Eligibility

Who is eligible for NC Reach?

Students are eligible for NC Reach if they are:

  • Legal residents of North Carolina, eligible for in-state tuition rates
  • Adopted from NC Division of Social Services (DSS) foster care after the age of 12, OR, aged out of NC DSS foster care at age 18 (they must have been in care on their 18th birthday)
  • Exited from foster care to a permanent home through guardianship with the support of the Kinship Guardianship Assistance Program (KinGAP)
  • Enrolled in one of the 74 NC public community colleges, or universities
  • Under the age of 26 (participants remain eligible until their 26th birthday)
  • Enrolled in at least 6 credit hours

How is eligibility determined after a student applies?

NC Division of Social Services (DSS) determines the initial eligibility of each applicant. The NC Reach program is unable to officially start working with a student until they are deemed eligible by the State of North Carolina.

Once a student’s eligibility is determined, they will be contacted by a member of Foster Care to Success.

  • If the student is made eligible, they will be contacted by phone and email by the Coordinator who works with the school they noted in their application that they are attending.
  • If the student is made ineligible, they will be contacted and receive notification as to why they are ineligible.

What happens once a student is made eligible?

After the initial online application process is complete and a student has been contacted by us that they are eligible for NC Reach then the semester funding process begins.

How does a student remain eligible for NC Reach funding?

Make sure you have financial aid and are eligible to receive the Pell Grant at your school! NC Reach applicants must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) every year to determine their eligibility for the pell grant, other federal and state grants, loans and work-study

Once you complete the FAFSA application, check with the college to see if additional information is needed for you to be determined eligible for the pell grant.

Click HERE for more information or to complete the FAFSA.

To remain eligible for NC Reach, students must comply with program rules and be advancing towards their educational degree or certification (making “satisfactory progress). At the end of each semester, academic progress is measured by reviewing an official transcript mailed directly from the school to NC Reach. Faxes, emails and unofficial transcripts are not accepted.

Academic requirements:

  • To receive NC Reach funding, students must be enrolled at least 6 credit hours
  • To remain in good standing with their postsecondary institution and with NC Reach, students must achieve at least a 2.0 GPA (on a 4.0 scale), as well as complete 67% of their registered credits, every academic term (semester or quarter) that they receive funding
  • NC Reach funds may not be used to retake a class which a student previously failed (F) or from which they withdrew (W).

Satisfactory Progress means:

  • Maintaining an overall passing average (generally 2.0 GPA or higher)
  • Completing 67% of the credits you register for.
  • Earning the required credits as a full- or part-time student that will lead to a degree, diploma or certificate in no more than 150% of the credit hours required to earn that certification. In other words, if an associate’s degree requires 60 credits, students must complete the degree with no more than 90 credits.

Posted in: FAQPage