Financial Aid
Grants: Financial Aid You Don’t Pay Back
Gift aid that directly reduces your tuition costs, awarded on the strength of your FAFSA.
Grants
Financial aid you don’t pay back
Grants are a form of “gift aid” that directly reduce your tuition costs. Unlike loans, grants do not have to be repaid. Most grants are awarded based on financial need as determined by your FAFSA.
Grant Programs
Three sources of grant aid
1. Federal & state grants (the foundation)
The most common grants for Louisburg students, determined entirely by your FAFSA results. Federal Pell Grant: for undergraduates with exceptional financial need. Federal SEOG: extra funding for students with the greatest need (funds are limited, so file early). NC Need-Based Scholarship: a significant grant for North Carolina residents at private colleges, which often makes Louisburg comparable in cost to a public university.
2. Institutional & specialized grants
Robbins Methodist Student Grant ($1,000): for Methodist students with at least a 2.0 GPA; requires a recommendation letter from your home church pastor. Sibling Grant ($500 per year): for families with more than one sibling enrolled full-time in the same semester. Franklin County Grant: for local students from Franklin County, to help make staying close to home affordable.
3. The Whitehead programs (women’s leadership)
Prestigious, grant-funded programs for female students from the Southeast who demonstrate financial need and a Christian background. Lettie Pate Whitehead Scholarship ($3,000): a renewable annual grant. Whitehead Leadership Program ($8,000): for selected students in their final year, including a residential leadership experience in the Joyner House and specialized professional development.
Important Details
Three things to remember
- Full-time status: most grants require you to maintain full-time enrollment (12+ credit hours).
- The FAFSA is key: you cannot receive federal, state, or need-based institutional grants without a completed FAFSA on file.
- First-come, first-served: many grants have limited funding. Filing your FAFSA by the priority deadline ensures you are considered before funds run out.