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If you are planning to attend the University of North Carolina Greensboro or you are already a student there, the scholarship landscape at UNCG is genuinely worth understanding in full. The university has built one of the most layered and inclusive financial aid ecosystems in the entire UNC System, covering everything from automatic merit awards for high school seniors to fully funded competitive scholarships for students in the Lloyd International Honors College, from targeted programs for low-income North Carolina students to merit awards for international students from over 90 countries. The average aid package at UNCG is $22,737 per student, and 90 percent of full-time students receive some form of financial aid.

This guide covers every major UNCG scholarship program for the 2026/27 academic year. We will walk through the Blue and Gold Merit Scholarship, the UNCG Guarantee, the Minerva Scholars program, the Sloan Endowed Scholarship, the Lloyd International Honors College scholarship portfolio, the International Student Scholarship, departmental awards, state-funded programs like the Next NC Scholarship and shift_ed, and the Scholarship Universe platform that ties the whole system together. By the end, you will know exactly what is available, who qualifies, what the deadlines are, and what steps to take right now to access as much scholarship funding as possible.

About UNC Greensboro

The University of North Carolina Greensboro, commonly written as UNCG or UNC Greensboro, is a public research university in Greensboro, North Carolina. Founded in 1891, it is one of the sixteen constituent institutions of the University of North Carolina System. UNCG serves more than 18,000 students, including approximately 14,416 undergraduates and 3,596 graduate students, and enrolls around 700 international students from 90 countries.

The university offers over 100 undergraduate programs, 61 master’s programs, and 26 doctoral programs through nine academic schools and colleges. These include the College of Arts and Sciences, the Joseph M. Bryan School of Business and Economics, the School of Education, the School of Health and Human Sciences, the School of Nanoscience and Nanoengineering (one of the first such schools in the United States), the School of Music, Theatre and Dance, the School of Nursing, the School of Social Work, and the Lloyd International Honors College.

UNCG consistently ranks as one of the most affordable and accessible institutions in the UNC System. In-state tuition is approximately $7,593 per year, and the average net price after aid for in-state students is around $9,950 per year, making it one of the most cost-effective paths to a research university degree in North Carolina. It ranks number 107 among Public Universities and number 216 by Forbes, and it holds a strong reputation for social mobility, academic flexibility, and genuine student support.

One practical feature worth noting for prospective students is that UNCG uses a conditional test-optional admissions policy. Students with a weighted high school GPA of 2.8 or higher do not need to submit ACT or SAT scores. Students with GPAs between 2.5 and 2.79 can still qualify by submitting test scores. This policy, set by UNC System Policy 700.1.1, opens the door to a wider range of applicants and removes a barrier that prevents many capable students from applying.

Key Dates and Deadlines for UNCG Scholarships 2026/27

Missing a scholarship deadline at UNCG can cost you thousands of dollars in funding you would otherwise have received automatically or through a competitive application. Here are the most important dates to have on your calendar for the 2026/27 cycle.

Undergraduate Admission Application Deadline for Blue and Gold Scholarship Consideration: January 15, 2026

Priority Scholarship Deadline for FAFSA Submission (First-Year and Transfer): Check the undergraduate admissions website for the current priority date; typically in January or February

Intent to Enroll Deadline for Blue and Gold Scholarship Recipients: May 1, 2026

Fall 2026 Scholarship Application Opens for Current UNCG Students: January 15, 2026

Lloyd International Honors College Scholarship Application Deadline: February 1, 2026 (via Scholarship Universe)

Honors College Scholarship Award Notification: By March 31, 2026

International Student Scholarship Priority Deadline for Fall Admission: February 1, 2026

International Student Scholarship Regular Deadline for Fall Admission: April 1, 2026

International Student Scholarship Priority Deadline for Spring Admission: October 1, 2026

International Student Scholarship Final Deadline for Spring Admission: December 1, 2026

Fall 2026 Admitted Student Scholarship Notifications: By June 1, 2026

The Blue and Gold Merit Scholarship: UNCG’s Automatic Award for New Students

The UNCG Blue and Gold Merit Scholarship is the university’s primary merit-based award for incoming first-year students, and it is one of the most important scholarships to understand because it is awarded automatically. You do not need to write a separate scholarship essay or fill out a special form. As long as you submit your undergraduate admission application by January 15, 2026, you are automatically considered for the Blue and Gold Scholarship based on your academic profile.

