To be considered, an applicant must be enrolled during the 2012-13 academic year at a North Carolina public or private high school or a North Carolina community college, enroll for fall 2013 as a full-time, degree-seeking freshman or transfer from a North Carolina community college at one of the 57 participating public universities or private colleges and universities in North Carolina, be a North Carolina resident for tuition purposes with a permanent residence in one of 78 qualifying rural counties and demonstrate financial need.  Candidates must submit a Golden LEAF Scholarship application, available at CFNC.org/goldenleaf, a FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) , available at www.fafsa.gov and a current high school or community college transcript no later than March 1. A complete list of program requirements, participating campuses and qualifying counties can be viewed at CFNC.org/goldenleaf.

Golden LEAF Scholarship opportunities may also be available for community college students.  Details will be posted under the community college link at CFNC.org/goldenleaf.

The application deadline is March 1, 2013.   

For more information, contact College Foundation of North Carolina toll-free at 866-866-CFNC. 

About CFNC College Foundation of North Carolina (CFNC) is a free service of the State of North Carolina that helps students plan, apply, and pay for college. CFNC is a partnership of Pathways, the N.C. State Education Assistance Authority, and College Foundation, Inc. 

Pathways, created by the N.C. General Assembly in 1999, is a state-wide initiative to increase the college-going rate of North Carolinians by providing: comprehensive college and career planning resources; electronic applications and transcripts accepted by all 110 North Carolina colleges and universities; and, information on student financial aid and college affordability. Pathways is administered by The University of North Carolina General Administration in collaboration with the N.C. Department of Public Instruction, the N.C. Community College System, and the N.C. Independent Colleges and Universities. The North Carolina State Education Assistance Authority (NCSEAA), established in 1965, is the State agency that promotes access to higher education by administering financial aid and savings programs, informing students and families about paying for college, teaching educators about financial aid administration, and advocating for resources to support students. College Foundation, Inc. (CFI), administers a large portfolio of education loans, several major grant and scholarship programs for students attending N.C. colleges and universities, and the tax-free "529" college savings program on behalf of the N.C. State Education Assistance Authority.  CFI also delivers information to North Carolina students and families about paying for college and provides technology services for CFNC.org.

CFNC offers resources toll-free at 1-866-866-CFNC and at CFNC.org.

About Golden LEAF

The Golden LEAF Foundation is a nonprofit organization established in 1999 to help transform North Carolina's economy. The foundation receives one-half of North Carolina's funds from the 1998 Master Settlement Agreement with cigarette manufacturers and places special emphasis on assisting tobacco-dependent, economically distressed and/or rural communities across the state. The Golden LEAF Foundation works in partnership with governmental entities, educational institutions, economic development organizations and nonprofits to achieve its mission. The foundation has awarded 1,017 grants worth over $477 million since its inception. To learn more about applying for a grant, visit www.goldenleaf.org or call (888) 684-8404.

Golden LEAF Scholarship

Participating Campuses:

Appalachian State University

Meredith College

Barton College

Methodist University

Belmont Abbey College

Mid-Atlantic Christian University

Bennett College for Women

Montreat College

Brevard College 

Mount Olive College

Cabarrus College of Health Sciences

North Carolina A&T State University

Campbell University 

North Carolina Central University

Carolinas College of Health Sciences

North Carolina State University

Catawba College

North Carolina Wesleyan College

Chowan University

Pfeiffer University

College at Southeastern

Queens University of Charlotte

Davidson College

St. Andrews University

Duke University

St. Augustine's University

East Carolina University

Salem College

Elizabeth City State University

Shaw University

Elon University

University of North Carolina at Asheville

Fayetteville State University

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Gardner-Webb University

University of North Carolina at Charlotte

Greensboro College

University of North Carolina at Greensboro

Guilford College

University of North Carolina at Pembroke

High Point University

University of North Carolina School of the Arts

Johnson & Wales University

University of North Carolina at Wilmington

Johnson C. Smith University

Wake Forest University

Lees-McRae College 

Warren Wilson College

Lenoir-Rhyne University

Western Carolina University

Livingstone College

William Peace University

Louisburg College

Wingate University

Mars Hill College

Winston-Salem State University

Mercy School of Nursing

Applicants must reside in one of the following counties to be eligible:

Alexander, Alleghany, Anson, Ashe, Avery, Beaufort, Bertie, Bladen, Burke, Caldwell, Camden, Carteret, Caswell, Cherokee, Chowan, Clay, Cleveland, Columbus, Craven, Currituck, Dare, Davie, Duplin, Edgecombe, Franklin, Gates, Graham, Granville, Greene, Halifax, Harnett, Haywood, Hertford, Hoke, Hyde, Jackson, Johnston, Jones, Lee, Lenoir, Lincoln, Macon, Madison, Martin, McDowell, Mitchell, Montgomery, Nash, Northampton, Onslow, Pamlico, Pasquotank, Perquimans, Person, Pitt, Polk, Randolph, Richmond, Robeson, Rockingham, Rutherford, Sampson, Scotland, Stanly, Stokes, Surry, Swain, Transylvania, Tyrrell, Vance, Warren, Washington, Watauga, Wayne, Wilkes, Wilson, Yadkin or Yancey  

SOURCE College Foundation of North Carolina