Full-Ride Scholarships: 5 Insider Secrets for NC A&T University Applicants!

As a high school senior, getting a college education can seem like an intimidating and expensive task. From rising tuition costs to student loan debt, the process of getting the best result for your investment in college can have lots of obstacles. But don't worry — with North Carolina A & T University's four full-ride scholarships: National Alumni Scholarship, Lewis & Elizabeth Dowdy Scholars Program, Cheatham-White Scholarship and February One Scholarship, free college might be possible! 

These prestigious and competitive awards are esssentially full scholarships, covering all costs associated with attending NC A&T: tuition, fees, room and board, books and supplies, special program fees or activities – you name it! 

Overview: The North Carolina A&T Scholarship Secrets 

• To be eligible for any NC A&T University full-ride scholarship, students must have an admissions application on file with the NC A&T admissions office by October 16th.
• To be considered for the Cheatham-White Scholarship, Lewis & Elizabeth Dowdy Scholarship, and February One Scholarship, applicants must apply to the Honors Program by November 15th. All applications are reviewed after the November 15th priority deadline. 
• Applicants must be nominated by a high school official (guidance counselors, principal, assistant principal, head of school or designee) or they can self-nominate.
• Honors Program applicants will be considered for Cheatham-White Scholarship, Lewis & Elizabeth Dowdy Scholarship, and February One Scholarship. Eligibility is based on each program’s criteria and an applicant can only be selected for one scholarship program. 
• The National Alumni Scholarship has a separate application and the deadline is December 15th.

North Carolina A&T University: Legacy of Excellence

For those not familiar with North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University (NC A&T), it has a rich history that's deeply rooted in academic excellence. Established in 1891, NC A&T University is a land grant university with a Carnegie classification of “doctoral, higher research.”

The university is known for various fields of study including engineering, agriculture, business, and more. Its commitment to developing talent while providing debt-free degree options is reflected in its full-ride scholarship offerings. These scholarships are a testament to NC A&T's dedication to making quality education accessible to deserving students while continuing its legacy of excellence.  Not to mention, it is the home of the self-proclaimed “Greatest Homecoming on Earth.”

What is a Full-Ride Scholarship?

North Carolina A&T offers full scholarships, but let’s breakdown what "full-ride" actually means:

• Tuition and fees? Covered.
• Room and board? Yup, sleep and eat for free.
• Books and supplies? Done.

Simply put, it's a golden ticket to a 4-year college education, for free!

A full-ride scholarship is a financial aid award that covers the entire cost of a student’s college education. This generally includes tuition, room and board, fees, books and sometimes a stipend.  These scholarships are usually awarded to students based on academic excellence (GPA and SAT or ACT test scores), athletic ability, or special talents. 

 Getting awarded a full-ride scholarship can significantly decrease the financial burden of college. This can provide students with the freedom to focus on studying, participating in extracurricular activities, and exploring career-related opportunities without worrying about student loans or how to pay for college.

North Carolina A&T University Full-Ride Scholarships 

Just as every student is unique, the scholarship options at NC A&T are diverse and tailor-made for the brightest minds. Let’s explore each scholarship’s eligibility criteria and application requirements.

National Alumni Scholarship

National Alumni Scholarship - The NC A & T alumni offer this scholarship opportunity to continue the school legacy by awarding students with exceptional academic talent money to cover college costs. This scholarship covers full tuition, related fees, and room and board. It is renewable for four (4) years as long as the student meets the yearly renewal requirements.

DEADLINE: December 15

The Eligibility Breakdown:

• Open to incoming freshmen pursuing their first bachelor’s degree.
• Minimum 3.75 GPA or higher on a 4.0 scale.
• ACT and SAT scores are optional for the 2023-2024 year.
• Include two typed and signed letters of recommendation/evaluation letters on letterhead. These should include:
• One letter from school (faculty or administrator).
• One letter from a community organization (i.e. faith-based; civic; Boy/Girl Scouts; Boys & Girls Club; Jack-N-Jill; pageants/cotillions; etc.).

Dowdy Scholars Enrichment Program

Dowdy Scholars Enrichment Program - The program is named for Lewis and Elizabeth Dowdy, the sixth president of North Carolina A&T College and first chancellor of North Carolina A&T State University and his wife.  This scholarship covers full tuition, related fees, standard double room, and board. Scholars may also travel abroad during the fall and spring semester using award funds. It is renewable for four (4) years as long as the student meets the yearly requirements.

DEADLINE: November 15

The Eligibility Breakdown:

• Open to incoming freshmen pursuing their first bachelor’s degree.
• Minimum 3.75 cumulative GPA (weighted)
• Minimum 1270 SAT or 27 ACT score (test optional 2023-2024 year).
• Must show exceptional leadership characteristics and service
• Must complete the Honors Program application by the priority deadline: November 15

Cheatham-White Scholarship

Cheatham-White Scholarship - The award is named for Henry P. Cheatham and George H. White, two African Americans who were both elected to the United States Congress to represent North Carolina in 1888 and 1896, respectively.  This is a 4-year fully-funded scholarship that covers tuition, fees, housing, meals, textbooks, laptop, supplies, travel and personal expenses. The scholarship also provides four summers of fully funded enrichment that can include study abroad opportunities.

DEADLINE: November 15

The Eligibility Breakdown:

• Open to incoming freshmen pursuing their first bachelor’s degree.
• Minimum 4.00 or higher weighted cumulative GPA.
• Minimum 1280 SAT or 28 ACT score (test optional 2023-2024 year).
• Must show exceptional qualities of character and leadership.
• Must have significant involvement in extracurricular activities and community service.

February One Scholars Program

February One Scholars Program - Inspired by the courage of the “A&T Four,” four North Carolina A&T State University students who refused to leave a segregated lunch counter in downtown Greensboro, NC without being served on February 1, 1960. This scholarship covers tuition, student fees, housing, and meals. 

DEADLINE: November 15

The Eligibility Breakdown:

• Open to incoming freshmen pursuing their first bachelor’s degree.
• Minimum 3.75 or higher cumulative GPA.
• Minimum 1270 SAT or 27 ACT score (test optional 2023-2024 year).
• Must pursue an undergraduate degree in one of the following: College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences, the College of Education, or the College of Health and Human Sciences.
• Must embody exceptional qualities of character and leadership, be significantly involved in extracurricular activities, and demonstrate a strong commitment to service.

Important Scholarship Dates & Deadlines

• October 16, 2023: NC A & T University admissions application deadline for students interested in applying for National Alumni Scholarship*, Lewis & Elizabeth Dowdy Scholars Program, Cheatham-White Scholarship and February One Scholarship. 
• November 15, 2023: Priority deadline to apply and submit Honors College application for consideration of our three (3) scholarship programs Lewis & Elizabeth Dowdy Scholars Program, Cheatham-White Scholarship and February One Scholarship.
• Mid December 2023: All applicants are notified by email and Semi-finalists are selected.
• Late January 2024: All Semi-finalists are notified by email and Finalists are selected.
• February 23-24, 2024: Finalists are invited to campus for Honors Weekend and Scholarship Interviews.
• March 8, 2024: All Finalists are notified and recipients selected.
• April 5, 2024: Deadline for recipients to accept their scholarship offer.

*NOTE: The National Alumni Scholarship has a separate application with a December 15th deadline.

Conclusion

Each of these scholarships holds a promise of a debt-free college degree and a bright future at North Carolina A & University.  They are competitive, so applicants should pay special attention to application details, requirements, deadlines.  These scholarships are not just a way to avoid student loans, but an academic passport to a life-changing journey.