The Blue and Gold Scholarship covers a wide range of award values, ranging from $1,500 per year on the lower end all the way up to full tuition, fees, room and board for the most competitive recipients. Approximately thirty renewable scholarships are offered annually to entering freshmen, and awards are selected primarily on the basis of superior scholastic achievement and personal achievement and potential. Recipients are chosen by Undergraduate Admissions, and when a scholarship is offered, the student receives a letter from that office that details the award amount and the specific terms attached to it.

Because UNCG does not publish fixed award bands publicly, the actual amount you receive depends on the strength of your academic profile. Students who have reported receiving the award cite figures like $3,500 per year renewable for four years for applicants with GPAs above 3.8, though actual awards can be higher depending on funding and the competitive pool in a given cycle. The scholarship is available only for the semester to which you were admitted, meaning you cannot defer and receive the scholarship in a later semester.

To retain the Blue and Gold Scholarship year over year, recipients must maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 by the end of each spring semester, remain enrolled full-time in at least 12 credit hours per semester, and continue to meet any additional renewal conditions specified in their individual scholarship offer letter. If a student falls below these thresholds, they have one opportunity to appeal their ineligibility during the duration of the scholarship, provided they can document extenuating circumstances beyond their control. Two separate forms exist for different types of eligibility failures, and students who fall short at the end of the spring semester may need to submit both forms simultaneously to be considered for reinstatement.

For out-of-state students, the Blue and Gold Scholarship is the primary tool UNCG uses to reduce the cost gap between in-state and out-of-state tuition. Out-of-state tuition at UNCG is significantly higher at approximately $23,339 per year, and a Blue and Gold award can meaningfully reduce the effective cost of attendance for strong out-of-state applicants who are attracted by UNCG’s programs but concerned about the price difference.

The UNCG Guarantee: Full Support for High-Achieving, Low-Income North Carolina Students

The UNCG Guarantee is one of the most impactful and least widely known programs in the UNCG scholarship ecosystem. It is specifically designed for high-achieving, low-income North Carolina students, and it combines financial support with academic programming and personal development opportunities to provide a genuinely comprehensive college experience.

To be eligible for the UNCG Guarantee, you must be a recent high school graduate, defined as having graduated within the last eight months, admitted to UNCG as a first-year student pursuing your first undergraduate degree. You must also have a Student Aid Index (SAI) of negative 1,500 on your 2025/26 FAFSA, which is the lowest possible SAI value and indicates the highest level of federal financial need. This program is therefore targeted at students from the very lowest income households in North Carolina who have also demonstrated strong academic performance.

The UNCG Guarantee program includes financial and academic support, plus expanded opportunities for honors programming and study abroad access. The financial component combines the federal Pell Grant with state-funded financial aid to create a simplified and predictable scholarship award that reduces the unpredictability that many low-income students face when trying to plan their educational finances year to year. This predictability matters enormously for students who are managing family financial responsibilities alongside their academic commitments.

To apply for the UNCG Guarantee, you need to complete your UNCG admissions application and submit your FAFSA as early as possible. There is a separate program application available through the UNCG Guarantee page on the university’s website. Because eligibility is based in part on your FAFSA SAI, filing your FAFSA early and accurately is the single most important step in accessing this program.

The Next NC Scholarship: State-Funded Aid for North Carolina Students

The Next NC Scholarship is a state-funded financial aid program specifically for North Carolina residents attending a public university in the state, including UNCG. It is worth knowing about because it layers on top of other aid to ensure that eligible students are receiving the maximum support available from both federal and state sources.

Eligible students attending a public university in North Carolina will receive at least $5,000 through the Next NC Scholarship. This is money that does not need to be repaid. The award combines the federal Pell Grant with state financial aid into a single, simplified, and predictable scholarship package for qualifying North Carolina students. The design of the program is intentional: by packaging existing federal and state aid together and presenting it as a named scholarship, the state has found that eligible students are more likely to actually access and use the funding they are entitled to.

