A new state grant program for high school students to attend North Carolina community colleges has been extended to 2020 graduates.
The Longleaf Commitment Grant program guarantees eligible graduating high school seniors $700 to $2,800 in grant funds per year to cover tuition and most fees for the 2021-22 and 2022-23 school years at any of the state's 58 community colleges. The amount awarded is income-based and can be used with federal Pell grants and other financial aid dollars.
The N.C. Community College System received $25 million earlier this year for student aid from the Governors Emergency Education Relief (GEER) fund for the program. GEER is funded by federal COVID-19 relief packages. The grants were previously only open to 2021 high school graduates.
