The North Carolina Department of Administration’s Veteran Affairs Division says that the state’s legislature set aside scholarship funding for children of military veterans. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs decides the scholarship criteria and North Carolina administers the award programs. North Carolina thanks veterans for their service by helping their children go to college.
Deceased due to wartime service (Class 1-A)
This scholarship is awarded to children whose parents are killed during wartime service or die due to a service-related condition resulting from wartime service. There is no limit on the awards given out each year. The scholarships are for four academic years and must be used within eight years. Those attending public, community, and technical colleges get full tuition, room and board, and exemption from some mandatory fees. Students attending private and junior colleges receive $4,500 per a nine-month academic year.
Total disability (Class 1-B)
This scholarship is for children of veterans who are determined by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (USDVA) to be 100 percent disabled due to wartime service. The parent must receive disability payments, or have received disability payment at the time of death. Unlimited awards are given each year and the scholarship is for four academic years and must be used within eight years. Scholarship recipients receive full tuition and exemption from some mandatory fees at public, community, and colleges. At private and junior colleges, students receive $1,500 for each nine-month academic year.
Partial disability (Class II)
To qualify for this scholarship, recipients’ parents must be found by the USDVA to be at least 20 percent but less than 100 percent disabled because of wartime service. Students can also qualify if their parents received a Purple Heart for their injuries. No more than 100 scholarships are awarded each year and scholarships are for four academic years. The scholarships must be used within eight years. Students attending public, community, or technical colleges receive full tuition, room and board, and exemption from some mandatory fees, while those attending private or junior colleges receive $4,500 per each nine-month academic year.
Service in Combat Zone (Class III)
There are three ways to qualify for this scholarship. The first is if a veteran receives a pension or was receiving one at the time of his death for a permanent disability. Second is if a deceased veteran was honorably discharged and third is if veterans served in a combat zone and received a medal or combat badge. Only 100 awards are allotted per year. The scholarships are for four academic years but must be used within eight years. At public, community, and technical schools students receive full tuition, room and board, and exemption from some mandatory fees. At private and junior college they receive $4,500 for each nine-month academic year.
Prisoner of War (Class IV)
Dependents qualify for this scholarship if their parent was a prisoner of war or missing in action. Unlimited awards are given each year. The award is for four years and must be used within eight years. The award gives full tuition, room and board, and exemption from some fees at public, community, or technical colleges. At private or junior colleges the award is $4,500 for each nine-month academic year.