Apply for an EDGE Scholarship at ECC

Beginning February 3, applications will be accepted for the coveted EDGE Scholarship at Edgecombe Community College. Edgecombe high school career coaches, ECC staff, and ECC students/EDGE Scholarship recipients recently met to kick off the open application period. From left are Sylvia Cobb, Teresa Bottoms, Bobbie Johnson, Dino Ellis, Dasha Viverette, Shawn Dawes, Felix Jenkins, Dr. Greg McLeod, and Cindy Harrell.

Edgecombe Community College will begin accepting applications for its highly sought-after EDGE Scholarship on Monday, February 3.

Begun in 2016, the EDGE Scholarship fully funds the education of qualified ECC students at the in-state tuition level. Current tuition is $76 per semester hour or a maximum of $1,216 for a full-time load of 16 hours.

“ECC is a great value, but no matter how low the cost is, it can still be a burden for students and their families. The EDGE Scholarship makes a two-year degree at ECC affordable to everyone,” says ECC President Dr. Greg McLeod.

The scholarship is open to students who will graduate in 2020 from an Edgecombe County or Nash County high school, with preference given to Edgecombe residents.

To qualify, students also must have completed at least six credit hours through the NC Career and College Promise Program. Through Career and College Promise, high school students have the opportunity to pursue college credits – tuition free – while they are in high school.

The EDGE Scholarship covers tuition, books, and fees for the recipients, who must be U.S. citizens. By meeting the requirements and remaining in good standing, EDGE Scholarship students will graduate with a debt-free community college degree.

The goal of the EDGE Scholarship is to increase the number of college graduates while decreasing the financial burden for students seeking a college diploma.

Since the program began in 2016, 332 students have received the EDGE Scholarship. As of Fall 2018, 42% of EDGE Scholarship recipients had received degree, diploma, or certificate credentials.

To qualify for the EDGE Scholarship, a student must have an unweighted high school grade point average of at least 2.8 and should file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Recipients have to maintain a minimum 2.6 GPA each semester, remain enrolled at ECC, file the FAFSA annually, and make continuous progress toward a degree.

The deadline for EDGE Scholarship applications for the 2020 fall semester is Thursday, April 9. Applicants will be notified of acceptance beginning April 24.

Please visit the ECC website for more information on the EDGE Scholarship.