All You Need to Know about the NCSU Goodnight Scholarship

Starting a post-secondary education at North Carolina State University (NCSU) might be a great option for you. Not only does NCSU offer the programs you may be looking for, but it also has plenty of financial aid packages to help incoming students thrive.

Among those competitive scholarships is the NCSU Goodnight Scholarship. Designed for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) students, the NCSU Goodnight Scholarship provides Goodnight Scholars, i.e. its recipients, with an affordable and top-quality education.

Interested in this program? Check out our comprehensive guide to learn how you can receive your own award.

NCSU Goodnight Scholarship
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What is the NCSU Goodnight Scholarship?

NCSU believes that individuals possessing superior potential in STEM belong on its campus. To achieve this ambition, the university founded the Goodnight Scholarship office more than a decade ago. The office first awarded scholarships to cultivate future STEM leaders in 2008.

Since then, more than 300 Goodnight Scholars have benefited from its financial aid and highly-supportive programs. The scholarships are made possible by a generous endowment from the Goodnights: Dr. Jim Goodnight and Ann Goodnight.

Both are NCSU graduates who experienced first-hand how their four-years at the university allowed them to advance in their respective careers. Notably, Jim successfully piloted his worldwide venture SAS Institute which specializes in business intelligence software.

If you’re all set to make the leap, keep reading to learn what it takes to become a Goodnight Scholar.

How Do I Know If I’m Eligible for This Scholarship?

It’s worth noting that applications for this scholarship are primarily open to those who receive an invitation to enter. However, NCSU does welcome interested students to nominate themselves as potential candidates to the Goodnight Scholarship office.

This self-nomination, though, does not guarantee you an invitation to apply. Still, it doesn’t hurt to give it a try once you’ve confirmed that you meet the requirements.

First, you must be a North Carolina resident. The Goodnight Scholarship aims to provide inclusive aid to all recipients. This means that the program accepts students from all walks of life: refugee, DACA, undocumented, and international students are also eligible for this scholarship.

Next, only those with a maximum adjusted gross income (AGI) of $120,000 will be considered for the scholarship. AGI is equal to the total income you report that’s subject to income tax minus specific adjustments that you’re eligible to take. Taxable income includes earnings from your job and interest from a bank account.

Finally, the scholarship is open to students whose intended major is within the scope of STEM or STEM education. You can verify if your major is approved for this program here.

Now that you know what you should have prepared to win the scholarship, discover how it can help you do well in school and beyond.

How Much Can I Get from This Scholarship?

Goodnight Scholars are qualified to get a scholarship of $22,000 per academic year to cover their expenses while at school, including tuition, fees, housing, and food, but that’s not all.

Because the program is committed to going the extra miles to reward the brightest students, it also has other cool perks that money can’t buy, such as:

  1. Travel: Experience a one-of-a-kind adventure outside of North Carolina with Goodnight Scholarship travel subsidies.
  2. Community Service: Scholars looking to engage in meaningful and interesting work will have the opportunity to serve the many communities that define the state of North Carolina.
  3. Enrichment Grants: Additional funding is available to Goodnight Scholars who are pursuing educational and developmental opportunities outside of their traditional coursework.
  4. Mentorship: Through mentorship opportunities, Goodnight Scholars can gain better insights into both their academic and professional fields.

How Do I Apply to the NCSU Goodnight Scholarship?

As briefly touched on earlier, there are two ways to apply for this scholarship: Through nomination by the college or self-nomination. Both methods require applicants to apply to NCSU before the early action deadline on November 1 each year.

However, there may be a chance that the Goodnight Scholarship office will overlook your application for invitation consideration. In this case, you can fill out a self-nomination form.

This form allows you to share unique academic and/or financial circumstances that you feel may cause you to be overlooked for the invitation. Be sure to complete and submit your form before December 1.

Once you receive your invitation, you’ll be asked to fill out your application. The application usually contains questions that focus on various professional and personal aspects of the student, such as:

  • Academic achievements
  • Community involvement and extracurricular activities
  • Understanding of the role of STEM disciplines in addressing social issues
  • Household income

The deadline for submitting applications is mid-January. Then, a scholarship committee consisting of NCSU staff, alumni, faculty, and campus colleagues will review your application. If you make it to the top 100 shortlisted candidates, you’ll be invited for an interview that takes place on March 4.

Finally, you can expect to hear back from NCSU about the results in early April.

Where Can I Get More Information About This Scholarship?

Are you interested in learning more about the program or in need of assistance with your application? Connect with the Goodnight Scholarship office via email at goodnightscholarship@ncsu.edu or fill out this contact form.

What’s Next?

Previously, we told you that NCSU has many financial aid packages for deserving students.

In addition to the NCSU Goodnight Scholarship, there’s also the Park Scholarship for bright individuals with future potential in leadership and community service. Try to apply to as many scholarships as possible to increase your odds of graduating debt-free.

Are you ready to be part of the Wolfpack? This guide will show you how to initiate your admission application to NC State University.