Students do not apply separately for the Next NC Scholarship. Filing your FAFSA and meeting the Pell Grant eligibility criteria is the pathway into the program. North Carolina residents at UNCG who qualify for Pell Grants and who are enrolled at least half-time at a public institution in the state should automatically see this aid reflected in their financial aid package.

The shift_ed Program: For Guilford County School System Graduates

If you are a graduate of the Guilford County School System (GCSS) and you meet federal aid standards, you may be eligible for tuition assistance through the shift_ed program. This is a separate initiative from UNCG’s own scholarship programs but is actively promoted by the university because it directly serves a significant portion of UNCG’s natural feeder population from the Greensboro metropolitan area.

The shift_ed program provides tuition assistance to GCSS graduates who enroll at qualifying institutions and demonstrate financial need. For UNCG students from the Guilford County public school system, this represents an additional layer of support that can meaningfully reduce out-of-pocket costs. Students interested in shift_ed should apply directly through the shift_ed website, separate from their UNCG financial aid process. More details are available at the official shift_ed program website, which can be reached through the UNCG scholarships page.

The Minerva Scholars Program and the Sloan Endowed Scholarship

For the most academically exceptional students at UNCG, the Minerva Scholars program represents the most competitive and comprehensive scholarship the university offers. The Minerva Scholars program is administered through the Lloyd International Honors College and provides full cost of attendance support to a limited number of outstanding students who combine extraordinary academic achievement with genuine financial need.

The Sloan Endowed Scholarship is the flagship award within the Minerva Scholars program, made possible by a $2 million commitment from UNCG graduates and long-time community philanthropists Linda Fisher Sloan and Thomas R. Sloan. Linda Sloan is a UNCG alumna with a 1982 MFA degree and a former adjunct lecturer in the Bryan School of Business and Economics. She also serves as a current member of the UNCG Board of Trustees and the College of Visual and Performing Arts Board of Visitors. The Sloans received the Outstanding Philanthropist Award from the Association of Fundraising Professionals Triad Chapter for their contributions to the Greensboro community.

The inaugural recipient of the Sloan Endowed Scholarship, Raven Sizemore of Randleman, North Carolina, put the impact of the award very plainly: “This scholarship means so much to me. It is the difference between going to UNCG or not going at all. What this scholarship will do is let me graduate from UNCG without any significant debt.” Raven was pursuing a degree in music with plans to continue to a master’s degree in music education. Stories like hers reflect exactly what the Minerva Scholars program was designed to make possible.

Because the Minerva Scholars program is highly selective and competitive, specific application cycles and requirements should be confirmed through the Lloyd International Honors College directly. Contact the Honors College Admissions and Scholarship Advisor at mjreese@uncg.edu for the most current information about the 2026/27 Minerva Scholars application.

The Lloyd International Honors College Scholarship Program

The Lloyd International Honors College (LIHC) at UNCG is a nationally recognized honors program that provides motivated, high-achieving undergraduate students from all majors with an enhanced educational experience centered on international engagement, interdisciplinary learning, and original research. The LIHC is a member of the National Collegiate Honors Council and includes four residential colleges: Warren Ashby Residential College, North Spencer Residential College, South Spencer Residential College, and Cornelia Strong Residential College.

Each spring, the Honors College awards a range of merit scholarships to current high-achieving Honors students. These awards are made possible by donors who are personally committed to Honors education at UNCG. To be considered, current Honors students must complete the Honors College General Application through Scholarship Universe, UNCG’s scholarship platform, by February 1 of each year. Award notifications are sent by email from Scholarship Universe by March 31.

The following named scholarships are among those administered by the Honors College.

