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Paying for College
At Southeastern Community College, you can save thousands on your education while achieving your academic goals. Not only should higher education be a goal, graduating debt-free should be too.
In 2022-2023, SCC awarded over $5 million in scholarships and student aid to all types of students.
Grants and work-study funds don’t have to be repaid. Grants can help you pay for college in a way that doesn’t have to be repaid. Students may apply for federal and state grants by first completing the FREE Application for Federal Student Aid.
FEDERAL GRANTS
Pell Grants
Federal Pell Grants are awarded to students who show exceptional financial need and have not earned a bachelor’s, graduate, or professional degree.
Pell Grants can be used to pay for classes, books, and school supplies at the Orcutt Bookstore. Learn more about Pell Grants.
Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants (FSEOG)
Supplemental Grants are awarded to undergraduate students. Federal Pell Grant recipients receive priority for FSEOG awards. Learn more about Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants.
STATE GRANTS
North Carolina Scholarship
The NC Scholarship works with federal aid to provide a guaranteed amount of financial assistance with additional state funding provided to students with exceptional needs. Students enrolling at a North Carolina Community College with and 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. Eligible students must also:
- Be a North Carolina resident as defined by North Carolina Residency Manual
- Enroll for at least 6 credit hours
- Be admitted, enrolled, and classified as an undergraduate student in a matriculated status in a degree, certificate, or diploma program at a North Carolina Community College
Learn more about the NC Scholarship
Longleaf Commitment Grant
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 and most recently to include students graduating from high school in 2023. Eligible students must:
- Applicants must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and have an Expected Family Contribution (EFC) of $15,000 or less as determined by the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
- 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).
- Enroll for at least 6 credit hours
Learn more about the Longleaf Commitment Grant
Finish Line Grant
Finish Line Grants are grants of up to $1,000 awarded to community college students who are on the cusp of completing their education or training and are faced with an unanticipated financial hardship that may prevent them from doing so. Too often, financial emergencies like unexpected healthcare costs, childcare expenses or car breakdowns prevent students from completing their programs. Finish Line Grants are awarded to students facing these unforeseen challenges. They can be used for course materials, housing, medical needs, dependent care, or other financial hardships that students face through no fault of their own. Eligible students must:
- Be enrolled in a North Carolina Community College.
- Be in good academic standing as defined by the community college. Threshold may not be higher than a 2.0 GPA.
- Have completed at least 50% of the degree or credential program (or be enrolled in the courses that will constitute 50% completion).
- Complete application through SCC Financial Aid office.
Forgivable Education Loans for Service (FELS)
Established by the North Carolina General Assembly in 2011, and administered by the North Carolina State Education Assistance Authority, the Forgivable Education Loans for Service provides financial assistance to qualified students enrolled in an approved education program and committed to working in critical employment shortage professions in North Carolina.
Federal Work-Study (FWS) is financial aid based on financial need and must be earned through student employment.
The Federal Work-Study Program is a need-based program which provides jobs for students with financial need, allowing them to earn money to help pay education expenses. The program encourages community service work and work related to their course of study.