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Internal Scholarships

UNC-Chapel Hill is fortunate to have donors who have provided scholarships based on both a student’s financial need and merit. If you would like to establish a University scholarship or support an existing fund, please contact the Office of University Development.

Below you will find the various types of scholarships offered through UNC-Chapel Hill. Some of these scholarships are awarded and administered by the Office of Scholarships and Student Aid, and some are not. For scholarships awarded and administered by Scholarships and Student Aid, there is no need to submit anything other than your UNC Admissions application, FAFSA, and CSS/PROFILE applications is required; if anything additional is needed, you will be contacted with specific information and directions. For scholarships mentioned below that are not awarded and administered by Scholarships and Student Aid, you should click the provided links or contact the referenced campus office for additional information.

Undergraduate Need-Based Scholarships

Need-based scholarships are awarded through the Office of Scholarships and Student Aid on the basis of financial need and academic performance. Some also have additional criteria, ranging from county of residence to field of study. Many are renewable, providing the recipient continues to demonstrate need and maintain the minimum grade point average stipulated with the award. Unless specifically requested, no other applications or information other than your UNC-Chapel Hill Admissions application, the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Aid), and the CSS/PROFILE application are needed to be considered for a need-based scholarship. Please do not send additional information unless requested to do so.

James M. Johnston Awards

  • The Johnston Awards are UNC-Chapel Hill’s premier need-based scholarships. Every year a select group of entering first-year, incoming students are chosen to be Johnston Scholars, based on outstanding high school records and leadership potential.
  • Entering first-year, incoming students who submit the FAFSA and the CSS/PROFILE by March 1 are considered for this renewable award. Current recipients must also file the FAFSA and the CSS/PROFILE each year by March 1 to determine the amount of their Johnston Award. Annual award amounts are adjusted to meet recipients’ financial aid eligibility.
  • Special programs accompany this prestigious scholarship in order to enrich the educational experiences of Johnston Scholars and to bring them together as a group of uniquely talented individuals. Faculty mentors, Johnston Honors Seminars, and special leadership activities are included as part of the Johnston Scholars Program.
  • Johnston Scholarships are renewable, provided that recipients achieve the minimum grade point average specified by the program.
  • The Johnston Scholarship also covers additional expenses associated with UNC-sponsored Study Abroad programs.
  • If, in a given year, a Johnston Scholar evidences no financial need, he/she remains a Johnston Scholar and is guaranteed a minimum award of $1,000.
  • The prestigious Johnston Scholarship is also one of the awards in The Scholars Program at Carolina. To read more about The Scholars Program at Carolina, please visit scholarsprogram.unc.edu.

Undergraduate Merit-Based Scholarships

Merit-Based Scholarships Awarded through the Office of Scholarships and Student Aid

The University offers merit-based scholarships to a select group of entering first-year, incoming students. These competitive awards recognize and encourage academic excellence. Criteria for merit-based scholarships include academic achievement, leadership qualities, commitment to service, and potential for success at the University. Financial need is not a consideration. The University seeks to identify students who have earned academic distinction in high school, but selection goes beyond metrics of test scores and grade point averages, focusing on a holistic review of the entire application. Because UNC-Chapel Hill is a selective university, competition for these awards is very strong. The recipients of these awards demonstrate impressive academic and extracurricular achievements, and show promise of engagement in the life of the University.

There is no separate application for merit-based scholarships at UNC-Chapel Hill. Selection is based on the information provided in the application for admission. For fullest consideration for these awards, students must apply to the University by the Admissions Office application deadline. Scholarship candidates who are selected to move forward in the merit scholarship process will be notified shortly after they have been admitted to the University. The notification will inform candidates of Scholar Day and the selection process. All merit scholarship recipients will receive automatic consideration for the University’s Honors Program, so there is also no separate application for the Honors Program.

The Scholars Program at Carolina is made up of the Carolina Scholars, Colonel Robinson Scholars, Johnston Scholars, and Pogue Scholars. To read more about The Scholars Program at Carolina, please visit scholarsprogram.unc.edu.

Other merit-based scholarships awarded through the Office of Scholarships and Student aid include:

  • Old Well and Founders Scholarships provide renewable awards of at least $3,000 to students from North Carolina who come to the University with an exemplary academic record. Additional criteria for these awards may include county of residence and high school attended.
  • College Fellows Scholarships provide renewable awards of $2,500 to high-achieving students from North Carolina.

Merit-Based Scholarships Not Awarded through the Office of Scholarships and Student Aid

UNC-Chapel Hill is home to two exceptional scholarship programs that are not administered through the Office of Scholarships and Student Aid:  The Morehead-Cain Scholars Program and The Robertson Scholars Program. Please proceed directly to their web sites for more information.

You may also wish to check out the various scholarships listed by the UNC Office of Distinguished Scholarships.

Graduate and Professional Merit-Based Scholarships

Graduate and professional students may wish to check with your academic department and also review the various scholarships listed by the UNC Office of Distinguished Scholarships.

Other Scholarships

Other scholarships with various stipulations that are awarded through the Office of Scholarships and Student Aid include:

  • The Blanchard Scholarship is a one-time award of $5,000, though in the event of demonstrated financial need, the scholarship can be renewed on a year-by-year basis. To apply, send a letter of interest, together with documentation showing affiliation with an Episcopal Church (baptism/confirmation certificates and a letter from a church official suffice). Priority consideration is given to applicants with financial need. To determine your financial need, you will also need to submit a FAFSA and CSS/PROFILE application.
  • The Frances L. Phillips Travel Scholarship is a financial award available to juniors and seniors in the College of Arts and Sciences who wish to travel abroad. To be eligible, applicants must have attended a high school in North Carolina before coming to UNC-Chapel Hill. Click this link to access The Phillips Travel Scholarship application that is available online. Award decisions are made in December.

Other scholarships that are not awarded through the Office of Scholarships and Student Aid include:

  • Athletic scholarships are not awarded by the Office of Scholarships and Student Aid. Our office only administers athletic scholarships awarded by the Athletic Department. For more information about athletic scholarships, please call the Administrative Office of the Athletics Department at (919) 962-6000, or write to the head coach of the sport of your interest.

    Athletic Department
    The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
    PO Box 2126
    Chapel Hill, NC 27515-2126

  • Military service-related scholarships may be available through the respective offices:

You may also be interested in reviewing our Scholarships FAQs as well as our Outside Scholarships Search page.