependent, or economically distressed, as determined by the Golden LEAF Foundation (check with the Financial Aid Office for qualifying counties in 2025-2026).
- Complete a Golden LEAF Application and submit to the Financial Aid Office by the designated deadline date of September 12, 2025.
Please return applications to the Financial Aid Office. For assistance, email Financial Aid.
Finalists meeting all the eligibility criteria will undergo a separate “merit” competition. Selection is based on the following:
- The effect of the declining economy on the student’s family
- Owned or employed in farming/agriculture business
- Owned or employed in traditional industries such as textiles or furniture manufacturing
- Household member lost their job or went from full time to part time
- Academic record
The Fall 2025 application deadline is Friday, September 12, 2025.