Scholarship Classification, as Governed by Statute

An applicant may be considered under more than one eligibility class if the requirements are met, but may receive only one scholarship.

Class IA

Generally applies when the veteran parent was killed in action, died from qualifying causes while serving during a period of war, or died from service-connected conditions incurred or aggravated during wartime service, as provided by law.

Class IB

Generally applies when the veteran parent is, or was at the time of death, receiving compensation for a 100% wartime service-connected disability, subject to the statutory requirements and benefit limitations.

Generally includes qualifying children of veterans with a wartime service-connected disability of at least 20% but less than 100%, or veterans awarded a Purple Heart under the circumstances specified by law. No more than 200 scholarships of this class are awarded per year.

Class III (competitive category)

Includes certain other qualifying veteran circumstances established by statute, including specified permanent and total nonservice-connected disability, deceased veterans, and qualifying combat/campaign service. Awards are subject to statutory limitations. No more than 200 scholarships of this class are awarded per year.

Applies to qualifying prisoner-of-war or missing-in-action circumstances as established by North Carolina law.

Eligibility Requirements, as Governed by Statute

Basic Applicant Eligibility

To qualify, an applicant must meet the requirements established by North Carolina law. Generally, the applicant must:

  • Be under 25 years of age at the time of application.
  • Be both a domiciliary of North Carolina and a resident of North Carolina when applying.
  • Complete high school or its equivalent before receiving a scholarship.
  • Comply with Selective Service System requirements, if applicable.
  • Be the child of a qualifying veteran (see paragraph 3) and satisfy one of the North Carolina residency connections described below in paragraph 2.
  • Fall within at least one scholarship eligibility class based on the veteran parent's qualifying military service or status.

North Carolina Residency Requirements

In addition to being a North Carolina domiciliary and resident when applying, the applicant must satisfy at least one of the following pathways:

  • Pathway A – Veteran Parent's North Carolina Legal Residence. The veteran parent was a legal resident of North Carolina when the veteran entered the period of military service on which scholarship eligibility is based under G.S. 143B-1226.
  • Pathway B – Applicant Born in North Carolina and Continuous Resident in North Carolina. The applicant was born in North Carolina and has been a resident of North Carolina continuously since birth.
  • Limited Birthplace Waiver. North Carolina law permits a limited waiver of the North Carolina birth requirement of the applicant when these statutory conditions are met, the applicant’s mother was a native-born resident of North Carolina, and was a resident of North Carolina at the time of marriage to the veteran parent, and was temporarily outside the state at the time of the applicant’s birth, and the applicant returned to North Carolina within a reasonable period of time and has live continuously since.

Applicants should aim to provide complete and accurate residency information upfront. NCDMVA may request documentation necessary to verify residency or domicile.

Veteran and Military-Service Requirements

In addition to the North Carolina Residency Requirements, eligibility also depends on the veteran parent's military service and the scholarship class under which the applicant qualifies.

  • Veteran means a person who served as a member of the Armed Forces in active federal service during a period of war and who was separated from the Armed Forces under honorable conditions or who is currently serving in a second or subsequent enlistment.
  • The qualifying service must satisfy the applicable wartime requirements under G.S. 143B-1224.
  • The Armed Forces include the United States Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, Space Force, Coast Guard, and their reserve components, as provided by statute.
  • Military-service records, including the DD Form 214 and other records when necessary, are used to verify the veteran's service.
  • The veteran parent's disability rating, death, Purple Heart, combat service, prisoner-of-war/missing-in-action status, or other qualifying circumstances may determine the applicable scholarship class.
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