Federal and State Financial Aid

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 2023–24 award year (July 1, 2023, through June 30, 2024) 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.

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. 

Undocumented students, including DACA students, are not eligible for federal student aid. However, you may be eligible for other types of financial assistance for educational purposes. Please visit the following two websites for information that may be able to assist you in finding educational funding:

• Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund
• Immigrants Rising

The North Carolina Community College Grant (NCCCG) is funded by the state of North Carolina. Awards are determined by the North Carolina State Education Assistance Authority, through College Foundation, Inc.

If eligible for the grant, you are allowed to receive the grant for eight semesters (or equivalent). The NCCCG is awarded for fall and spring semesters only (summer is ineligible).

Application: FAFSA

Deadline: No deadline

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

Eligibility Requirements:

• Be a North Carolina resident student for tuition purposes
• Enroll for at least six credit hours per semester in a curriculum program
• Meet the Satisfactory Academic Progress requirements of the institution
• Meet requirements for the Federal Pell Grant (except the Expected Family Contribution (EFC) range used for Federal Pell Grant awards)

NOTE: Consideration for funding is automatic once the FAFSA is filed. The FAFSA opens on October 1. Applicants should meet priority deadlines established by their institution. Late applicants may be denied if insufficient funds are available.

Eligibility is based on a calculation of need, using data from the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Students with EFCs of 8,500 or less are eligible.

The North Carolina Education Lottery Scholarship (NCELS) was created by the 2005 General Assembly to provide financial assistance to needy North Carolina resident students attending eligible colleges and universities located within the state of North Carolina.

If eligible for the North Carolina Education Lottery Scholarship, you are allowed to receive the scholarship for eight semesters (or equivalent). The NCELS is awarded for fall and spring semesters only (summer is ineligible).

Application: FAFSA

Deadline: No deadline

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

Eligibility Requirements:

• Be a North Carolina resident student for tuition purposes
• Enroll for at least six credit hours per semester in a curriculum program
• Meet the Satisfactory Academic Progress requirements of the institution
• Be admitted, enrolled and classified as an undergraduate student in matriculated status in a degree, certificate or diploma program at an eligible North Carolina institution (UNC campuses and North Carolina Community College campuses)
• Meet requirements for the Federal Pell Grant (except the Expected Family Contribution (EFC) range used for Federal Pell Grant awards)

NOTE:  Consideration for funding is automatic once the FAFSA is filed. The FAFSA opens on October 1. Applicants should meet priority deadlines established by their institution. Late applicants may be denied if insufficient funds are available.

Eligibility is based on a calculation of need, using data from the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

Application: FAFSA

Deadline: No deadline

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

Eligibility Requirements for 2022 Graduates:

• Be a 2022 NC high school graduate 
• Be a North Carolina resident according to the NC Residency Determination Service 
• Be a first-time college student (Career & College Promise (CCP) and Early/Middle College High School students are eligible 
• Enroll in a curriculum program during the Fall 2022 semester 
• Enroll in at least 6 credit hours per semester 
• Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) for 2022-23 and subsequent years 
• Have an Expected Family Contribution (EFC) from $0 - $15,000. (“EFC” is based upon student’s FAFSA determination) 
• Renew FAFSA for the 2023-24 academic year and meet the Satisfactory Academic Progress requirements of the college 

The North Carolina Scholarship (NCNBG) program is new program funded by the State of North Carolina for the 2023-24 academic year.  The program works with federal aid to provide a guaranteed amount of financial assistance with additional state funding provided to students with exceptional need.

Students enrolling at one of the 16 institutions of The University of North Carolina with an Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) of $75,000 or less and an Expected Family Contribution (EFC) of 7,500 or less, as reported on the FAFSA, are guaranteed at least $5,000 from combined federal and state aid.

Students enrolling at a North Carolina Community College with an Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) of $75,000 or less and an Expected Family Contribution (EFC) of 7,500 or less, as reported on the FAFSA, are guaranteed at least $2,800 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 Expected Family Contribution (EFC) and an Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) less than $75,000
• Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
• Meet the Satisfactory Academic Progress requirements of the college 

Funds are only disbursed in the fall and spring semesters and only awarded to students who have not earned a bachelor’s or a professional degree. Application for this state grant is made through the FAFSA and the program has a lifetime eligibility limit of six full time semesters.

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.