EARN Grants
North
Carolina is committed to making a debt-free undergraduate education attainable
and affordable for every student. EARN Grants give students who think they
might not be able to pay for college the chance to get the undergraduate degree
that will boost their chances to compete and succeed in the global economy.
How do the EARN Grants work?
As the name suggests, students still have to earn their education. The two-year EARN grants, in combination with other kinds of assistance, such as federal Pell Grants, will replace the need for student loans, if the student keeps his/her grades up. Also, the student will probably have to work 10 hours each week or in the summer to earn enough to graduate debt-free. The EARN grants will be about $4,000 per year, for a total of two years. The amount of the EARN grant cannot, when combined with other assistance, be more than the cost of attending college.
Who qualifies for an EARN Grant?
Students do not have to participate in Learn and Earn schools to qualify for EARN grants, but the program guarantees that students who have already received two years of college credit through the Learn and Earn program will graduate from college debt-free.
To receive an EARN Grant, a student must:
- Be a resident of North Carolina and a citizen of the United States.
- Graduate from either an accredited North Carolina high school, a state-approved home school, or have received a General Education Development (GED) certificate from a North Carolina institution no more than seven months before receiving the grant.
- Be enrolled as a full-time undergraduate student at an eligible North Carolina postsecondary institution, a community college or University of North Carolina campus.
- Be a dependent on a parent or the guardian's most recent tax return.
- Have a total family income that is no more than 200 percent of the federal poverty level, based on household size. For a family of four, that is about $40,000.
- Remain in good academic standing.
What can an EARN Grant be used for?
EARN Grants can be used to help pay for the cost of attending college.
For more information about EARN Grants, please contact 1-866-866-CFNC or programinformation@CFNC.org.
"Learn and Earn is more than an opportunity for a college education -- it's an opportunity for a bright future. I am proud to be part of it and hope you will be too."
"Cross Creek Early College, a Learn and Earn School, made me stronger and more disciplined. It encouraged me to work for what I want and want what I need. Job opportunities will be abundant thanks to this school. Cross Creek opened doors for me, changed my life and is giving me endless possibilities."
"When I arrived at Cross Creek I was facing an issue that was entirely new to me. Everyone here became a family..."
