UNC Charlotte provides all new freshmen, transfer, and returning undergraduate and graduate students the opportunity to apply for scholarships at the start of each academic year.  Scholarships can be merit-based or need-based, and may also focus on other criteria defined by the individual donor or donors who fund the award.  Scholarships can be used to offset tuition, room and board, books, or study abroad experiences, and do not have to be repaid.

UNC Charlotte committed to offering students an elite scholarship resource on campus by establishing the University Scholarship Office in 2015.  This designated student resource office exists to make it easier for students to find and apply for scholarship opportunities, while serving as the single point of contact to students, parents, faculty, and staff with scholarship-related questions.

NinerScholars Portal

NinerScholars serves as the common application system for all scholarships offered by a college, department, office, or program at UNC Charlotte.  NinerScholars uses the University’s student information system to build a scholarship profile specific to each student’s academic history and current status.  The Portal then compares a student’s profile to the criteria for each UNC Charlotte scholarship, matches them with those scholarships they are eligible for, and provides the student with the ability to apply in real-time.

The NinerScholars Portal gives students direct access to apply to more than 1,000 scholarship opportunities with one application, through one online system.  To access the NinerScholars Portal, learn more about the scholarship opportunities below, or take advantage of additional scholarship resources, visit the University Scholarship Office website at scholarships.uncc.edu.

Scholarship Opportunities

University Scholarships

Each year, UNC Charlotte awards more than 1,200 merit and need-based scholarships to recognize outstanding students for prior and sustained academic achievement, and provide assistance to students with demonstrated financial need.  Students must apply for all University Scholarships in addition to completing an admissions application.  Scholarships are applied for through the NinerScholars Portal, which can be accessed at scholarships.uncc.edu.  To be considered for need-based scholarships, a student must complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) for the upcoming academic year and have no outstanding requirements or financial obligations to the University.  University Scholarships may be used to offset tuition, room and board, books, or study abroad experiences depending on the specific terms of the fund and do not have to be repaid.

External Scholarships

The University Scholarship Office maintains comprehensive resources to help students research and apply for scholarship opportunities that are administered and awarded by public and private corporations, philanthropic organizations, or individual donors.  These resources include free search engines and a database of specific scholarship opportunities, which are open to students with varying majors, GPAs, or professional goals.  These resources can be found at scholarships.uncc.edu.

Levine Scholars Program

The Levine Scholars Program is UNC Charlotte’s most prestigious merit scholarship program established in 2009 by benefactors Sandra and Leon Levine.  The inaugural class of Levine Scholars entered in the Fall semester of 2010 and a new cohort of approximately 20 students is selected to join the program each year.  Levine Scholars carry a high honor, one that bestows tremendous opportunities and assumes high expectations of its recipients - as students, as leaders within the university, and as citizens of the global community.  No matter what their interests, Levine Scholars find campus and community partners eager to embrace their contributions and enhance their education through hands-on experiences.  To complement classroom learning, Levine Scholars participate in rich and varied opportunities in the vibrant commercial and cultural center of Charlotte.   To learn more about the Levine Scholars, visit levinescholars.uncc.edu.

Honors College Scholarships

Albert Engineering Leadership Scholars Program

The Albert Engineering Leadership Scholars Program was established by Craig Albert (‘85) to invest in the next generation of engineering student leaders, and to produce graduates distinguished by their excellence in applied learning, campus involvement, and professional development. This scholarship is awarded to incoming freshmen and is renewable for up to three additional years contingent upon maintaining a cumulative GPA of 3.0, continuing full-time enrollment, and meeting program requirements.  Albert Scholars receive an award equal to the cost of tuition, room and board, and books.

Freeman Scholarship

The Freeman Scholarship was established by Craig and Darla Albert (‘85 and ‘83) in 2019. Freeman Scholars are impressive, thoughtful, and persistent in overcoming challenges. They all demonstrate intellectual curiosity and a strong academic foundation; community-mindedness and dedication to service; and capacity for reflection, leadership, and growth. Recipients of the Freeman Scholarship are awarded in-state tuition and fees renewable for three additional years, membership in a multi-year honors program and support from the Honors College, and access to honors housing in Levine Hall.

Johnson Scholarship

In establishing the Johnson Scholarship, Gene and Vickie Johnson (‘71 and ‘82) intend to create a perpetual endowment for the purpose of increasing opportunity at UNC Charlotte for middle-income students whose families do not qualify for federal grant aid programs and may struggle to afford a college education. Johnson Scholars may be enrolled in any major and must be eligible for one of the University’s honors programs. In addition, recipients must have substantial unmet financial need and come from middle-income families who exceeded the threshold for federal grant aid. Recipients are awarded in-state tuition and fees renewable for three additional years. 

Martin Scholars Program

The Martin Scholars Program is one of UNC Charlotte’s leading merit scholarship programs, established in 2016 through the generosity of UNC Charlotte alumni Demond T. and Twakia “Kia” Martin (‘97 and ‘98).  Martin Scholars are promising, motivated students from underrepresented groups who demonstrate the highest level of financial need in pursuing a college education.  Awards are made to new freshmen and transfer students, as well as continuing students.  Martin Scholarships are renewable, and award amounts range with the purpose being to eliminate the burden of student loans for each recipient.  

To learn more about these Honors Programs scholarships, visit honorscollege.uncc.edu/honors-programs.  Eligible students can access the application for these and all other University scholarships at scholarships.uncc.edu.