Federal and State Financial Assistance

What is financial assistance, exactly? It is any type of funding for college that does not come from personal/family earnings or savings. This includes scholarships, grants, loans, and work-study programs. The information provided below is about what programs are offered on the federal and state levels. We know this can be overwhelming, so please don't hesitate to reach out to our team for help.

Federal Financial Assistance

Federal assistance programs are funds administered by the U.S. Department of Education and require the submission of the Federal Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to determine eligibility. Details concerning these funds may be found at Federal Student Aid or the FAFSA. You may also get information by calling the U.S. Department of Education's toll-free number: 1-800-433-3243 (hearing-impaired individuals may call 1-800-730-8913). Federal Aid Programs are the largest, least restrictive, and most commonly received programs.

The programs that the Office of Financial Aid and Veterans Affairs directly awards to our students are listed below.

A Federal Pell Grant, unlike a loan, does not have to be repaid. Pell Grants are awarded usually only to undergraduate students who have not earned a bachelor's or a professional degree. (In some cases, however, a student enrolled in a post-baccalaureate teacher certification program might receive a Pell Grant.) Pell Grants are considered a foundation of federal financial aid, to which aid from other federal and nonfederal sources might be added.

The maximum Pell Grant award for the 2025–26 award year (July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2026) is $7,395. The maximum amount can change each award year and depends on program funding. The amount a student may receive, though, will depend not only on their financial need, but also on their costs to attend school, their status as a full-time or part-time student, and their plans to attend school for a full academic year or less.

Application: FAFSA

Deadline: No deadline; however, it is recommended that you have the FAFSA submitted at least three weeks prior to the date you intend to enroll.


NOTE:  While Section 484(t) of the HEA, as amended by the Act, establishes Pell Grant eligibility for confined or incarcerated students if they are enrolled in an prison education program as of July 1, 2023, RCC currently does not participate in an approved prison education program.  If you seeking information about aid opportunities for incarcerated students, please contact the Office of Financial Aid and Veterans Affairs.

Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grants provide money to college or career school students to help pay their education expenses. However, Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grants have special eligibility criteria.

You may be eligible to receive the Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grant if:

    • you are not eligible for a Federal Pell Grant on the basis of your Expected Family Contribution but

    • meet the remaining Federal Pell Grant eligibility requirements, and

    • your parent or guardian was a member of the U.S. armed forces and died as a result of military service performed in Iraq or Afghanistan after the events of 9/11, and

    • you were under 24 years old or enrolled in college at least part-time at the time of your parent’s or guardian’s death.

To learn more about this program and its criteria, please visit the Federal Student Aid website.

Application: FAFSA

Deadline: No deadline; however, it is recommended that you have the FAFSA submitted at least three weeks prior to the date you intend to enroll.

 

The Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG) program is for undergraduates with exceptional financial need. Pell Grant recipients with the lowest expected family contributions (EFCs) will be considered first for a FSEOG. Just like Pell Grants, the FSEOG does not have to be repaid.  Each participating school receives a certain amount of FSEOG funds each year from the U.S. Department of Education’s office of Federal Student Aid. Once the full amount of the school’s FSEOG funds has been awarded to students, no more FSEOG awards can be made for that year. This system works differently from the Federal Pell Grant program, which provides funds to every eligible student.

You can receive between $100 and $4,000 a year, depending on when you apply, and your financial need.  Availability may be subject to the funding level available at the time you are offered financial assistance.

Application: FAFSA

Deadline: No deadline; however, it is recommended that you have the FAFSA submitted at least three weeks prior to the date you intend to enroll. 

The Federal Work-Study (FWS) Program is federally funded by The United States Department of Education to provide need-based employment for college students. FWS allows students to work part-time while attending an institution of higher learning. Students must have financial need as determined by the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. If you are interested in applying for the Work-Study program at RCC, please visit our Federal Work Study page.

Availability may be subject to the funding level available at the time you are offered financial assistance.

Application: FAFSA

Deadline: No deadline; however, it is recommended that you have the FAFSA submitted at least three weeks prior to the date you intend to enroll. 

State Financial Assistance

College Foundation of NC Logo
State assistance programs are administered by the College Foundation of North Carolina (CFNC) and the North Carolina State Education Assistance Authority (NCSEAA). Details concerning each of these funds may be obtained from the College Foundation of North Carolina at cfnc.org.

The programs that the Office of Financial Aid and Veterans Affairs directly awards to our students are listed below.

The Next NC Scholarship (NCNBG) 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.

Students enrolling at a North Carolina Community College with an Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) of $80,000 or less and a Student Aid Index (SAI) of 7,500 or less, as reported on the FAFSA Submission Summary, are guaranteed at least $3,000 from combined federal and state aid.

Application: FAFSA

Deadline: No deadline; however, there is a priority deadline of August 15 to ensure fund availability

Award Note: Consideration for funding is automatic once the FAFSA is filed. Eligible students will be notified of grant awards by the college Financial Aid Office.

Eligibility Requirements

  • Must be an undergraduate students
  • Be a North Carolina resident according to the NC Residency Determination Service 
  • Enrolled in at least 6 credit hours at a North Carolina Community college
  • Demonstrate eligibility based on Student Aid Index (SAI) of 7,500 or less and an Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) less than $80,000
  • Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
  • Meet the Satisfactory Academic Progress requirements of the college 

Consideration for funding is automatic once the FAFSA is filed. The FAFSA filing priority date is June 1 for UNC Institutions and August 15 for North Carolina Community Colleges. Applicants completing the FAFSA after these dates may be denied if insufficient funds are available.