Scholarships

Honors offers several scholarships to both incoming and continuing students. Many Honors scholarships are renewable for all four years. We try to award across all four years, not just first-year students, so it is pretty common for students to receive new awards as sophomores, juniors, and even seniors. We have holistic criteria for scholarship awarding which considers a variety of factors, including financial need, academic excellence, and (for upperclassmen) involvement with the Honors College.

Over 40% of Honors students will receive scholarship funding from UNCW and/or Honors. We are fortunate that donors have made specific requests to have their scholarship dollars spent toward supporting our Honors students.

There are a handful of Honors and Admissions scholarships that students receive as offers alongside their offers of admission to UNCW. 

Awarded Scholarships

We wish we could grant merit scholarships to 100% of our incredible students, but they are quite competitive. The awards may range from $500 a year to an award equivalent of in-state tuition and fees (~$7,500 per year). The average Honors scholarship award is $2,000 and renewable for three additional years as long as students are in good standing in the Honors College and make satisfactory annual progress toward graduating with University Honors.

Requirements to Receive and Maintain Scholarships from Honors

All students must:

• Complete the UNCW Scholarship Application by March 1st annually 
• Be in good standing with Honors and the University
  
  • Have a 3.5 GPA or higher, no disciplinary actions outstanding, and have maintained continuation in Honors with no more than two semesters since the student's last Honors course

Scholarships designated "Honors" are for students accepted into the UNCW Honors College. These scholarships are awarded on a merit basis to students in the Honors College. Some require an interview. Students must maintain good standing in Honors and be making progress toward graduation with University Honors to retain the award.

• The James Leutze Scholarship. This award is open to North Carolina students and requires an interview. Recipients are designated "Leutze Scholars."
• The Aaron and Elizabeth Silverman Scholarship Fund provides in-state tuition and fees scholarships to academically strong students in the Honors College. Scholastic achievement and graduation from an accredited North Carolina high school are the criteria. The scholarship can be awarded to a prospective student or to those students currently enrolled.
• The Faculty Merit Scholarship.  Recipients are designated "Faculty Scholars."
• The Porter Honors Scholarship in Business. Students interested in pursuing a degree offered by the Cameron School of Business are eligible.
• The Two Friends Scholarship. 
• The Kenneth Ray Sumner ITS Merit Scholarship was established by the Information Technology Systems Division at UNCW. This merit scholarship is available to students in the Honors College.
• The Bank of America Merit Scholarships will be awarded each year to students in the UNCW Honors College.
• The William Joseph Boney Memorial Scholarship is awarded to a UNCW student who graduated from a North Carolina high school. The scholarship is merit-based and is intended to assist, recruit, and retain academically strong students who also demonstrate leadership potential. Financial need may be a secondary consideration.
• The Carl and Janice Brown Merit Scholarships are awarded to recruit and retain academically strong Honors students. 
• The Emmett and Gladys Corbett Scholarships are intended to be merit scholarships to recruit and retain academically strong students. Recipients may be eligible to receive the award for four years based on satisfactory progress.
• The Friends of UNCW Scholarship is a merit-based scholarship awarded to an in-state freshman Honors student. The recipient must meet the criteria for entering into the Honors College, and must remain an Honors student in good standing to be eligible for renewal. The scholarship is renewable for four years if the recipient continues to meet Honors program requirements. 
• The George Henry Hutaff Honors Scholarship Fund is intended to provide scholarships for students enrolled in the Honors College.
• The Intracoastal Realty Corporation Scholarship is awarded on the basis of merit, and financial need. The student must be a resident of New Hanover County. If a New Hanover County resident does not meet the criteria, other students will be considered.
• The Jefferies and Faris Associates Merit Scholarship is intended to provide a tuition and fees scholarship to an undergraduate UNCW honors student.
• The Devereux H. Lippitt Scholarship is awarded annually to a North Carolina student based on academic achievement. 
• The Lucile Murchison Marvin Scholarship is awarded each year to a student in the Honors College who demonstrates scholarship ability and financial need. This scholarship may be renewed.
• The Dr. Robert A. Moore, Jr. Merit Scholarship is to assist in attracting academically gifted students. The scholarship is administered by the Honors College.
• The Edward and Pauline Nessleroade Merit Scholarship is available to an entering or continuing student with preference given to students who have a physical disability, exhibit academic excellence and demonstrate financial need. A continuing student must be in good standing in Honors and making satisfactory progress toward a degree.
• The Porta-Nails, Inc. Scholarship is a merit scholarship. Recipients shall be limited to Wilmington, NC residents of at least ten (10) years. The award is limited to one academic year. The selection will be made by the director of the Honors College.
• The Rotary Club of Wilmington Scholarship is available to a graduate of a North Carolina high school, who has demonstrated academic merit, leadership skills, and good character. The Honors College shall nominate the recipient. Preference will be given to the student with the highest demonstrated financial need.
• The Wilmington East Rotary Club Scholarship is a merit scholarship for an incoming Honors College freshman who has graduated from an accredited high school in New Hanover County or a New Hanover County student who has attained a high school equivalency grade. This scholarship is not renewable.
• The Wilmington West Rotary Club Scholarship is intended to attract and retain academically strong students and is awarded to a student from southeastern North Carolina based on academic achievement. The student may be considered for renewal based on good standing in Honors.
• The Sunrise Homes, Inc. Scholarship is intended to provide undergraduate academic scholarships for students who enroll in the Honors College. The first preference in awarding the scholarship will be given to a high school student from New Hanover, Pender, Columbus, or Brunswick Counties in North Carolina or Horry County, South Carolina. The acceptance of the scholarship is conditional on the student's promise to contribute to the scholarship fund after graduation.
• The Robert O. Walton, Jr. Scholarship is a merit-based scholarship for members in good standing of the UNCW Honors College. The scholarship may be renewable based on satisfactory performance. 
• The Donald R. Watson Merit Scholarship is restricted to UNCW students who graduated from a North Carolina high school. Recipients are selected on the basis of leadership potential and academic achievement. The award will be for one year; however, the student may reapply contingent on academic performance. The award is based on merit. 
• The Wilmington Woman's Club Award is awarded to a New Hanover County high school graduate who demonstrates academic achievement and financial need.
• Elizabeth "Betsy" Ervin Women's Resource Center Scholarship was created in honor of the founder of the Women's Resource Center. This merit scholarship is awarded to a continuing student with a minor in women's studies. Preference is given to students in the Honors College.
• The Erleen Burbage Alexander Honors Scholarship Endowment was established by C. Edward Alexander in memory of his mother. Recipients must be enrolled in the Honors College. Selection is based on demonstrated academic ability and financial need.
• The Henry Alexander Martindale Merit Scholarship Endowment was created with a gift from the estate of Harriet Hunter Johnson in memory of her grandfather. This is a merit scholarship. Students applying to the Honors College as freshmen or continuing in honors in good standing are eligible for consideration.
• The Lenwood (Bo) S. Dean Jr. Honors Scholarship Endowment was created to honor Bo Dean for his selfless dedication, spirit and relentless giving to the students he nurtures. It is awarded to an incoming freshman who is a North Carolina resident, and who has been accepted into the Honors College.
• The Ada Zola King Dean Honors in Nursing Scholarship was created by friends and family of Ms. Dean. It is available to students in the Honors College who have been accepted or plan to select a major with the School of Nursing.
• The UNCW Merit Scholarships for Honors Scholars 

