More high school graduates are now eligible for a grant that covers tuition and fees at Wayne Community College.
Longleaf Commitment Grants, originally available only to members of the class of 2021, have been extended to include North Carolina high school graduates from December 2019 through December 2021 who start college in the Spring 2022 semester.
The grants provide from $700 to $2,800 per academic year for tuition and fees at any North Carolina Community College, including Wayne Community College. Part-time students will receive a partial award.
There is no application for the Longleaf Commitment Grant. Students are automatically considered when they file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) and local college verification is completed. Eligible students will be notified by the college’s financial aid office.
To be eligible for the grant, a student must:
- have graduated from a North Carolina high school or recipient of an adult high school diploma or GED from December 2019 through December 2021,
- be a North Carolina resident,
- be a new college student with the exception of Career and College Promise (CCP) and early/middle college high school graduates who are also eligible,
- have completed the FAFSA® for 2021-2022 and have an Expected Family Contribution (EFC) of $15,000 or less, and
- enroll in a curriculum program and take at least six credit hours.
The grant can be received for up to four consecutive semesters if the student meets the college’s Satisfactory Academic Progress Requirements each semester.
Individuals who want to start their college careers at WCC in Spring 2022 should go to www.waynecc.edu/admissions/registration-guide/new-students/ to access the college application and FAFSA and see the other steps.
For more information, contact the WCC Financial Aid Office at 919-739-6735 or [email protected].
“Education translates into opportunity, and with this grant expansion, we are excited to provide more opportunity to our diverse student populations across the state,” said Thomas A. Stith III, president of the North Carolina Community College System.
Gov. Roy Cooper’s office announced the Longleaf Commitment Grant in May 2021 in partnership with the Community College System and the State Education Assistance Authority. The governor committed up to $31 million to support this pilot program, which includes $25 million for student aid and $6 million in matching funds to expand student support services.
The Commitment is intended to send a message to students that they are not alone in the pandemic and college is in reach despite the challenging circumstances. The program is designed to facilitate learning recovery and ensure that high school graduates do not fall out of the education pipeline for good.
