SOAR Ambassador Program
SOAR Ambassadors are carefully selected based on a review of various factors including: high school academic achievement, standardized test score performance, and participation in extracurricular activities during high school years. The scholarship award is the equivalent of UNCW in-state tuition and fees each year. Supplemental awards are added towards books, housing, and meals during the sophomore, junior, and senior years.Eligibility to continue in the program is reviewed each academic year, provided students complete the requirements expressed in the SOAR Ambassadors Program Handbook. The minimum criteria are:
- Immediate enrollment as a freshman during the fall semester after high school graduation.
- Must maintain a 3.5 cumulative GPA
- Earn a minimum of 30 credit hours per academic year (total during fall, spring, and summer terms)
- Participate in all required program specific requirements including community service
Additionally, SOAR Ambassadors are required to attend monthly meetings to foster relationships with their peers, complete community service projects, and learn valuable information from various departments on campus. This scholarship is available for 8 semesters provided students are able to successfully complete all program requirements each academic year.
Award
Below is an example of the financial aid award package of a first-year SOAR Ambassador with in-state residency status.
2018-2019 SOAR Ambassador Award Example
Type of Aid |
Typical Amount |
SOAR Ambassador Award |
7,048.00 |
Federal Pell Grant |
5,920.00* |
State Grant (NC residents only) |
3,062.00 |
Federal Subsidized Student Loan |
3,500.00** |
Federal Unsubsidized Student Loan |
2,000.00** |
Total Aid |
21,530.00 |
* Federal Pell Grant amount shown is the maximum amount students can receive. Actual amounts may vary based on EFC.
** You are not required to borrow any Federal Student Loans. You will have the opportunity to decline them during the awarding process.
To apply for the SOAR Ambassador Program, complete the web-based Ambassador Scholarship Application.
The cost of attendance (COA) for an in-state resident at UNCW for the 2018-2019 academic year is 24,939.00. The cost of attendance is not a final bill but is an estimate of educational expenses for the period of enrollment. Please click on the link below to find out more information about the cost of attendance and actual charges.
The cost of attendance is an estimate of educational expenses for the period of enrollment, which is typically an academic year. You will not be billed for all of the cost of attendance items represented below.
Actual charges are billed to a student’s account. These charges are typically tuition, fees, on-campus housing, student health insurance etc. Below are examples of both the cost of attendance and actual charges for the full academic year. To get an estimate for each semester separately, divide the total amount of charges by two.
Cost of Attendance (COA) vs. Actual Charges
Cost of Attendance and Actual Charges for 2018-2019 Academic Year
Undergraduate COA: Full Time Enrollment |
Resident |
Actual Charges: Resident |
Non-Resident |
Actual Charges: Non-Resident |
Tuition |
$4400 |
$4400 |
$18416 |
$18416 |
Fees |
$2648 |
$2648 |
$2648 |
$2648 |
Housing |
$6660 |
$6660 (if living on campus)* |
$6660 |
$6660 (if living on campus)* |
Meals |
$4026 |
$4026 |
$4026 |
$4026 |
Books/Supplies |
$1126 |
Actual cost of books |
$1126 |
Actual cost of books |
Transportation |
$1775 |
$0 |
$1775 |
$0 |
Loan Origination Fee |
$64 |
$64** |
$64 |
$64** |
Personal Expenses |
$1618 |
$0 |
$1618 |
$0 |
Health Insurance |
$2622 |
$2622*** |
$2622 |
$2622*** |
Totals |
$24939 |
$20420 |
$38955 |
$34436 |
* If a student lives off campus, the housing charge is not billed to their student account.
** The loan origination fee is not billed to the student account but is deducted from loan amount in the event that loans are borrowed.
*** If a student has health insurance, this fee will be removed from the student’s account after the student has completed the process to waive the health insurance offered by UNCW.
Eligibility Requirements
The minimum eligibility requirements include:
- Immediate enrollment as a freshman during the fall semester after high school graduation.
- Completion of current Free Application for Federal Student Aid (ASA)
- Combined family income of less than 200% of the federal poverty guidelines
To apply for the SOAR Ambassador program, complete the web-based Ambassador scholarship application.
Quick Links
Related Links & Forms
- Sample Scholarship Agreement
- SOAR Ambassador Calendar
- SOAR Ambassador Group Video
- SOAR Ambassador Mentor Profiles
SOAR Monthly Newsletter