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The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

The Office of Scholarships & Student Aid

Grants and Scholarships

Apart from the FAFSA and PROFILE Application, there is no separate application necessary to be considered for grants and need-based scholarships. Various grants, such as the Pell Grant, the Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant, and the Tuition Enhancement Grant, are provided through federal, state and institutional sources to undergraduates who demonstrate exceptional financial need. These grants do not require repayment.

Need-based scholarships are awarded on the basis of a combination of financial need and academic performance. Some also have additional criteria, ranging from county of residence to field of study. Many of these are renewable, providing that recipients continue to demonstrate need and maintain a minimum grade point average indicated on the Financial Aid Notification you receive from the Office of Scholarships and Student Aid.

James M. Johnston Awards

• The Johnston Awards are UNC-Chapel Hill’s premier need-based scholarships. Every year approximately 70 entering freshmen are chosen to be Johnston Scholars, based on outstanding high school records and leadership potential.

• Entering freshmen who submit the FAFSA and PROFILE Application by March 1 are considered for this renewable award. Current recipients must also file the FAFSA and 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 a minimum grade point average of 2.75 their freshman year and 3.0 each year thereafter.

• 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.

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