Due to regulations, we must adjust need-based aid to account for the reporting of outside scholarships.  We always reduce need-based loans or work-study before reducing any gift aid, like need-based scholarships or grants.

Yes, cash or prizes provided only to students from entities outside the University are considered financial aid. Federal financial aid guidelines state that any benefits paid to students because of enrollment in a post-secondary education institution or to cover post-secondary education expenses are considered financial aid.

The federal government requires outside scholarships and awards, including tuition benefits from an employer, be reported each year. To view awards that do not need to be reported, see the next item below. Please visit the outside scholarships section of our forms page to find the appropriate reporting form.

Once you have entered your award(s), please allow time for processing. Typically, your award will appear on your Financial Aid Awards list in your ConnectCarolina StudentCenter within a week or two.

If you later find out that you will not receive a reported award, please email outsidescholarships@unc.edu,  and we will revise your financial aid accordingly.

If your outside scholarship is renewable, you will need to report it each year.

• Awards that already appear on your Financial Aid Award in ConnectCarolina for this year.
• Awards from:
  • UNC-Chapel Hill campus departments (the department will report them)
  • The Morehead-Cain or Robertson Scholars
  • The North Carolina State Education Assistance Authority (NCSEAA), which includes:
    • Golden Leaf Scholarship
    • Aubrey Lee Brooks Scholarship
    • Thomas Carrow Scholarship
  • The North Carolina Teaching Fellows
  • AmeriCorps National Service
  • Certain federal Veteran’s Benefits; click here for a complete list of exceptions

For Transcripts or Proof of Enrollment

• The Office of the University Registrar can provide official transcripts and enrollment certification.
• ConnectCarolina allows you to view and print your grades and registration information.

For Academic Standing and Progress, Financial Aid Award, Financial Need Calculation, Cost of Attendance, or Student Account/Billing History

• ConnectCarolina allows you access to all of this information, which should cover most of the requests from your scholarship provider.

We’re happy to help with forms for scholarship providers. If they require the school to help certify information, please make sure you’ve authorized the University to share your information (typically with your signature on the provider’s form).

You can:

• Send the form (along with your PID) as an email attachment to outsidescholarships@unc.edu
  or
• Mail it to us:
  Outside Scholarships and Grants Manager
  UNC-Chapel Hill Office of Scholarships and Student Aid
  P.O. Box 1080
  Chapel Hill, N.C.  27514-1080
  or
• FAX the form to 919-962-2716

If your scholarship provider is requesting the University to send an official invoice before sending payment, you will need to complete the following:

• Sponsored Billing FERPA Form
• Request for Official Letter

• If your provider has sent the scholarship check directly to you, please complete the Outside Award Submission Form and mail it (with the check) to the University Cashier’s Office.
• If your check is issued in your name or made co-payable to both you and UNC-Chapel Hill, you will need to endorse the check before the funds can be applied to your student account.  We recommend doing this in person at the University Cashier’s Office. You can bring the check in during orientation or once classes begin.

If you plan to study abroad and expect to receive a scholarship, grant or benefit payment while you are out of the country, please download a copy of this Limited Power of Attorney Agreement. This is particularly important if your award check will be issued in your name or made co-payable to both you and UNC Chapel Hill.