WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – The cost of college is enough to make anyone clench their wallets in fear, but a statewide grant is aiming to ease the burden and boost college enrollment. 

  What You Need To Know 

N.C. high school graduates can get up to two years of free community college through the North Carolina Longleaf Commitment Grant 

The grant was created to ease the financial burden of college and boost enrollment

To apply, you must be an N.C. resident, fill out a FAFSA application and enroll for at least six credit hours per semester

The North Carolina Longleaf Commitment Grant offers qualifying high school graduates (classes of 2021 and 2022) free tuition to any of the state’s 58 community colleges.

It was launched with the Governor’s Emergency Education Relief (GEER) fund through federal COVID-19 relief packages. North Carolina received $137.8 million in relief.  

Here’s how it works: 

You have to be a N.C. resident 

Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) 

Enroll for at least six credit hours per semester in a curriculum program


If students qualify through their FAFSA, they can receive a free two-year college degree if they enroll in one of the state’s community colleges.

The grant has helped approximately 11,000 graduates so far, according to the College Foundation of North Carolina (CFNC).

Renuka Khatri is one of those students, preparing to start her second year at Forsyth Technical College in Winston Salem.

“It’s definitely an exciting thing, I mean, you don’t have to pay for books, transportation, anything. So, I’ve been paying zero dollars so far,” Khatri said. “Who wouldn’t want free college? That’s something I have always wanted was to not burden someone with the financial issues, especially my parents.”

Khatri and her family moved to the U.S. six years ago from India. At the time, she didn’t know any English, but that didn’t stop her from graduating high school last year with a 4.0 GPA.

“It’s definitely a big achievement for me, that’s like one of my biggest achievements. I was able to adapt to a whole different country, a whole different culture. And I love that,” Khatri said.

She says the savings are a big help, as she plans on continuing her education in the medical field. For now, she’s getting involved on campus, even being elected as the student government president this year.

“[I’ll be] helping students, bring out the best them, helping them move forward, make this community better for them,” Khatri said. “It feels like an amazing responsibility.”

Since the free tuition was offered last year, Forsyth Technical Community College says enrollment increased nearly 20%.