Awarding Process
Awarding Process
Eligible applications are assigned an Award Tier based on the student’s household size and income.
Scholarships are awarded per student, not per household. Parents applying for more than one student should submit a separate application for each student and enter the same household size & income for each student.
During the lottery, students from the same household who are on new applications submitted in February will receive the same lottery number.
In early April, NCSEAA will conduct a lottery and notify families.
New student applications submitted February 1st through March 1st will be entered into a random lottery. Students are awarded the Opportunity Scholarship in order of Award Tier until funding is exhausted.
*Note: students who received funding in 2023-24 will renew their funding before the lottery takes place.
The lottery will proceed in the following order, as funding allows:
- Students in Award Tier 1 will be offered an Opportunity Scholarship in order of lottery number.
- Students in Award Tier 2 will be offered an Opportunity Scholarship in order of lottery number.
- Assuming funds remain available for more awards, students in Award Tier 3 and then Tier 4 will be offered an Opportunity Scholarship in order of lottery number.
How to Estimate Your Award Tier
You should receive your Award Tier when you submit the application, but you can estimate your Award Tier based on the Household Income Chart.
Click on the image to view the chart or download a pdf from the link below.
Household Income Chart Instructions
Need help determining your household size and income?
See the following resources:
Frequently Asked Questions
No. Scholarships are awarded per child, not per family. Parents applying for more than one student should submit a separate application for each student and enter the same household size & income for each student. During the lottery, students from the same household who are on new applications submitted in February will receive the same lottery number.
We will use the email you provided in MyPortal to notify you of important information, including award status and deadlines. Make sure your MyPortal email address is current and check it regularly.
No. Scholarship awards cannot be transferred between siblings or other students.
Yes. Send us an email when school starts this fall. It should say that you wish to forfeit your Fall funding and convert to a single term award for the spring semester only.
What if my income doesn’t match the numbers on the chart exactly?
Your income can be up to, but not more than the maximum amount listed in an Award Tier. If your income exceeds the amount listed, go to the next column to find your Award Tier.
Example:
People in household = 4
Household income 2023 = $75,000
Award Tier = Award Tier 2 (income exceeds the maximum required for a four-person household in Tier 1)