UNCW has a general scholarship application, and we recommend that prospective students also submit that application. From the 2022-2023 school year onward, applicants must submit that application to be considered for Honors scholarships and for renewal of Honors scholarships they may be currently receiving.

Note: The UNCW scholarship application opens December 1 and closes March 1 each year; prospective students will need to submit their UNCW applications by the Early Action admissions deadline in order to receive an admissions decision early enough to apply for scholarships.

Even if Honors Scholars are not offered a scholarship the first year, they may be awarded a scholarship in later semesters based on Honors good standing and progress, plus GPA at UNCW. Students in Honors are encouraged to submit the UNCW Scholarship Application each year.

The Honors College typically has multiple considerations for scholarship awarding:

1. Submission of the scholarship application, which opens December 1st and has a priority deadline of March 1st each year
   • This means that incoming first-year students should apply by the Early Action deadline in order to receive an admissions decision in time to submit the scholarship application
2. Good standing in Honors (GPA, completing honors courses, etc.) for upperclassmen; general high marks in high school (GPA, class rank, etc.) for incoming first-years
3. Financial need as reported by FAFSA
4. Whether the student is already receiving other scholarships (with priority usually given to students who are not receiving additional or other awards)
5. Student involvement--including leadership positions, volunteer service, undergraduate research, etc.

The general philosophy for scholarship awarding in the Honors College is to award as many of our students as possible in a given year. This means that, with the exception of a handful of donor awards that cover the equivalent of in-state tuition, awards are generally smaller ($1-2k). Award funding varies from year to year.

There are other UNCW opportunities to apply for merit and need based scholarships via the Financial Aid site. Click on "scholarships" or read about loans and other opportunities. These require a separate application to the Financial Aid office. Note: these are annual applications.

Major Specific Scholarships

Once students have declared a major, they may also be eligible to apply for scholarships in their major departments. Each department has a different procedure for application, so students are advised to discuss this with department leadership once they have successfully declared a major. Prospective students should also contact their high school guidance counselors for other financial aid and merit scholarship opportunities.

Honors Scholarship Opportunities

Students who maintain excellence in their courses, remain in good standing with honors requirements, and are active and engaged in the Honors College are reviewed each semester for scholarship monies that become available.