A scholarship designated for first-year Honors students with preference for majors in the School of Education, Health and Human Sciences, or students in music, theatre, or dance fields, as well as high-caliber students within the School of Art, is awarded annually at up to $1,000 per recipient, with a maximum of three recipients per year. A separate scholarship for one rising junior and one rising senior Honors student with exemplary past academic performance and promise for continued high-level work in Honors is awarded annually at up to $1,000 per recipient. Another scholarship is specifically for first-year Honors students majoring in political science, math, chemistry, or biology, including teaching tracks, awarded annually at up to $1,000. A scholarship for Honors students with exemplary academic performance and promise in nursing, mathematics, or the fine arts is awarded annually at up to $1,000. A scholarship for Disciplinary or Full Honors students with exemplary performance in biology, psychology, or nursing is awarded at up to $1,000 per recipient, with a maximum of three recipients. There is also a scholarship specifically for first-year Honors students with demonstrated financial need, open to students in any major including Exploratory.

Admission to the Lloyd International Honors College is required to access these awards. Admission is competitive and meeting the minimum GPA and test score requirements does not guarantee entry. A typical successful LIHC applicant has a high school GPA around 3.8 or higher, rigorous coursework including AP, IB, or dual enrollment classes, demonstrated leadership or service involvement, and often an SAT above 1280 or ACT above 26, though scores are optional for students meeting the GPA threshold.

It is also worth noting that Honors courses at UNCG typically count as core or major credits, which means enrollment in the Honors College does not add extra time to your degree. Most Honors students graduate within four years on a standard timeline.

International Student Scholarships at UNCG

UNCG offers merit-based International Student Scholarships of $3,000 to $6,000 per year to new degree-seeking international students with a minimum GPA of 3.5 on a 4.0 scale. This is a meaningful award for international students, particularly given that annual out-of-state tuition at UNCG is approximately $23,339, making a $3,000 to $6,000 annual scholarship a significant contribution toward the total cost of attendance.

A particularly convenient aspect of this award is that no separate application is required. Eligible new international students are automatically considered for the International Student Scholarship based on their academic profile at the time of admission review. Awards are renewable for one additional year provided the student maintains a GPA of 3.5 or higher. After the initial two-year award period, renewal is subject to continued eligibility review.

The deadlines for international students vary by intended entry semester. For Fall admission, the priority deadline is February 1, 2026 and the regular deadline is April 1, 2026. Students admitted by the priority deadline receive their scholarship decisions by June 1, 2026. For Spring admission, the priority deadline is October 1 and the final deadline is December 1, with scholarship decisions issued by September 15 (priority) or December 1 (final).

It is important for international students to understand that most UNCG scholarships that require the FAFSA are not accessible to them, since international students on F-1 or J-1 visas are generally not eligible to complete the FAFSA. However, the International Student Scholarship is entirely separate from FAFSA-based programs and is specifically designed for this student population.

Departmental Scholarships at UNCG

Beyond the university-wide scholarship programs, UNCG offers a significant number of scholarships at the departmental level through individual academic schools and departments. The majority of departmental scholarships are awarded to current UNCG students rather than incoming freshmen, and the specific awards available vary from department to department. Here is an overview of the departmental scholarship landscape.

The Student Affairs division at UNCG administers several named scholarships open to current undergraduate students, all managed through a centralized application process. Eligibility for most Student Affairs scholarships requires full-time enrollment, good academic standing, and no violations of the university’s Student Code of Conduct or Academic Integrity Policy.

Among the Student Affairs scholarships is an award for students who have engaged in activities that have fostered goodwill and support for UNCG or the Greensboro community. The Tom and Susan Ross Scholarship is available to current undergraduate students enrolled in degree programs such as political science, sociology, social work, communication studies, public health education, or human development and family studies who have completed at least 60 credit hours, maintain a GPA of 3.0, and have completed an internship of at least 120 hours. The scholarship is funded by Greensboro natives Tom and Susan Ross, who believe strongly that active community participation is essential to the well-being of society, and is designed for students who otherwise would be financially unable to pursue civic engagement activities.

The Joanne B. Craft Endowment, administered through the Community Foundation of Greater Greensboro and also listed through UNCG’s student affairs scholarships, supports degree-seeking single parents majoring in nursing or education who are enrolled in a minimum of 9 credit hours and are in good academic standing. Applicants must submit a cover letter outlining their reasons for seeking a degree in nursing or education and explaining how the scholarship will assist them in completing their degree.